Plaza Owner Eyes Purchase of Neighboring Property

The owner of the shopping plaza in Hamilton says it is working to purchase another nearby downtown property.

The company that owns the shopping plaza in Hamilton is looking at purchasing a neighboring property, but does not have any specifics plans for its reuse right now. Lisco Development, the Providence, R.I.-based company that owns the Shoppes at Hamilton Crossing, is conducting due diligence on the property at 17 Bay Road, where Mike’s Auto is located, according to Linda Meiggs of Lisco Devemopment. “We have not received enough information to make our decision,” Meiggs said. The company is waiting to hear the results of some tests that were conducted on the property. The due-diligence process is still on-going and there have been no major problems or obstacles, she said. “It’s still in process,” she said. Meiggs said the company has been …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Oct. 15: Cultural Council Deadline

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Monday, Oct. 15. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Warm: What jumps out about Monday’s weather is that it will be warm – with temperatures into the 70s. The sky will be cloudy and winds could gust as high as 25 miles per hour. 2. Cultural Council: Monday is the deadline for local groups to submit an application for funding from the Cultural Council. 3. Dukakis: Former Gov. Michael Dukakis comes to the North Shore on Monday to lead a bipartisan roundtable discussion at Salem State University. The event, titled Election 2012: “Fact, Fiction and Public Opinion” runs 7-9 at Veteran’s Hall at the Ellison Campus Center on North Campus. It will include Jennifer Nassour, former chairwoman of the …

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New Virtual Grocery Store, News Store Closure Top Local Business Headlines

A look around the North Shore at some of the changes with businesses and shopping.

Have you noticed a new store while driving around the North Shore recently? Patch loves small business and we try to cover every new opening. Here is a look at some recent business openings and happenings on the North Shore. Have you noticed a new shop and have been wondering what it is? Leave us a note in the comment section and we will check it out. HAMILTON-WENHAM Wenham Attorney Takes the Helm at Wenham Museum Kristin Zampell Noon is the new executive director at Wenham Museum. Noon was named the new director last month by the museum’s Board of Trustees. She takes over for Lindsay Diehl, who retired during the summer and said she wanted more time to take care of her elderly father. Mike's Auto Clears Hurdle, Makes Plans to Resume Used …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Oct. 9: Trash Pickup Delayed

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, Oct. 9. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Clouds: Tuesday is forecasted to be a cloudy day with rain to start and a chance of showers throughout the day. Temperatures will top out in the 50s. 2. Restaurants: Are you looking to try a new restaurant close to home at a reasonable price? You may want to check out the offerings at Beverly Restaurant Week, which runs through Thursday. There are 15 restaurants participating with either a 3-course dinner for $25 or 2-course dinner for $15, before tax, drinks and gratuities. 3. Yard Sale: Notre Dame Children’s Class is holding a yard sale this weekend and starting on Tuesday donations will begin to be accepted. The Wenham school is looking for items …

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Mike's Auto Clears Hurdle, Makes Plans to Resume Used Car Sales

Mike's Auto has been given the OK by the Hamilton Zoning Board of Appeals to sell eight used cars on its downtown Hamilton lot.

Mike’s Auto has been given the go-ahead by the Zoning Board to sell used cars at its downtown Hamilton auto repair garage. The board’s decision was made final in a written decision last Thursday allowing eight used cars to be sold on the Bay Road property. A full copy of the decision is attached to this story as a PDF. There is a 20-day appeal period before the decision becomes final. Stephanie Holland, daughter of owner Michael Holland who works alongside him, said on Friday that after the appeal period ends she plans to resume used car sales. Used car sales had been halted since early July when the Board of Selectmen ordered all used cars off the property because it said Mike’s was in violation of the conditions of its Class II Used Car …

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Mike's Nears a Likely OK for Used Car Sales

Mike's Auto is getting closer to a final decision about whether used cars can be sold at the Bay Road business.

The proposal to sell used cars at Mike's Auto Repair in downtown Hamilton will go before the Hamilton Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday night - a board that last month showed interest is allowing a scaled back used car sales area. Board members told owner Michael Holland and his attorney, James Kroesser, they were open to approving a plan that would allow seven spaces in front of Mike’s where used cars could be sold. “This is something of a negotiation,” said Chairman Bill Bowler said, noting he sensed that the board was open to allowing used car sales at Mike’s but that the number of parking spaces proposed was too many. Jane Lyman, a board member, said she would be OK with seven spaces in front, although “it seems tight.” “I’m OK with…

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: Aug. 1

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Wednesday, Aug. 1. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Vehicle Night: For some kids, it may be the highlight of the summer – vehicle night at Hamilton-Wenham Library. Emergency vehicles, tree trucks and snowplows will be just some of the vehicles on display in the library parking lot from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 2. Sports Registration: Wednesday is one of the last chances for students to register for fall sports at Hamilton-Wenham Regional High School. Registration forms and payment will be accepted at the athletic office from 10 a.m. to noon on Wednesday. 3. Trails and Sails: Each fall, the Trails and Sails weekend has become a tradition in Essex County, offering a variety of events that showcases what the region offers. This year, …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: July 24

An essential get-me-going daily morning column from Hamilton-Wenham Patch.

Today is Tuesday, July 24. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Winthrop Principal: Tuesday night is your chance to meet the two finalists for the Winthrop Elementary School principal job. A meet and greet with Christopher Heath, currently principal at Goodyear Elementary School in Woburn and Amy Pasquarello, currently the Integrated Media Specialist at Winthrop, is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday at Winthrop. At Monday night’s Hamilton Board of Selectmen meeting, Selectman Jeff Hubbard said Pasquarello had been chosen, but afterward Superintendent Michel Harvey, who has the final decision, said neither candidate has been selected yet and the meet-and-greet is still scheduled to happen. 2. Dairy Discovery: Milk comes from cows – it’…

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Mike's Auto - a 'Hot Potato' - to Face More Questions About Used Car Sales

The Hamilton Planning Board still has questions about a proposal to sell used cars at Mike's Auto in downtown Hamilton.

The Hamilton Planning Board wants another chance get answers to its questions about plans to sell used cars at Mike’s Auto Repair in downtown Hamilton. Mike’s is looking for a permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals to allow used car sales at the business on Route 1A, just north of the Wenham town line. While the ZBA will make the final decision, the Planning Board also has a say through the site plan review process, which includes review of things such as parking and site layout. Initially, a plan outlining how the used cars will be arranged on the property was hand drawn by Mike’s attorney, Jim Kroesser of Hamilton, but the Planning Board said that was not good enough. The Zoning Board later said it, too, wanted a plan drawn by a …

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'Key Question' for Mike's is Whether Used Cars Have to Be In a 'Salesroom'

Hamilton officials are grappling with the question of whether the town's zoning byalws require used cars to be sold from inside a "salesroom."

Do Hamilton’s zoning bylaws require used car lots to sell all the cars from inside a salesroom? That’s one of the important questions that member of the Hamilton Zoning Board of Appeals are grappling with as they consider an application from Mike’s Auto Repair to sell used cars at the downtown Hamilton business. “I do think it is going to be a key question,” said Bill Bowler, chairman of the ZBA as the board was hearing on Wednesday night about plans to sell used cars at Mike’s. It is the second time that the board has considered the plan – a review that began last month. “What constitutes a salesroom under Hamilton zoning bylaws?” Bowler asked, noting it is an auto salesroom that is allowed with a special permit in the downtown business …

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Anne Sweeney

12:10 am on Sunday, July 22, 2012

Ms. Get Your Facts Straight, No, not a sad day for Hamilton, a Sad day for America. When a small independent business cannot receive support from the town in which it serves. The little town of Mayberry received the support of all it's towns people and in return all the towns people supported all of the businesses of Mayberry. The Socialism and over regulation in this country is getting so bad I …   more ›