By Carol Britton Meyer

The long-vacant property that once housed the Lighthouse Restaurant, Sunset Marine, and an apartment building at the base of Allerton Hill could be redeveloped into nine townhouse-style units, according to plans filed with the zoning board of appeals.

Chris Reale, former owner of the Paragon Boardwalk, has applied for a special permit/variance to redevelop the roughly 143,288-square-foot property at 839, 843, and 845 Nantasket Avenue under the name The Point Nantasket Realty, LLC.

**PROMISING DEVELOPMENT:** The long-vacant property at 839-845 Nantasket Avenue at the base of Allerton Hill could be redeveloped into nine townhouse-style units under a plan to be reviewed by the zoning board next month. In better days, the property housed the Lighthouse Restaurant, Sunset Marine, and apartments, but has been empty and boarded up for several years. [Chris Haraden photo]

The proposal for the development – named “The Point” – includes constructing a multi-family residential building with nine separate townhouse-style modular “Nantucket-shingled bungalow” units with a shared deck and parking underneath, an accessory pavilion building, and two accessory canopy structures for covered parking.

The maximum height of the proposed buildings would be about 33.6 feet, and there would be a total of 41 parking spaces. An earlier proposal included 17 units.

A zoning board of appeals public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, February 3, at 7:15 p.m. The Point Nantasket Realty is filing the proposal on behalf of ARC DC, LLC, the current owner of the property.

Click here for links to the plans submitted to the zoning board of appeals

Community waterfront access

The proposal calls for demolishing the four existing structures – which are in a state of disrepair – repairing the existing dock, and building new residential units, a pavilion, and parking. Community waterfront access is planned for the northern section of the parcel, with a seasonal waterfront pavilion with outdoor seating and programming.

The property is located within the commercial recreational zoning district and FEMA flood zones and other coastal wetland resource areas.

“We’re excited to continue investing in Hull and transform a long-dilapidated site into something that enhances quality of life for everyone in the area. We look forward to engaging with the community and continuing to improve the project through the approval process,” Reale told The Hull Times. “After Paragon closed, we knew we wanted to stay invested in Hull in a way that aligns with our passions for building community amenities, fostering connection to nature, and low-impact development with understated design. This smaller, waterfront project allows us to do exactly that and stay connected with people in the community who have become a part of our lives and who continue to work to improve their community.”

As part of the redevelopment, the developer proposes paving a section of Cadish Avenue that crosses the property but is now unpaved. Referenced on the plans as Bay Avenue – the former name of Cadish Avenue – the road would be improved to a width of 20 feet and available for public use.

According to a legal notice published in The Hull Times for the hearing, there are more existing and proposed accessory structures than allowed under Hull’s zoning bylaw, and the existing and proposed front and side setbacks of the accessory structures are less than required.

While the main structure does not require zoning relief, the proposed covered parking structures and the public pavilion require a special permit from the ZBA.

Reale said he has been meeting with the site’s Allerton-area neighbors to solicit feedback on the design.

IN WITH THE NEW?: The property at the base of Allerton Hill that once housed Sunset Marine, the Lighthouse Restaurant, and an apartment building could be replaced by nine townhouse units if a developer’s plan is approved by the town. [Source: Hull Zoning Board of Appeals]

“This project has been and will continue to be a true team effort,” Reale said. “We’ve been working for over 18 months with a committed group of consultants, local residents, and stakeholders on designing a thoughtful, low-impact community.”

“The Point Allerton Association is in the process of soliciting neighborhood feedback on The Point proposal ahead of our meeting with the developers next week,” according to a statement the neighborhood group issued to The Hull Times. “Because the property sits at the entrance to Allerton Hill, Allerton homeowners have a rooted interest in how the units are designed and built, how the property will be utilized, and how public access to both the bayside beach and existing boat ramp at that location will be handled. The PAA is appreciative of efforts by Chris Reale and his team to address our neighborhood’s concerns in a collaborative and transparent manner. This cooperation has been, and will continue to be, essential to Allerton residents as the project moves forward.”

Previous uses of property

The property was previously operated as a combination of residential and marine-related uses, including a dock and restaurant. ARC DC purchased the site, once owned by businessman William R. Kelley, from a court-appointed receiver for $1.05 million in 2018.

Reale’s proposal also requires site plan review by the planning board. In addition, portions of the proposed redevelopment are subject to the jurisdiction of the Hull Conservation Commission under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, which will require additional permitting.

In a January 6 email to the Point Allerton Association, Reale provided an update about the proposals and encouraged feedback. In the email, Reale described key aspects of the project which he said is designed “to embrace the waterfront setting:”

• Weathered cedar and native landscaping that mirror the coastal environment while providing natural resilience for the bungalows.

• Shared front porches and craftsman details “to encourage connection and community.”

• Site design that creates a walkable neighborhood that flows naturally toward shared amenities that reconnect Hull’s working waterfront with recreational access for everyone and not just the nine families who own a bungalow.

• Improvements featuring a seasonal sunset pavilion next to the restored pier “where neighbors gather; a waterfront park ending at the bike path where the community can swim, paddle, or row; and flexible space for rotating design installations or a farm stand.”

These “aren’t vague concepts. They form the basis of this redevelopment, and they’re actionable activations that will transform a dilapidated site into a genuine community asset as soon as we obtain permits – enhancing quality of life for everyone living in the area,” Reale wrote. “This is architecture and landscape working together to strengthen both neighborhood bonds and our connection to the water that defines Hull.”

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