Hadley Re-Use Proposals Include Senior Housing, Art Space, Hotel

Swampscott MA

25 August, 2021

11:05 AM

Description

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — A committee charged with exploring alternative uses for the Hadley Elementary School should it become available to the town came up with three proposed re-uses for the building and grounds. The proposals are based on the possibility the Swampscott Public Schools will no longer need the building once the new combined K-4 elementary school is completed. The proposals detailed the potential of a mixed-use commercial building, affordable housing or hospitality business. The 19-person committee's task was to come up with uses that did not involve market-rate housing. The committee used surveys and 20 public meetings to come up with the three proposals. "As a result of this large and talented committee, staff guidance, and the number of public meetings and opportunities for community feedback — this is truly a model for how this type of planning process should be done," Select Board Vice Chair Polly Titcomb said. "The efficiency and the comprehensiveness of the process is impressive." The mixed-use commercial proposal would include a dedicated community/arts space in the main building with the annex demolished to allow a new entry addition with elevator access and a community plaza. The affordable housing proposal would be a senior development with a public space on the ground floor of the main building and the annex turned into an accessible entrance. There would be a playground and community gathering space under this proposal. The hospitality proposal would look to transform the building into a historic boutique hotel with the existing auditorium being used as an event space and interior courtyard. An addition would become a modern lobby that connects to an exterior community plaza. "I'm incredibly pleased that the committee came back to the Select Board with three dynamic scenarios that are consistent with the Board's unanimous feeling that market-rate housing should not be part of the future of this property," Select Board Chair Peter Spellios said. "We want the community to feel confident that the town is dedicated to ensuring the building be reused in a way that immediately reflects the needs of the community." Spellios praised Swampscott Senior Planner Molly O'Connell for her leadership on the project work on the report. 'I'm really excited by the scenarios that have emerged throughout this process," O'Connell said. "There is real viability in these ideas and this building provides such an incredible opportunity for the town to fulfill community needs." The Swampscott Select Board voted unanimously Tuesday night to request authority via a town meeting warrant to prohibit market-rate housing in the building during the Sept. 13 town meeting. A request for proposal is planned to be requested in late fall. The full committee report can be found here. Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)