Revere Beach Parkway land donation continues down tough road

  The attorney for a Nahant resident attempting to donate a half-acre parcel of land on Revere Beach Parkway to the city was back before the City Council on Monday night. Last November Attorney Evan Pilavis brought the proposed donation before the council, but Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky raised issues about the condition of the property. The matter was placed in the council’s Ways and Means Subcommittee, but didn’t come forward for discussion before the end of last year’s council session.

  On Monday night, Pilavis was before the council once again requesting the city accept the parcel, and Novoselsky said he still has issues in accepting land he said he doesn’t believe is up to snuff. “I was here back in November,” said Pilavis. “Mr. Ferragamo last May sent out a mass mailing to our neighbors and also to the city saying he was interested in either selling or donating his property. At that point in time, the Conservation Commission unanimously accepted and approved the acceptance of the donation.”

  Pilavis said when he appeared before the council in November, there were issues raised about the property needing to be cleaned up, and the issue was sent to the Ways and Means Subcommittee. “Mr. Ferragamo, along with our land management expert, went back to the property; the property seems to be in good condition,” he said. “Mr. Ferragamo is actually the one who developed the land next to it that we are donating. To a person, each person in that development would like that land donated rather than have us develop or put on some sort of cell tower.”

  Novoselsky said he went down to the property on Monday and did not feel the property was in good condition. “I did see a shopping cart down there; I saw a lot of paper debris all over,” he said. “Now, I don’t want the City of Revere to take over property that is in poor condition, and I still have to talk to the neighbors.”

  Novoselsky recommended putting the donation request into the council’s Economic Development Subcommittee for further discussion and to give him time to meet with the neighbors.

  Pilavis countered that the issue was put into committee in November and that the council should take quicker action. “We moved forward, and if there was a shopping cart, it can be easily removed,” he said. “This is wintertime; you and I both know that between debris being thrown out of people’s cars that litters the sides of all of our streets, our homes, we have to pick it up. However, with respect to downed trees or anything, it is the wintertime; it is going to show these things.”

  Councillor-at-Large George Rotondo noted that the City of Revere is under no obligation to accept the gift of the land.

  Pilavis said he wished the council had brought up the land donation when it was put into committee last year, but City Council President Gerry Visconti noted that any items that did not come up before the end of the last term have to be resubmitted. “It’s been brought up; some councillors have some concerns, especially the ward councillor,” said Visconti.

  Rotondo asked that inspectional services be sent to the property to see if there are any potential violations due to debris on the property.