Top 10: Best Place to Live, Car Theft and Incumbent Selectman Defeated

Here are the top 10 most-read stories on Hamilton-Wenham Patch last month.

What have they been reading in the two towns in April? Here's a look back at the top 10 most read stories on Hamilton-Wenham Patch in April: 1. Pingree Senior from North Reading Victim in Fatal Car Crash 2. What's Open and Closed on Patriots' Day 3. Hamilton Named ‘5th Best Location to Live' in State 4. Car, Purse Taken in Overnight Thefts 5. One Incumbent Reelected, Another Ousted in Town Elections 6. Hamilton Man Survives Fall From Empire State Building 7. Wenham Board of Selectmen Election Results 8. Two Women Face Multiple Drug Charges After Allegedly Driving Erratically 9. Developer's Unpermitted Sign Ordered to Come Down 10. Recent Home Sales Include 'Arts and Crafts'-Style Home and Sharon Road Ranch

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Developer's Unpermitted Sign Ordered to Come Down

A sign that a developer admits was put up without the required town permit will come down, but go back up later this month with the town's OK.

The developer of Penguin Hall has been ordered by the Wenham Planning Board to take down a sign publicizing the hiring of a construction company for the project. The developer, Chris Wise of Wise Living, admitted that the sign was put up without a needed town permit. The sign exceeds the allowable sign size and required a special permit from the Planning Board. The sign was up before Wise went before the Planning Board last Thursday for a public hearing where the board would decide whether to grant the permit. “You did it in the wrong order,” Planning Board chairman David Geikie told Wise. “I am offended by the order you did this.” Geikie said the move "showed a cetain lack of respect for the procedure" and said it was "out of character" …

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Wenham Mansion Becomes Home to Ralph Lauren Photo Shoot

Ralph Lauren came to a Wenham mansion to shoot photos of its 2013 fall collection.

Ralph Lauren came to Penguin Hall in Wenham on Friday and turned it into the photographic setting for his 2013 Fall Collection. The estate was chosen to reflect the Edwardian style of Ralph Lauren's fall fashions. The photos were shot by artist and photographer Shelia Metzner, who's work has been featured in exhibits around the world. One photo given a glimpse at the photo shoot is attached to this story. Penguin Hall, of Essex Street, was home to Mullen Communications until the company moved to Boston a few years ago. The estate, built in 1929, is planned to become a senior living community built by owner Jim Mullen and developer Chris Wise.

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What Should Be Done With New Taxes From Penguin Hall Development?

One of the most important developments in many years will occur in the coming years at Penguin Hall on the Mullen property in Wenham.

The two candidates for Wenham Board of Selectmen have plans for how the town should best use the anticipated tax revenue that would come from the redevelopment of Penguin Hall. In May 2012, Annual Town Meeting voters approved a zoning change that will allow the 50-acre Essex Street property to be redeveloped into a senior living complex. Marketing is happening now and the developers, Chris Wise of Wise Living and property owner James Mullen, have been working with town officials to develop plans for the property. When complete, the development could pay more than $1 million annual in taxes. Watch the attached videos to see how Molly Martins, the Board of Selectmen's chairman and Jack Wilhelm, who is seeking the three-year term, would use …

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Jim Smith

1:08 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Put the money toward the schools, stipulating that their will be no more overides concerning school budget increases moving forwar.   more ›

Patch Facts

Five Things to Know on Jan. 10: Dog Hearing in Wenham

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

Today is Thursday, Jan. 10. Here are five things you need to know in Hamilton and Wenham: 1. Sun: Thursday is forecasted to be a sunny day, with temperatures getting up into the 40s again with wind blowing between 11 and 15 miles per hour. 2. Dog: There will be a dog hearing in Wenham on Thursday evening. The animal control officer is holding a public hearing “on the possible dog restraint” of a dog that lives at 30 Hilltop Dr. and has allegedly attacked other dogs. It is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Wenham Town Hall. 3. Armenia: Ruth Thomasian from the Project SAVE Armenian Photographic Archives in Watertown appears at Pingree School at 9 a.m. on Thursday. The event is open to the public and part of a visit next month from two Armenia teachers…

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Windover Selected to Build Senior Housing at Penguin Hall

A North Shore based developer that has already done several projects on the North Shore has been selected to convert Penguin Hall in Wenham into senior residences.

A local company that is well-known in Wenham - Windover Construction - has been selected to complete the conversion of Penguin Hall into a senior living complex. In recent years, Windover has build the Boulder on Main Street and several single family homes on the shore of Wenham Lake off Cedar Street and Topsfield Road. The project is planned to convert Penguin Hall, on the so-called Mullen property - a 50 acre estate off Essex Street in Wenham. The project, first unveiled last year, is being developed by Wise Living and designed by EGA Architects. Phase 1 will include 192 total units ranging from 850 to over 2,000 square feet. At the Wenham Annual Town Meeting in May, voters approved creating a new zoning overlay district and then placing…

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Penguin Hall's Phase 1 Bumped Up from 150 to 192 Units

The Developer of Penguin Hall, Jim Mullen, said last week that he now plans to convert all of Penguin Hall into senior assisted living units in one phase.

The first phase of work to convert Penguin Hall in Wenham into a senior living units will include 192 units, up from the original plan for 150 units. The change has been made, according to property owner and developer Jim Mullen, based on feedback from future residents. As prospective owners heard the plans from Mullen, and Chris Wise of Wise Living, they asked whether there would be construction close-by if they bought a unit and moved in the main building. And Mullen said, yes, under the initial phasing plan that would have been the plan. "These people had a point," Mullen said. Under the new phasing plan, Phase 1 will include the conversion all of the main building – Penguin Hall – and Phase 2 will be construction of detached manor …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: Aug. 10

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

Today is Friday, Aug. 10. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Muggy: The temperatures should not get out of the low 80s on Friday, but for many people that may not be any consolation since the humidity will be very high. And there’s a slightly greater chance than Thursday of an afternoon thunderstorm on Friday - any time after 11 a.m. 2. Organics: As the temperatures rise again, we offer this reminder on how to avoid foul odors in your green organics bin - put your cooked food, meat and bones in paper bags in the freezer or fridge until pick-up day. Plus, spraying the mouth of the bin with vinegar water or Clorox water will help keep vermin from getting in there. 3. Story time: The crew from Up and People arrived in the two towns a …

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Patch Facts

Five Things to Know Today in Hamilton and Wenham: Aug. 2

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

Today is Thursday, Aug. 2. Here are five things you need to know: 1. Clouds: Thursday will be a cloudy day, with temperatures getting into the 80s. There’s also a chance of a rain show or a thunderstorm in the afternoon. 2. Penguin Hall: The proposed senior living project at Penguin Hall – the former Mullen property – in Wenham is hosting an open house at 1 p.m. on Thursday. The project, which requires a zoning change that was approved by Annual Town Meeting voters in May, continues to solicit commitments from prospective residents. 3. Pastels: Learn how to use pastels from a pro. Gregory Maichack is professional artist who brings professional grade materials to Hamilton-Wenham Library on Thursday night from 6-8 p.m. to provide “amazing …

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Mullen Discusses Previous Penguin Hall Plans, Septic System, Condo Amenities at Planned Project

The look at some of the highlights from Wednesday's live chat with Jim Mullen, one of the developers of a proposed senior living village at Penguin Hall in Wenham.

Jim Mullen, one of the two developers who are planning a 238 unit senior living community at Penguin Hall on the Mullen property in Wenham, joined us on Hamilton-Wenham Patch for a live chat on Wednesday. Michelle: How many total units are planned in phase one? Jim Mullen: Michelle, we will do a minimum of 150 units but are hoping to build as many as 180 in Phase One. Michelle: Can you talk about the decision to not place the affordable housing units at the Mullen site? Jim Mullen: Michelle, we don't have the room to build the affordable units on the property and also build the minimum number of units needed for a stable community. Because the Miles River runs through the property, much of is Zone A with its huge buffer zone requirements. …

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