NEWBURYPORT — While the city took the waterfront property owned by American Marine and Boat Storage early this fall, negotiations have continued over the final price.
The city is now considering a substantial increase in what it's willing to pay — upping it by $250,000, to a total of $1.35 million.
City councilors voted in September to take the land at 115 Water St. in order to use it as part of the wastewater treatment plant upgrade.
The property, located next door to the plant on the banks of the Merrimack River, will be used for a staging area to hold the equipment and supplies for the project. Once the project is done, administrative offices for the plant will be built on a portion of the land.
American Marine and Boat Storage is owned by Anthony and Richard Vorias.
Mayor John Moak said Friday that the city has the land through the hostile taking, but negotiations have continued over the price, as the owner wants more than the city agreed to pay. Councilors voted to take it for $1.1 million. Today, they will consider a measure, sponsored by At-large Councilor Barry Connell, to increase the damages awarded to $1.35 million.
Moak said three appraisals of the property were done, and the city chose an amount it felt was "appropriate."
"The owner has the right to request a different price," the mayor said.
Rick Vorias said last week the owners are working "very, very closely with the city to finalize this taking and negotiation of the property."
The city acted "professionally, as always" during negotiations, Vorias said.
Vorias said the company will be relocating and opening new offices at Windward Yacht Yard this spring.
The city is forced to do an eminent domain taking of the property because the appraisal of the property is more than 25 percent higher than the average assessed value of the property, Mayor John Moak has said. Since that is the case, under the state law, the city could only acquire the land by a "friendly" or "hostile" eminent domain taking.
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