Nine-unit townhouse complex proposed to replace crumbling eyesore at base of Allerton Hill

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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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Weir River Water System’s hearing on rate increase set for Wednesday

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The Weir River Water System Board of Water Commissioners will hold a joint meeting with the Hingham Advisory Committee on Wednesday, January 28, at Hingham Town Hall, Central Meeting Room (second floor), from 6 to 7 p.m.

This meeting is to review the proposed FY27 water system usage rate increase and associated capital debt service assessment for single family residential customers.

Additional details – including in-person and Zoom options – and the agenda are available on the Town of Hingham website. Click here.

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Aquarium condominium complex marketed as package; owner now says individual unit sales will resume

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the residences at the aquarium was built on the site of the former atlantic aquarium at 120 nantasket Avenue.

Clarification: After publication of this story, the Times was contacted by Residences at the Aquarium co-owner Jonathan Leavitt, who said that the building now will be marketed as individual condominium units.

Original headline: Aquarium condominium complex to be sold; new owner plans to rent out all 21 units

By Carol Britton Meyer

The owners of The Residences at the Aquarium condominium complex at the base of Atlantic Hill will sell all 21 units to an unnamed buyer at the beginning of February. The new owner plans to operate the building as a rental property, according to one of the current owners.

The 21 units were offered as a package to potential buyers by the Marcus & Millichap investment firm: www.marcusmillichap.com/properties/189236/residences-at-the-aquarium.

Enrique Darer, who co-owns the four-story property with Jonathan Leavitt, identified the buyer as a “big real estate owner who wants to purchase the whole building and rent it out as residential units,” but declined to provide the person’s name. He said they were approached last summer while the building was still being developed.

A certificate of occupancy is expected to be issued shortly, Darer told The Hull Times this week. Leavitt and Darer paid $1.45 million for the then two-story concrete block building at 120 Nantasket Avenue, which formerly housed the Atlantic Aquarium, in August 2022.

Their plan was to sell the units as condominiums. Prices ranged from $699,000 for a second-floor unit to $2.45 million for one of the penthouse residences.

“We had already sold three of the units to friends, who are agreeable to the [upcoming] sale,” Darer said.

After the offer was made on the property – which Darer did not disclose but said was a “good price” – it was taken off the market.

“We were hoping to close at the end of the year, but that didn’t happen, so it will be next month,” Darer said.

He and Leavitt were amenable to the sale “because if you sell [the entire building] to one buyer, only one sale is involved rather than our initial plan to sell 21 units with separate closings,” he said.

When asked if there were other reasons for the planned sale, Darer said there were not. “There is nothing mysterious about it,” he said.

The development is a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. The largest units are penthouses.

“They all have beautiful views facing the bay,” Darer said. Amenities include parking, a covered pool, and a gym. “It’s a fantastic building.”

These are among 4,000 residential units Darer said he has developed in Massachusetts, Vermont, Georgia, Florida, and New Hampshire throughout his career.

“This is my first project in Hull,” he said. “I fell in love with the location and the town, but if an opportunity comes around, I’m always game to do it!”

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Monday’s townwide outage fuels questions about delays with light plant’s generators

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By Laurie Kirby

When power went out across town in the aftermath of Monday’s snowstorm – and the light plant’s generators were slow to restore temporary power due to a “load issue” – Hull’s Laurie Kirby ventured out to see how residents responded to the unexpected blackout.

The frozen morning in Hull began in the warm afterglow of victory – the New England Patriots tackling the snow and the Houston Texans on Sunday to clinch a berth in the AFC championship game with the Super Bowl in sight. While Tom O’Callahan clicked away on his computer in the Samoset area to tackle some work, the lights flickered like the Houston Texans and then clicked off; his computer powered down with a groan.

“We just lost power on Samoset,” he remarked. He wasn’t alone.

At approximately 1:10 p.m. on Monday (the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday), all power went out in all of Hull.

Swiftly, the Verizon auto-message popped on the cell phone alerting Verizon Fios customers, “We’ve detected a commercial power issue that may affect your Verizon services. For more info, please visit Verizon.com/outage.”

Within the hour, Hull Fire Chief Chris Russo posted on the Town of Hull Emergency Management Facebook page the following:

“Hi Everyone,

“We are aware the power is down townwide. Crews are responding from NGRID to locate the issue. This is involving Hull 1-2 outside of town. HMLP working to bring up the generators. More to come…”

The Hull Municipal Light Plant rents large backup generators from Milton CAT Power Systems in the event of a townwide outage, such as damage to National Grid’s feeder lines that bring power to Hull through Hingham. The $800,000 cost is tacked onto the monthly electric bill for ratepayers.

To date, the generators have smoothly fired up until whatever infrastructure problem (or falling tree in Hingham) could be remedied.

O’Callahan, with good humor on that chilly, powerless Monday, admitted that while the power outage was a pain, his work could wait, but he looked me straight in the eye and said, “I just wondered, does the town still have the generators? Are they gonna go up today?”

“Where are the generators?” asked a ruddy-complected man filling up at the Kenberma Food Mart and gas station on Nantasket Avenue to the two other men trying to work the pumps in the cold.

GENERATING INTEREST: With the power out all over town, Tony Mazza stopped by the Kenberma Food Mart and gas station to fill up his fuel containers to keep his generator going. [Laurie Kirby photo]

Tony Mazza of Hull was kneeling below one of the pumps, trying to funnel the gas into several bright red, five-gallon plastic fuel containers.

“My wife was cooking and the power just went out! I’m trying to fill up some tanks here to run my generator and see how long the power runs,” a focused Mazza said.

Reporter: “You have a generator? I thought Hull had a generator.”

Mazza: “They do!”

Another voice, the man with the rosy cheeks, piped in from pump #2, “There are generators,” he emphasized as the gas flowed into his vehicle’s tank.

I turned to face him. Reporter: “Why aren’t they on?”

Answer: “That’s an excellent question; you should ask the ah, light power company that.”

Reporter: “Are you paying for those generators?”

Answer: “Yes, I am. I am not happy.”

But what all the gentlemen shared in conversation, seemingly strangers each, was how come the generators hadn’t flipped on yet? Compared to the outages “B.G.” (before generators), one hour was nothing. And the several inches of fresh snow promised nature’s freezer for any souring milk. But, the question, all jokes aside, was a serious one. What had caused the delay in at least two of the generators?

On Facebook, locals were chiming in.

Mike Lutz wrote, “Better be turned on by the time we get home at 5…” getting a heart emoji for his missive.

Mimi Holden asked, “Do we have to wait until they find the source before the generators take over? “ and Jessica Digan asked “Y” the town generator hadn’t “kicked in yet” and “thank God I have my own but yet we are still stuck paying for urs mmmmmmmmm.”

A drive down Nantasket Avenue became perilous; none of the lights were working, and intersections became a cat-and-mouse-game. Hull seemed eerily quiet. Daddy’s seemed to have its generator groove on, firing up its own backup juice. The Nantasket Beach Resort would soon follow. Lights began to hesitantly flicker in the business block near the beach.

Chief Russo, true to his word to update residents again on FB sometime between 3:19 and 3:42 p.m. on Monday:

“Hi Everyone: The power issue was found off Hobart St. in Hingham with Hull 1-2 compromised.

“NRGID has crews on scene and working for the past hour plus to get the lines cleared and back up from tree damage.

“Our HMLP crews along w/CAT Gen. crews have been working to get the townwide generators up and on line but have encountered a load issue slowing the process and protocols to safely energize Hull 1-2 on our side. Please plan for 2-4 more hours of interrupted services as crews continue to work on this matter on Hobart Street restoring Hull 1-2.”

It indeed was a Hingham tree. Rob from Hull pondered whether it might make more sense to cut down the trees near the infrastructure and get rid of the need for generators outright.

Down at the generator site, men in hard hats talked quietly and went into the trailer to confer. A Milton CAT service truck rolled in, along with several black SUVs. No one was willing to be interviewed for this story, but it was evident that there was quiet frustration and focus.

Two calls out to the executive office at Milton CAT have not been returned, but a woman at the office did speak to me on the phone briefly and said she understood, with even colder weather in the forecast, why residents would be concerned about the heat being off and the generators coming on.

SMOKE SIGNAL: When National Grid’s supply lines in Hingham failed on Monday, the entire town was plunged into darkness. The light plant’s rented generators along George Washington Boulevard, shown here with some smoke billowing out of one section, did not restore temporary power quickly enough for some of the residents we encountered around town. [Skip Tull photo]

At 4:20 p.m. Monday afternoon, the computers groaned back to life, the flights flickered back on, and the heat blasted along the lower-letter streets and beyond to the Point.

Word on the street is that the generators kicked back in sooner on the other half of Hull.

Hull Light Operations Manager Mike Schmidt, in an email response to my question about why that had occurred, wrote, “The customers closest to the generators were energized first. The Village was last to be energized by the generators only due to the layout of our distribution system.”

Hull was now on full generator power.

At around 7:10 p.m., Tom’s computer whooshed off again, along with all the lights, and the heat. Hull was “switching over” and putting the generators to bed. It took all of 10 minutes.

On Tuesday, January 20, at just after 10 a.m., Hull Town Hall issued a press release summarizing the town’s experience:

“On Monday, January 19, 2026, the Hull Municipal Light Plant (HMLP) responded swiftly and effectively to a power outage affecting the entire town, triggered by the loss of both National Grid transmission lines (H1 and H2) serving Hull.

“At approximately 1:20 p.m., the National Grid Dispatch notified HMLP that both lines had tripped out on fault. Hull Light linemen were immediately dispatched to verify conditions on the local system, confirming that both incoming feeds were out. The outage was attributed to tree damage on Hobart Street in Hingham, which impacted the National Grid lines.

“In accordance with established emergency protocols, preparations for generator transfer began without delay. Milton CAT was contacted to dispatch technicians to Hull to assist with startup and operation of the town’s backup generators. The transfer process was safely and collaboratively coordinated among Milton CAT technicians, Hull Light personnel, and National Grid.”

When asked why it took so long for Hull residents to see the light, Schmidt, the light plant’s operations manager, replied by email: “Thanks for reaching out. Please see attached press release. The generators did run for four hours yesterday. It could take up to three hours to transfer the entire town to generator power.”

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As town prepares for potential storm, board told light plant ended National Grid suit

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By Carol Britton Meyer

Among the subjects brought up during the town manager and select board reports at the end of Wednesday’s meeting were the expected major weekend-into-Monday snowstorm and accompanying low temperatures, and the status of the town’s lawsuit against National Grid.

Select board member Jerry Taverna asked whether the town has plans for warming centers, such as the Memorial School, which was used for that purpose some time ago.

LT. GOV. Kim DRISCOLL, STATE SEN. PATRICK O’CONNOR, and State REP. Joan MESCHINO joined Town manager Jennifer Constable and town staff to visit the state department of conservation and recreation properties in hull and discuss ways the agency can partner with the local government.

“That would be the call of the emergency management team,” Town Manager Jennifer Constable responded. “The senior center, library, and other public facilities are also options,” depending on when they would be open.

She suggested that the best option to stay in touch during potential storm-related power outages – when cell phones might run out of power and with so many people no longer having landlines – is to have a battery-powered radio available for updates, including from local WATD 95.9 FM radio.

“The town will post [storm-related] information – including on social media – when we are able to do, and we have the Code Red system, although it’s not designed for power outages,” Constable said.

A pre-storm meeting of town officials was planned for Thursday.

Constable also said that the town is in need of plow drivers, while also commending the job the DPW does in keeping the roads clear.

She also asked that residents become familiar with the town’s storm-related rules related to parking and other considerations and to abide by them, which isn’t always the case, she said.

Residents are also asked to shovel out the fire hydrants near their homes, to be patient while waiting to have their streets cleared, and remain cognizant that the plowing is done according to certain priorities.

On another but related subject, select board member Brian McCarthy asked for an update on the status of the town’s lawsuit against National Grid over maintenance of transmission lines that supply electricity to Hull.

“The light board voted not to pursue the case based on town counsel’s recommendation,” Constable said.

According to newly appointed light plant manager and former operations manager Mike Schmitt, “We have had pretty good luck with the transmission lines” for some time.

Constable noted that since the lawsuit was filed a number of years ago, there haven’t been any widespread National Grid-related outages.

“We’re not pursuing the lawsuit, because if a major catastrophe and/or multiple outages were to occur, we could revisit [it],” Schmitt said.

This option would not be available if the town were to continue with the lawsuit, according to Constable.

“National Grid considers [the town] to be one customer,” McCarthy noted, while emphasizing that the age of the power lines is a major issue.

Another reason not to pursue the lawsuit, Constable said, is that there would have been no jury and that “a single judge would have made the decision. It would be us against a major utility … National Grid could demonstrate the work they have done to prevent future outages – the series of repairs on the power lines.”

She added that a top town capital project is “to identify an alternative means of transmission.”

In unrelated business, Constable reported on a recent one-and-a-half-hour meeting among town officials, the lieutenant governor, and the new Department of Conservation & Recreation commissioner, among others, to talk about various projects.

These included the proposed two-way road plan, the town’s climate resiliency work, and DCR’s recent vulnerability assessment on its properties.

At that time, the group visited a number of sites, including the Nantasket Beach Reservation.

State Representative Joan Meschino and state Senator Patrick O’Connor participated in the meeting, with the Allerton seawall project and the work needed at Fort Revere also topics of conversation.

“It was a very productive meeting, and I anticipate future conversations and a strengthening of the relationship among the administration, the DCR, and the town,” Constable said.

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In the Sport-light: Roundup of news from Hull's wide world of sports

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HOME COURT ADVANTAGE: Above left, Erin Walsh takes the ball up the court, while at right, Georgia White goes up for the ball during the Pirates’ 32-7 home win over Excel Academy Charter School on January 12. [Photos courtesy of Nicole Townsend]

Compiled by Matt Haraden

• Eighth Grade Girls Basketball had an epic battle against Braintree on Saturday, January.17, winning 39-32. The Lady Pirates were led by Nadia Hristov, who had several three-pointers and finished with 13 points. Also on the scoresheet were Devon English with 10 points, Delaney McAuliffe with nine points, Olivia Zalios scoring six, and Ella Kiley with two points. Sophie Munn, Frankie Buchleitner, Kelsea Dunlap, and Kennedy Huxtable added strong performances. The Lady Pirates move to 4-3 and are currently in second place in their division.

• Eighth Grade Boys Basketball posted a 2-0 record over the weekend, starting off with a 61-45 win over Pembroke, led by 25 points by Billy Littlefield. Joe Cronin finished with 10 points and 10 assists. They were led defensively by Shaine Hutchenson, who also chipped in with six points. Gavin Griffin had a solid game on both ends of the court. Joseph Elisii-Johnson had 12 points, and Evan Doyle had four points and played very strong defensively. On Sunday, the boys beat a tough Milton team, 41-38, bringing their record to 5-2 on the back of a strong offensive performance by Joseph Elisii-Johnson, who finished with 24 points. Jack Ranger had five points and played strong defense throughout. Jacob Goodrich had four points off the bench for the Pirates. James Rand, fresh off the all-star break in Florida, had three steals and two blocks. Brayan Telles was an intimidating force down low and had five rebounds.

• The Seventh Grade Boys Basketball team brought its record to 6-1 by defeating Abington on Saturday in a nailbiter, 41-39. A strong shooting performance from Reefe Markowitz, who finished the game with seven points, led the team’s efforts. The rest of the scoring was spread out evenly between Jayden Sheets, Henry Littlefield, and Tristan Misdea. Finn Smith had a strong defensive performance with 10 rebounds and eight blocks. Liam Chalifoux also had a strong game defensively. The team continued its successful weekend with a win over previously undefeated Rockland, 33-25, giving the 7-1 Pirates sole possession of first place. Leading the Pirates with 13 points was Tristan Misdea, followed by Henry Littlefield with 11. Reefe Markowitz had a strong game on both ends of the court and finished with four points. Jack O’Mara came off the bench and played shut-down defense. Finn Smith led the team again in rebounds and blocks.

• The Hingham-Hull Cooperative Gymnastics squad suffered its first defeat on Friday, January 16, coming up on the short end of the 137.3-136.05 score in the competition against Pembroke. Next up for the 4-1 team is Plymouth North High School on Friday, January 23 at 8 p.m. at the Massachusetts Gymnastics Center in Hingham.

• The Cohasset-Hull Cooperative Hockey team split its last two games, losing to Rockland, 3-1, last Saturday and defeating South Shore Technical High School, 3-2, on Monday. The 3-8 team’s next games are against East Bridgewater on Saturday, January 24, at 4 p.m. at Connell Rink in Weymouth and against Middleborough on Wednesday, January 28 at 6 p.m. at Bridgewater Ice Arena.

• The Girls Varsity Basketball team won on Wednesday night, 58-28, defeating South Shore Charter School at home. This followed two losses on the road – 48-25 to Neighborhood House Charter School in Boston and 52-20 to Fontbonne Academy on Monday. Next up are Rockland at home on Friday, January 23 at 6:30 p.m. and Abington on the road on Tuesday, January 27 at 6 p.m.

• The Hull High Boys Varsity Basketball team is 7-3 on the season, winning the last three games, including a 70-58 victory over Neighborhood House Charter School on Friday, a 68-51 win over Essex North Shore Agricultural on Monday, and a 64-58 victory over South Shore Charter on Wednesday. Next up are two road games – Rockland on Friday, January 23 at 6:30 p.m. and Minuteman Regional High School on Monday at 5:30 p.m. The Pirates return home on Tuesday to host Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical High School at 6:30 p.m.

• The next meet for the Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams will be against Mashpee on Monday, January 26 at 4 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

• For the full schedule for each Hull High team, visit www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=10611.

• In-Town Youth Basketball resumes on Saturday, January 24 with skills and drills co-ed session for grades 1 and 2 from 8-9 a.m., a co-ed program for grades 3 and 4 from 9-10 a.m., as well as an open gym program (also co-ed) for grades 5-8 from 10-11:30 a.m., all at the Jacobs School gym. Good luck to the travel teams playing this weekend.

For more information, visit http://hullbasketball.leagueapps.com/camps.

• The Girls 3/4 travel basketball team competes at the fourth-grade level and has a record of 2-4. The next game is against Braintree Saturday, January 24 at 6 p.m. All games are played at Indian Head Elementary School in Hanson, so fans have to travel. The full schedule of game times and weekly opponents is at this link: www.oldcolonybasketball.org/team/hull/4/1.

• Coaches, league organizers, and superfans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!

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Food for thoughts: Residents’ opinions sought on resilience plans for Hampton Circle park

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COLD AS ICE: The coating of saltwater ice on the bay gives this view an extra chill as Hullonians await warmer days ahead. Later this month, the town will unveil plans to make the area in the Hampton Circle neighborhood around the Lt. Joseph D. McLaughlin Playground (in the foreground) more resilient and flood-resistant. [Photo by Richard W. Green]

The Town of Hull and Weston & Sampson engineers will a workshop later this month for Hull residents to learn about designs for Hampton Circle’s resilient park transformation through funding from the Massachusetts Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Action Grant program. 

The Lt. Joseph McLaughlin Playground, which stretches between Marginal Road and Moreland Avenue, recently was renovated and improved. Town staff and designers will show new plans for the resilient park area and flood mitigation measures. Attendees can review the plans, talk to the designers, and provide feedback before the plans advance to the next phase of design.

The “Dinner and Design” workshop on Thursday, January 29 will be in an open-house format (come and go when you can) between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. at The Parrot, 1 Hull Shore Drive. Hearty appetizers will be provided and a presentation is scheduled for 7 p.m.

RSVP by January 25 at this link: https://tinyurl.com/HullDesign.

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Crews to visit the southern end of town in the last week of the DPW’s Christmas tree collection

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The Hull Department of Public Works continues its annual Christmas tree collection next week.

Tree pickups began on Monday, January 5.

• All trees must be at the side of the road by 7 a.m. during the week of collection.

• All metal and ornaments must be removed from the tree.

• No wreaths of any kind will be collected.

This collection schedule will be followed as closely as possible:

January 26-January 30: Whitehead Ave. to Wharf Avenue to Hingham/Cohasset line, including Rockaway and Rockaway Annex.

Weather conditions will play an important part in whether crews can keep this schedule. Any delays caused by weather will result in an adjustment to the pickup days. If you miss your week of collection, you can bring your tree to the DPW barn at 9 Nantasket Ave., at West Corner. Residents may drop off trees between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Please be aware that construction vehicles are frequently entering and exiting, so be careful.

For more information, call the DPW at 781-925-0900.

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Weir River Water System sets date for public hearing on proposed 3% rate hike

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By Carol Britton Meyer

A public hearing about the Weir River Water System’s proposed 3% rate increase will be held later this month to allow for customer input and an explanation of how the money will be used.

If approved by the water commissioners — consisting of the Hingham Select Board — the increase would begin July 1, at the same time that an annual capital debt service fee of $65 will go into effect for the next 30 years to pay for the new $1 million Strawberry Hill water tank in Hull, the associated booster station in Hingham, and the rehabilitation of Hingham’s Turkey Hill water tank.

At WRWS Managing Director/Superintendent Russell Tierney’s suggestion, the water commissioners Tuesday night approved a hearing date of Wednesday, January 28 – time and location to be announced on social media and posted on the Town of Hingham website. The Hull Times also will alert readers to the time and location of the rate hearing.

Customers in Hingham, Hull, and part of Cohasset recently received a letter explaining the proposed increase and noting that a public meeting would be scheduled soon.

Tierney earlier attributed the increase to WRWS’ contract with Veolia – which operates the system – and the significant increases in the cost of parts and materials over the past five years and expected to continue.

This is the first time that rates have increased since the Town of Hingham acquired the water company in 2021. A 10% rate increase was part of that contract.
At that time, a 10% increase every three years was anticipated, which turned out not to be the case.

“We’ve budgeted well to avoid that,” Tierney said in a follow-up to an earlier WRWS Citizens Advisory Board meeting.

When asked by a CAB  member at that time what he anticipated for future increases following the one proposed for fiscal 2027, Tierney estimated a 3% increase every two years.

CAB members include Hull’s Director of Wastewater Operations/Assistant Director of Public Works John Struzziery and Hull select board member Brian McCarthy, as well as Stephen Girardi of Cohasset, Chair David Anderson, Charles Culpin, and Jim Broderick representing Hingham.

PFAS settlement

In other business at Tuesday’s water commissioners meeting, Tierney reported that WRWS was recently awarded $2 million as part of a settlement from a class-action lawsuit concerning PFAS exposure involving mainly DuPont and 3M.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances that are known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily) were used for many years by manufacturers and have been named one of the largest contaminants of drinking water.

The date for full compliance with the new regulations has been moved from 2029 to 2031 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide more time for public water systems to develop and implement solutions to address PFAS contamination in drinking water.

Last July, the water commissioners approved an agreement with a consulting and engineering services company for Phase 1 of a Water Treatment Plant Capacity Evaluation and PFAS Study for the Weir River Water System. The results of the PFAS study and related recommendations are expected this April.

The agreement calls for APEX Companies LLC, through Environmental Partners Group LLC, to share updates throughout the process.

Following quarterly samples taken last April, Tierney reported in July that WRWS remains in compliance with PFAS regulations. The study will show what WRWS needs to do and invest in to be sure the water company continues to comply with PFAS requirements, he said.

The $2 million will pay for the $180,940 study as well as design and permitting for any necessary work to meet the new 2031 regulations, but won’t cover all the related costs, according to Tierney.

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Preliminary assessment finds ‘ample space’ for town offices and ‘additional uses’ at Memorial School

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By Carol Britton Meyer

Following a 20-minute select board meeting Wednesday, Town Manager Jennifer Constable noted that “we will be considerably busier” at subsequent meetings. “We’re in the budget and capital planning phase of our work, and it’s the busy season,” she said.

Hull’s Memorial School is slated to become the next town hall.

While upcoming meeting dates include January 21, February 4 and 18 (to be confirmed), and March 4, she asked the board to be flexible in the “off weeks” because time-sensitive issues may come up that could require additional meetings.

Although short, this week’s meeting included updates on the relocation of town hall, an enforcement order to stop a Beach Avenue homeowner from cutting into the Nantasket Beach dune system, and the announcement of a grant to repair the float at Pemberton Pier.

• In an update about the town hall move to the Memorial School, Constable said work with the architect and the owner’s project manager continues, with follow-up meetings with staff planned for next week to review the spaces they will occupy in the building.

An update will be provided at a future select board meeting.

“We have found that there is ample space in the building for additional uses, and that discussion will be forthcoming as well,” she said.

• On January 13, the conservation commission issued an enforcement order under the Wetlands Protection Act at 169 Beach Avenue in response to the location of a water main in the primary dune system.

“[While] the homeowner was advised not to [do work within the] dune system, [there was] significant excavation in the existing dune,” Constable said.

The order includes discontinuation of the connection of the main in the dune system and connecting to the Lewis Street system by January 22, and a dune restoration plan by February 9. The homeowner was also “ordered to repair, restore, and revegetate the dune by March 15 and to provide periodic reports on the regrowth [process],” Constable said.

The water main runs underneath the dune system, “and the Weir River Water System is investigating the connection along that main in the hopes of abandoning and relocating it,” she said.

At last spring’s town meeting, voters rejected an article that would have taken part of the property at 169 Beach Avenue by eminent domain to protect the dune system. At the meeting, homeowner John Ferrara told fellow voters that he has been resisting efforts by the town to take his land for the past five years. Voters approved takings in other sections of Beach Avenue.

In other business…

• Constable recognized town staff members who participated in a lengthy call with the City of Boston, “who reached out to us because they are interested in the work our town has done on the climate adaptation and resiliency front.”

Participants included Director of Wastewater Operations/Assistant Director of Public Works John Struzziery, Climate Adaptation and Conservation Director Chris Krahforst, Director of Community Development & Planning Chris DiIorio, and other staff.

“They were impressed with the work that we’ve done,” Constable said, adding that it was an honor “for a major city like Boston to reach out and want to learn more about the work happening here.” She noted that there may be further discussions with the city.

 

• The USA Semiquincentennial (250th) Anniversary Committee has “begun its work in earnest” and in February will make a presentation about their plans for a townwide celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

• The town was awarded a $278,400 Seaport Economic Council grant toward the Pemberton Pier commuter float replacement project.

• The third town annual report cover contest is under way. Citizens wishing to submit art work or photos for consideration should drop them off at town hall by March 12 at 4 p.m.

• Chair Irwin Nesoff provided an overview of the recent “meet and greet” elected chairs meeting, which did not include any votes or public input. Those attending included members of the select board, school committee (and superintendent of schools), planning board, Hull Redevelopment Authority, and light board members, among others.

The discussion included a consensus that the group would meet quarterly to identify challenges to address together and clarify issues facing the town, and also to seek citizen input. The next meeting is scheduled for April 7.

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