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Apr 15 2010

Federal money to be used to rehab warehouse

The city is receiving a $190,000 federal grant to help businessman Benny Espaillat make his building at 2 Charles St. look the way it did back in 1868.

City councilors this week unanimously passed a resolution authorizing the acceptance of a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The money will be used to restore the exterior of the blighted warehouse to its heyday, City Council documents said.

The restoration will include stripping wood shingles, attempting to restore some of the clapboards, painting, replacing windows, installing new copper gutters and downspouts, repairing slate, installing signs and repointing the chimney.

The building will be used for retail and office space.

Espaillat is in the Dominican Republic and could not be reached for comment.

The property contains 4,737 square feet of land. The building has a wood shingle exterior and slate roof, city assessing records show.

Espaillat bought the place from Apex Inc. for $120,000 in May 2009.

"Obviously, it's in a key spot downtown, so the building, I think, needs work," said Mayor William Manzi.

Espaillat developed the Espaillat Mills at 225 Broadway, which is home to multiple businesses.

"He's done a wonderful job of restoration there," Manzi said. "We're hopeful that we're going to get that here (on Charles Street) as well."

The city is entering into an agreement with Espaillat to store Methuen's historical collection in the Charles Street building and establish a museum for the collection, which includes artifacts and books, Manzi said.
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