Newton takes lakefront site, but hard feelings linger in saga

Newton now owns an acre more of beachfront on Crystal Lake, but swimmers should wait before putting on sunblock and water wings there.

The former owner, who has been at loggerheads with the mayor over the property for years, vows he will not give up quietly.

"I can see why people barricade themselves in their houses with guns," said Patrick Hannon , 53 , former owner of 20 Rogers St. Hannon, who often uses colorful language and feisty rhetoric, said he does not own a gun and would not use one.

Using its power of eminent domain, the city took title to the property next to the popular public swimming hole on Wednesday. Hannon immediately threatened to move his battle with the city from the leafy Newton Highlands neighborhood to court.

The taking, for $2.3 million, is latest grievance Hannon has against Mayor David B. Cohen , whom Hannon calls "that jerk." Hannon made it even more personal last week.

"I'm going to show him in the end that the better person does win," Hannon said of Cohen.

Mayoral spokesman Jeremy Solomon said that the city has tried to have a cordial relationship with Hannon and holds no ill will toward him.

However, Solomon said, "At every turn, it seemed he felt the city somehow turned against him."

Thumbing his nose at authority is in keeping with Hannon, who says he grew up in modest circumstances just blocks away from the affluent Crystal Lake neighborhood.

Hannon says he always wanted to live on the lake.

After making a success of his solid-waste disposal company, Hannon purchased the lakefront property on Rogers Street, a 1-acre lot with a 1924 Colonial house and a garage, for $3 million in August 2002. Shortly thereafter, a fire left the house so damaged that he and his family never moved in.

Hannon wanted to raze the house and build a replacement, but the city's Historical Commission issued a yearlong demolition delay. Hannon contends the mayor was behind the order.

John Rodman , the Historical Commission's chairman, said at the time that the order was routine and would have been applied to any house older than 50 years.

Hannon's troubles with the city continued when he was ordered to fix a stone wall along a beach area that the property shares with the city under an old deed provision. Hannon never made the repairs.

City officials tried to buy Hannon out, but he refused to negotiate with Cohen.

Now, Hannon says, the city has shortchanged him with its payment.

"The fact is that they're not paying fair market value for the property," Hannon said.

Victoria Danberg , alderwoman from Ward 6 , which includes Crystal Lake, said property values in the neighborhood have dipped since Hannon bought the land.

"The city has paid the going rate for the economic cycle we happen to be in," Danberg said.

Solomon said it is unlikely Hannon could regain control of the property through the courts, unless he can prove the taking was not for public purposes. Still, he said, Hannon could be awarded a higher price if the case reaches a trial.

If that were to happen, Solomon said, Cohen would ask the Board of Aldermen for the additional payment. They appear to be on board.

"We'll pay whatever the fair market value is," said Kenneth Parker , Ward 6 alderman at large.

Cohen is setting up a committee to help decide the property's future. While some want a simple park, others want to increase parking for the public beach -- a recommendation that could upset neighbors.

Preparing the land for public use could cost up to $1 million, the city estimates.

Solomon said the city would fix the wall and get the beach ready for swimmers this summer.

Meanwhile, Hannon said he is moving north, near the Canadian border in Maine. He said he owns 300 acres on a lake, a NASCAR barn, gas station, and a restaurant. Hannon said his solid-waste company has already picked up business there.

Still, Hannon says, he will "occupy" the Newton property, and not make it easy for the city to take it over.

However, that warning came Wednesday during a cellphone conversation -- from Maine.

Connie Paige can be reached at cpaige@globe.com.