River beckons just outside new Danvers condo

This new townhouse condo along the Porter ­River in Danvers is designed for boaters as it includes a 35-foot boat slip right outside the door.

Unit 7 at Mariners Point at 58 River St. is one of 11 new units in four buildings being built on the two-acre site of a former marina. All have attached garages, covered back porches with water views and boat slips. The energy-efficient units have beige Hardiplank siding and architectural-grade Pella windows and glass sliders. Window moldings and other woodwork is also high quality.

The three-bedroom model Unit 7 has 2,353 square feet of living space on two levels with red oak flooring, and is listed for $775,000.

The unit has a small entry porch and front door that opens into a recessed-lit kitchen with antique white cabinets with serpentine trim, a wine rack and St. Cecilia granite counters with a glass-mosaic tile backsplash. There's a center island, a pantry/coat closet and stainless-steel GE Cafe appliances.

The large, open dining/living area has recessed and contemporary light fixtures and there's a gas fireplace with a black granite hearth in the living room.

A wall of windows and a sliding glass door lead out to a columned private back porch with river views. There will be a grassy common yard around the buildings, new granite and cement seawalls and boat slips.

Behind the living/dining area is a ceramic half bath, a washer/dryer hookup and direct access to a one-car garage.

A red oak staircase leads to three bedrooms on the second floor, off a hallway with a laundry closet with a stacked Samsung washer/dryer. The recessed-lit master bedroom suite has three large windows with river views, three closets with built-in closet systems and a bathroom with white Carrara marble vanity top, floors, walls and walk-in shower, plus a deep soaking tub.

The two other bedrooms are decent-sized with a second full bathroom with tumbled marble floors and tub/shower walls with glass-mosaic tile inlays.

The unit has two zones of gas-fired heating and central air conditioning. There's a private parking space in front of the garage, plus about a dozen visitor spaces.

The condo does not have a basement, but is built out of the flood zone so flood insurance should not be required.

Home showcase

• Address: 58 River St., Mariners Point, Unit 7, Danvers
• Bedrooms: Three
• Bathrooms: Two full, one half
• List price: $775,000
• Square feet: 2,353
• Price per square foot: $329
• Annual taxes: To be determined
• Monthly condo fee: $337
• Location: One mile to retail and restaurants in Danvers Square
• Built in: 2013-14
• Broker: Francine Cecieta of 
J Barrett & Co. at 978-808-0704

Pros:

• Private back porch looks out to river and boat slip
• Red oak floors, Pella windows, quality doors and moldings throughout
• Open kitchen dining/living area with 9-foot ceilings, wall of windows facing river
• Master bedroom suite with three closets, Carrara marble bathroom

Cons

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MGM gets first Mass. casino license

MGM is the state's first official casino operator, pending the outcome of efforts to repeal the state's casino law.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission yesterday voted unanimously to grant MGM a license for its $800 million casino, hotel and entertainment and shopping complex in downtown Springfield.

"People are hungry to work," Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said.

MGM estimates the project will bring 3,000 permanent jobs and 2,000 construction jobs to Springfield.

MGM will pay the $85 million licensing fee only after the state Supreme Judicial Court decides whether a referendum to repeal the state's casino law can be allowed on the November ballot.

That decision is expected before July 9.

If the court blocks the referendum, MGM would pay the fee in about eight business days.

If the court permits the question, MGM pays only if the referendum is defeated.

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Tundra’s great take on cargo

The Tundra SR5, Toyota's workhorse pickup truck, takes driving big cargo to a new level.

Whether in the city or on a work site, the 381-horsepower, 5.7-liter iForce V8 engine commands the road — it is the "Big Dog." Pulling into traffic and passing on the highway can be done with authority and with power to spare.

The Tundra's steering wheel-mounted shifter makes downshifting a breeze, taking some stress off the brakes and giving you more control in turns. Its big 8-foot, 1-inch-long bed is perfect for cargo, easily fitting sheetrock, plywood, mulch or anything else you're hauling. The Tundra is right at home in the lumber yard, in the backyard or the garden center.

With the test vehicle's Radiant Red paint showing significant wear after 9,000 miles, the need for a bed liner seems obvious unless you wear your scratches like a badge of honor.

Spartan, but well thought out, the Tundra's interior has some decent optional features such as a built-in 7-inch high definition touchscreen Entune GPS and Bluetooth, but lacks heated seats, lumbar support, and interior storage. A middle seat folds down next to the driver, but lacks decent storage for a cellphone and a 12-volt charging receptacle.

You may need a step ladder to climb into this vehicle, especially if some of your precious cargo includes kids who take it as a challenge to climb Mount Tundra. Even the driver may need some assistance as there is no handle and no step to help you in.

Getting used to this behemoth takes a while and squeezing into those tight parking spots in parking garages will take some practice. And with the double cab and long bed extending this truck to almost 20 feet 8 inches, you can pretty much forget about parallel parking this beast. The width and the extra row of seating makes this a very roomy vehicle.

The good news is with all of the extra cargo space you can carry plenty of extra gasoline — and you may need it as it burns 13 miles per gallon in the city, 17 on the highway.

The Tundra, with a suggested retail price of $37,101 as tested, comes standard with a 2-inch receiver hitch. Both 7-pin and 4-pin trailer wiring hook-ups sit side by side on the rear bumper with weather protective housings.

Switching to four-wheel-drive was simple — especially compared to the recently reviewed 4Runner — as was getting into tow mode. Side view mirrors set further away from the vehicle make sense after you figure out how to set them up and help you to see what you are towing.

The bottom line: this Tundra is a tough truck that likes to take on tasks.

2014 Tundra SR5

• MSRP: $34,345
• As Tested: $37,101
• MPG: 13 city, 17 highway

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Mohegan Sun can't keep lawsuit documents private

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Mohegan Sun has lost its bid to have certain documents kept out of the public eye in a civil lawsuit over its failed Palmer casino plan.

The Connecticut-based casino operator and its partner in the failed Palmer venture, Northeast Realty Associates, will not be allowed to designate materials "attorneys' eyes only" during the case's discovery process, Hampden Superior Court Judge Richard Carey ruled Friday.

But the judge also ruled that the two sides do not have the right to provide state gambling regulators copies of discovery materials, as Northeast Realty sought.

The judge said the types of materials expected to be the focus of the lawsuit would be "adequately protected" without such confidentiality agreements, which he said are sometimes needed to protect trade secrets and other sensitive information.

Northeast Realty, based in Longmeadow, said in a statement that it was pleased with the decision, which it said will "lead to the production of documents by Mohegan without delay."

Northeast Realty alleges Mohegan Sun violated an exclusivity agreement preventing the casino from pursuing a gambling license anywhere else in Massachusetts other than the 150-plus acres it leased from Northeast. It's seeking monetary damages, an amount to be determined at trial.

Mohegan Sun, which has declined to comment on the lawsuit on previous occasions, denies violating the agreement in its legal filings.

Voters in Palmer rejected Mohegan Sun's casino plan in November 2013. Within weeks, the horse racing track Suffolk Downs announced it reached a deal with Mohegan Sun to operate a casino on the Revere side of its property.

That more than $1 billion proposal is one of two plans vying for the lucrative Boston-area casino license.

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State senate OKs $11 minimum wage

Business groups fear it will be harder to make it in Massachusetts if a compromise bill passed by the Senate that would hike the state's minimum wage to the highest in the country is signed into law.

Top House and Senate negotiators struck a deal Wednesday to raise the current $8 per hour minimum wage to $11 per hour by 2017, and the Senate quickly passed it yesterday on a 35-4 vote. The bill does not include a Senate proposal that would have tied the hike to inflation. And it goes beyond a House proposal for a $10.50 per hour wage, without automatic increases for inflation. The House is expected to vote on the compromise bill next week.

"Too many people are trying to live and raise a family in Massachusetts on the current minimum wage and failing," Senate President Therese Murray said. "These changes will make a real difference in the lives of our residents and I am proud of the Legislature for this great accomplishment. But, we can't stop here."

But Jon Hurst, president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts, warned the minimum wage hike could drive many stores out of business.

"I am really concerned about the future and viability of thousands of small businesses," Hurst said. "It's a 38 percent increase in the minimum wage, far above any other state."

While Associated Industries of Massachusetts viewed the lack of indexing to inflation as a small victory, a spokesman said the higher wage will hurt businesses.

"There's plenty of economic reasons not to raise the wage," AIM spokesman Chris Geehern said.

But Jim Klocke, executive vice-president of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, said the deal is fair because it balances the higher wage with unemployment insurance reform for business owners.

Business for a Fair Minimum Wage, a Boston-based network of business owners and executives, applauded the compromise bill.

"A higher minimum wage will boost sales, keep more dollars circulating in our local economy, and reduce the strain on our social safety net caused by poverty wages," said Holly Sklar, the group's director.

Deb Fastino, co-chairman of Raise Up Massachusetts, called the bill a "positive step," but said the group for now would keep collecting signatures for a November ballot question to increase the minimum wage to $10.50.

"It has to pass ... through the House and get to the governor, and if all of this happens before the deadline, then we will make our decision," she said.

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Hate Cape traffic? Join the (Bay) Club

Like the Cape but hate the bridge traffic?

Waltham builder/developer Paul Abelite has a solution.

He's building moderate-sized single-families priced in the mid-$500,000 to mid-$600,000 range on the grounds of the toney Bay Club at Mattapoisett, a 625-acre enclave in this quaint, unspoiled town on Buzzards Bay, with no need to cross the Sagamore or Bourne bridges. Houses at the Bay Club are normally custom built and larger — up to 8,000 square feet — with the club selling the lots for $250,000 and up.

Abelite and business partner Lisa Nickerson say their 36-home subdivision, called The Preserve, is bringing a price point to the gated golf club that will draw middle-class buyers — those looking for a vacation house or a full-time residence.

"We're offering a chance to get something above and beyond your typical sub­division house," said Abelite, president of Aerie Homes. "You can have the lifestyle of a golf community in an area also surrounded by a town forest and a nature reserve that's also just down the street from Buzzards Bay."

The Cape-style homes at The Preserve come in three different styles, from traditional to more loft-like, with cedar-shingle exteriors, outdoor patios and attached two-car garages. All homes are three-bedroom, ranging from 1,900 square feet to 2,550 square feet, with master suites on the first or second floors. Owners can customize their homes with a wide variety of wood flooring, cabinets and granite counters. Upgrades include everything from a custom sunroom to a golf cart bay attached to the garage.

We took a look at the completed "Hawthorn" model unit, a three-bedroom, 21⁄2-bathroom house with 2,550 square feet offered at $650,000. It features an open living/dining/kitchen area with wide-plank oak floors and a gas fireplace, and a granite counter, dark-stained oak cabinet and stainless-steel kitchen. The first floor has a carpeted master bedroom suite with a ceramic-tiled bathroom. The second floor has a vaulted ceiling family room and two additional guest bedrooms and tiled bathroom. There's a full basement and attached two-car garage.

"We're building more modest-sized homes that buyers are looking for, but using high-quality materials and craftsmanship," said Nickerson, a partner in the project who also owns a Waltham-based public relations firm that is handling the sales and marketing. "Owners are free to join the club or not."

Homeowners can join the Bay Club as social members for $10,000, which provides access to tennis courts, a junior Olympic pool, fitness and racquetball facilities, club restaurant and cultural activities. A golf membership for the 18-hole parkland-style course designed by Brad Faxon costs $30,000.

"This club was designed from the ground up to appeal not just to golfers, but to those who want family and cultural activities," said Bay Club general manager Craig Fleming, citing a recent cooking demonstration by a Boston chef and a lecture by a Harvard professor.

Dave Andrews, director of sales and membership development at Bay Club, said 80 percent of the club's 54 custom-built homes are primary residences, with a number of residents commuting to work as far away as downtown Boston.

"We think The Preserve houses are high quality and a great buy, considering the amenities we offer." Andrews said. "And you're surrounded by green space, which takes up 90 percent of the club site."

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Firm fixing Health Connector site says it’s on target

The head of the company brought on to fix the Bay State's failed Obamacare website told the Herald he's sure his company can get the Health Connector portal ready for a crucial fall relaunch — but stopped short of a guarantee.

"Our confidence level couldn't be higher," said Sanjay Singh, CEO of hCentive, which developed the software the state hopes to use. "I've never seen so much progress in four weeks in any other state we have worked in."

Health Connector officials demonstrated parts of the software at a board meeting yesterday. They are scrambling to meet a June 30 deadline to finish the website's foundation.

"We are very, very, very, very high probability that we will hit that," Singh told the Herald.

State officials also yesterday allowed the 227,374 Bay Staters who were moved to temporary Medicaid coverage — they pay no premiums — to stay on through the end of the year. It has cost $90.5 million to keep people on the temporary insurance, as of June 5, according to Secretary of Administration & Finance Glen Shor.

Critics have pointed out that just about anyone could sign up for the temporary coverage. New state Obamacare czar Maydad Cohen, however, insisted few actually did so.

"Right now, our initial estimate is under 1 percent would be potentially ineligible for that," said Cohen.

The health insurance plans are concerned about how long the temporary coverage may stretch.

"They're not in the right coverage," said Lora Pellegrini of the Massachusetts Association of Health Plans. "It could have the impact of folks who haven't paid a premium of 'Why am I suddenly paying a bill?' That's going to be the challenge, and something we all need to work on."

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Let’s Face it, selling your data beats fee

A big fat cry-me-a-river to all the outrage over Facebook's announcement that it will sell your web-browsing data to advertisers. Did people think Facebook was collecting data about your every move on the Web just to keep itself warm at night?

Either way, here are five reasons that privacy advocates need to calm down over Facebook and start worrying about more serious threats to personal liberty:

5) You have more control than you think. Facebook is also allowing users to see why they are being shown certain ads. You can click through your full marketing dossier — your likes, web browsing history and interests — and add or change the information Facebook uses for advertisement targeting.

4) You're going to see ads anyway, so why not keep them relevant? If you long for an ad-free world, then the World Wide Web just isn't for you.

3) You can opt out of online ads at the Digital Advertising Alliance (aboutads.info/choices) or sign up for services like Ghostery that keep your browsing private. It's really not that hard.

2) There are bigger fish to fry. Please direct all this privacy outrage toward a preemptive strike on the next frontier of invasion: wearables and implantables. That's where the real threats to liberty and security lie. Facebook ads are a lost cause, but how about pharmaceutical ads that target whatever ailment is registering on those fitness wristbands of the future? Not only is that invasive, it's actually a hazard to your health.

But there's still time to act. So let's talk about that instead.

1) It's either you or the ads. Because Facebook is a public company, it has to make more and more revenue each quarter (as Wall Street demands). It can either do that by stepping up its ad game or by instituting a steadily increasing membership fee.

If Facebook wanted to keep to its current schedule of revenue, it would have to charge $4.10 per user per quarter right now. And that's assuming it doesn't lose any of its 609 million active daily users by instituting a fee.

So unless you want to pay $12 this year, and more next year and the year after that, thank Facebook for finding a way to make money that doesn't take dollars from your pocket.

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Noncompetes to get hearing

A top lawmaker is reversing course, saying his committee will hold a hearing on a bill that would ban noncompete agreements as business groups on both sides of the divisive issue say they are standing firm.

"Over the past several weeks, there has been a healthy and productive dialogue about the proper role of noncompetes in our state's economy," said Rep. Joseph Wagner (D-Chicopee), co-chairman of the Joint Committee on Economic Development and Emerging Technologies. "There are more options than either accepting noncompetes as they exist currently or banning them altogether. There is a middle ground that should be explored."

Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed a ban on noncompete agreements — a clause in employment contracts barring workers who leave a company from joining or starting another company in the same field for a year or two — as part of his economic development bill. Just two weeks ago when House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo unveiled his economic development bill that didn't include a ban on noncompete clauses, Wagner, who helped craft that bill, said the issue was "not the most significant matter."

While the omission in DeLeo's bill was seen as a setback for supporters of the ban, now the tide appears to have shifted with plans for a hearing on a standalone bill.

"It looks promising that a bill could be pushed forward during this legislative session," said C.A. Webb, executive director of New England Venture Capital Association, which represents many tech companies that want to see noncompete agreements banned.

Critics say the agreements stifle innovation and prevent employee mobility, while supporters say noncompetes are crucial for protecting intellectual property and trade secrets.

Yesterday, Patrick said the ultimate success or failure of the proposed ban would come down to the various business groups that have an interest in the issue.

"If we can get the industry to come to the table and work together and compromise, I think we'll get something done," Patrick said. "The extent to which it gets pushed depends on people who are working in the field."

Chris Geehern, a spokesman for Associated Industries of Massachusetts, said there has been no change to the group's staunch opposition to a ban.

"We think the current law governing noncompetes works well," Geehern said. "We frankly don't see any need to change the law."

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Deval Patrick inks pact with Japanese trade organization

Officials expect a new pact with a Japanese trade organization will strengthen the growing economic relationship between the Bay State and the Asian industrial giant.

"We've already seen a trend of Japanese life science companies choosing Massachusetts," said Angus McQuilken, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center. "We expect to see that trend accelerate."

Gov. Deval Patrick yesterday signed an agreement with the Japan External Trade Organization to formalize a partnership "facilitating business and investment opportunities," according to the agreement.

"Japan is important to us," Patrick said. "(This is) an umbrella agreement, we will build out from here."

The state and the trade group began working on the Memorandum of Understanding after Patrick's economic development trade mission to Japan in December.

"Today is a new beginning in the history between Massachusetts and Japan," said Hiroyuki Ishige, chairman of JETRO.

Patrick said there are roughly 130 Japanese companies doing business in Massachusetts, which account for 10,000 jobs.

"That is important economic prosperity for us," Patrick said.

Japanese life sciences companies MBL International and Scivax will open a new lab today in Woburn, McQuilken said. The agreement is expected to have an impact throughout the Bay State business community.

David Brewster, president of energy intelligence software provider EnerNOC, said: "I firmly believe that the MOU that (was) signed will continue to foster collaboration and will bolster innovation between these two economies."

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