The Greening of Westboro

I have seen the future of Main Street in West Lebanon, and it's -- no kidding -- Enfield Village. Enfield? Yes, and if you've been to Enfield lately, then you know just what I mean.

Enfield is a good example of what could happen on a larger scale in West Lebanon and the Westboro rail yard. By examining the fundamentals of what went into Enfield's turnaround, you'll understand why I have joined other local investors who consider Westboro one of the most intriguing development sites in the Upper Valley. Here’s what it takes:

Similarly, the old buildings in the Westboro rail yard still stand -- decrepit but ready to adapt. And like Enfield Village, which is within a few hundred yards of Mascoma Lake, the Westboro site enjoys a phenomenal view of the Connecticut River for a half mile. If the roundhouse can be adapted, then the first floor becomes a farmers market and river-view restaurant. The new upper floors, with drop-dead gorgeous views of the mouth of the White River, become some of the highest priced office space in the region.

Likewise, the Lebanon City Council has had a conceptual breakthrough and now recognizes that the future of Westboro is not so much about creating a riverside recreation venue as it is about igniting redevelopment along the adjoining under-valued Main Street. The new Kilton Library will anchor the area, as it becomes more of a neighborhood for its residents and less of an unsightly inconvenience on the way to some place else. This is the goal of an ad hoc committee of stakeholders led by City Councilor Karen Liot-Hill.

In West Lebanon, the views from the railroad bridge to White River, along with a Westboro riverwalk, will be as powerful an attraction as the Northern Rail Trail in Enfield, and a community asset as well. You can walk the proposed path, as I did recently, by following a cleared track along the city's sewer right of way. Start near the roundhouse, passing under the railroad bridge to White River Junction.

Looking ahead 10 years, the Northern Rail Trail will be complete to near Concord, with extensions via other developing trails to Laconia/Meredith, the Seacoast and Boston. Downtown White River Junction and Westboro will become known as a major New England “light biking” destination, popular with what is the most desirable consumer profile one could want -- young families and upscale seniors. (New swimming pools, basketball arenas, rowing venues, and bike trails … isn't this the “Upper Recreation Valley?”)

Public amenities, including a boat launch at Bridge Street, and a riverwalk from there to South Main/Route 12A would also improve West Lebanon and lure private investors. These amenities, along with restaurants and cafes, would legitimize the area as a place to be, not just a place to drive through.

Where to on Westboro now? As a prominent Lebanon businessman noted recently, the city must use all its political power to get the state to complete the rather simple environmental clean-up at Westboro. Since New Hampshire state government is weak and a virtual pauper, the task will be difficult. But it must happen. Once the clean-up is done, the city can purchase the property from the state for its assessed value of less than $200,000, which is, I figure, about 10 percent of its real value.

Lebanon has contracted with Bob White of SVE Associates to produce a conceptual plan for public amenities around Westboro, and private developers will come forward with their own ideas soon enough. In fact, construction of a new West Lebanon Supply is under way, to include a pet pharmacy.

A consulting firm, working for the Upper Valley Trails Alliance, has begun evaluating use of the double-width railroad bridge between Westboro and White River Junction, funded by a grant from the National Park Service. Once open to pedestrians and bicycles, the bridge, with its spectacular views, would become a major regional attraction, connecting Westboro to the White River Junction Welcome Center and Transportation Museum in the Amtrak Station and to the Green Mountain Railroad excursion train, to mutual advantage of all.

(Should funding become available, an expansion of this study, looking at ways to “close the gap” between downtown Lebanon and West Lebanon via the rail corridor will follow. The Rotary Skateboard Park and soon-to-be built Lower Meadows playing fields off the Miracle Mile would be stops on this route. How good is that?)

What about the Claremont Concord Railroad? It will continue to operate under a lease from the state. At some point, there will likely be incentives for railroad operations to relocate to the industrial zone in the sand and gravel area further up the line. That was the original concept when the city used its influence to reopen the Westboro yard in the mid-'90s. It just didn't work out that way -- but anything is possible, as you can see.

Dick Mackay

The writer is a partner in Railroad Row LLC in White River Junction and chairman of the Friends of the Northern Rail Trail, Grafton County.

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