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Gardner redevelopment authority presses Realty Income for rear‑main parcel as National Grid easements slow work
Summary
At its Oct. 22 meeting, the Garden Redevelopment Authority discussed acquisition of a parcel needed for the Rear Main project, including possible eminent‑domain steps against Realty Income (the successor owner to Cumberland Farms), and described schedule risks tied to outstanding National Grid easements needed to underground utilities.
The Garden Redevelopment Authority of Gardner met Wednesday, Oct. 22, and reviewed efforts to acquire a parcel needed to complete the Rear Main urban‑renewal project and the utility easement reviews that are slowing portions of Phase 1.
City staff told the authority that the parcel formerly associated with Cumberland Farms is now owned by Realty Income, a West Coast real‑estate investment trust, and that Realty Income has not responded to multiple outreach attempts. "I would say the GRA itself has the right to begin the process to take properties by eminent domain," a city presenter said, adding staff have called and emailed Realty Income several times and will continue outreach before pursuing compulsory acquisition.
The discussion matters because the project has external grant deadlines and construction milestones. City staff said the redevelopment work is funded in part by two MassWorks awards — one for $4.1 million…
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