What Should Go Here at This Vacant Route 1 Site?

So what do you think should go here at this vacant property?

The site at 154A Newbury St., just over one acre, has been empty for about 10 years and is now zoned for commercial use in a Business Regional district on the southbound side of Route 1 in Peabody just over a mile from the Danvers line.

On one side, the land abuts the Peabody Logan Express, and on the other side sits in front of a mobile home park --- Whitestone Trailer Park.

Attorney John Keilty, who represented the owners in rezoning a portion of the parcel and seeking an easement from neighbors years ago, says there's no current activity with the site nor any permits waiting to be acted upon.

Keilty said the owners were approached in the past by parties interested in opening up a drive-through coffee shop or similar business.

The problem, however, was that required a special permit from the Peabody City Council and the location of the site at the convergence of I-95 and Route 1 South would create some tricky traffic hurdles.

Keilty said the near "hairpin" turn necessary to take a right into the property from I-95 would almost certainly lead to traffic accidents. Consequently, the owners never sought a permit from the council.

Keilty said they contemplated using the land for a residential use at one point, but didn't pursue rezoning it either.

As for prior use, Ward 5 City Councilor Dave Gamache recalls there used to be three mobile homes on the site.

Gamache said New England Modular Homes had model units setup there when the trailer park was first developed, but when the company removed the models, that was the last active use of the site.

That is unless you count the blue car sitting there now with "1-800-GOT-JUNK?" painted in its side.

Gamache also notes the location was a "tough spot" in which to locate a business.

A large sign on the property declares it is for sale, and according to real estate listings in recent years, the land was marketed around $800,000.

The owners, incidentally, are Donato Pizzuti and Anthony Rosati as trustees and both from Lynnfield. Pizzuti is the father of Linda Pizzuti, who is married to Boston Red Sox owner John Henry.