Community Profile

By Teri Borseti, Globe Correspondent, 3/17/2001

Boxborough at a glance Incorporated: 1783 Area: 10.42 square miles Population: 4,988 Distance from Boston: 28 miles Median house price: $137,000 Tax rate: $15.50 Schools: One elementary, one regional middle and high school (in Acton) Nearest hospital: Marlborough

BOXBOROUGH - Last year, before Cisco Systems made its decision to move here, the town's annual tax rate was projected to be $18.50. [an error occurred while processing this directive]

Though all residents aren't happy that a high-tech company is moving in, there was a collective sigh of relief when a tax rate of $15.50 was announced.

The town administrator, Natalie Lashmit, said: ``Cisco is the backbone of the Internet. At one point they were bigger than Microsoft. We're lucky they decided to move to Boxborough. The revenue they've brought to town is responsible for the lowered tax rate.''

Lashmit is the town's first administrator. Two years ago when she took office, one of her priorities was attracting one or more large companies to town.

``The first thing we had to do was to petition the state to have Boxborough designated as an economic target. One of the requirements for that is having three million square feet of buildable space, and we had that,'' she said.

Ten years ago the town had zoned several parcels of land to be used as corporate space.

``People were pleading with the selectmen to get someone in there because the taxes were killing them. It took a while, but Cisco is now building on 1.4 million square feet of space and plans to employ over 3,000 people,'' she said.

Negotiations took time, but in the end both Cisco and Boxborough got what Lashmit calls ``a good deal.''

The computer company has been given a 15 percent tax break, a financial incentive for the next 20 years. In addition to the recent drop in taxes, the town has received considerable monies from the company.

To date, Cisco has footed the bill for the lengthy negotiation process, built a professional-size soccer field, and given $340,000 in cash that Boxborough plans to use for various projects, including development of a master plan. Cisco also will fund the renovation of the Route 495 interchange.

When the company learned that part of its newly acquired property was home to Blanding turtles, a rare species, it donated 60 acres as habitat, Lashmit said.

Boxborough has long been home to many agricultural and equestrian farms. The town got its name in 1783 because of its box-like shape on maps of the time.

When Littleton and Acton claimed two of the town's corners as their own, the shape changed but not the name.

Lashmit said the fifer depicted on the town seal is Luther Blanchard, who the town honors annually with a Fifers Day celebration put on by local Minutemen.

Route 111 is the main thoroughfare, and a few small businesses and the municipal buildings can be found clustered in one small area. There are no supermarkets and few retail shops.

The big event of the year takes place in September, when the town's Grange Association hosts an old-fashioned country fair featuring livestock, fresh produce, crafts and a pie-tasting complete with blue ribbons.

``We're trying to incorporate the new with the old. We needed a big company like Cisco but we're also trying to protect the rural character of the town. The town currently owns 14 percent of the town land, much of which was donated by longtime residents. We're planning to make a long trail for people with horses,'' Lashmit said.

The regional school system the town shares with Acton has an outstanding reputation and regularly scores high in both MCAS and SATs, Lashmit said.

Cisco will attract many new employees to the area and people will be looking for houses. However, according to local realtors, not many homes are for sale here.

At Coldwell-Banker Hunneman in Acton, Barbara Lamb said, ``There isn't much inventory available. We'd love to see more houses go in but land is scarce in Boxborough.''

Lamb said the town isn't a popular destination for first-time buyers. The least expensive home she had listed was a 1,300-square-foot ranch for $299,900. Other listings were for over $500,000.

Sadler Farms, a five-house subdivision under construction, will offer Colonials starting at $609,000. Another subdivision slated to be built near the center of town will have houses starting at $400,000.

``Most people never heard of us but now, with Cisco, people are going to know where we are,'' Lashmit said.