HRA nearing ‘consensus’ on community center, but opinions diverge on affordable housing
/By Carol Britton Meyer
The Hull Redevelopment Authority appears to be closer to reaching a consensus that what members have called “Option 3” of the Urban Renewal Plan now in the works should include some kind of community center.
However, board members continue to have differing views about whether there should be a housing component, including affordable units. There also is the question of whether “affordable” housing in today’s terms is truly affordable.
PICKING UP: The Hull Redevelopment Authority holds a monthly cleanup effort to remove trash and debris from its property. Fifteen people turned out last Saturday; we managed to get 10 of them to pause for a photo: Andrew Thorburn, Mindy Markowitz, Sara Ventetuolo, Judy Dorner, Craig Robinson, Susan Vermilya, Allen Vermilya, Jon Betti, Sara Pearson, and Adrienne Paquin. Organizers thanked the Hull Department of Public Works for disposing of the collected trash. [Skip Tull photo]
At the beginning of the three-hour-plus Zoom meeting, with nearly 40 participants at one point, Chair Bartley Kelly noted that in consideration of a letter of support from the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce for the Hull Artists’ proposal for the Nantasket Community Center for the Arts “and also that we have two proposed potential uses – the one from Hull Artists and Dylan’s Tide – I think it would be good to talk about those potential uses, not necessarily choosing one, and possible locations.”
Cohasset residents Lisa and Paul Rogers proposed a children’s wellness and community center, which would be named Dylan’s Tide in memory of their late son, for one of the parcels some time ago.
There has not yet been a follow-up meeting with the Rogers family as discussed when they were last before the board, but Kelly did have a brief phone conversation with a member of their group related to their question about the timeline for completion of the URP (as yet undetermined), which he said he disclosed to the HRA at its next meeting.
According to HRA Technical Operations Manager Mark Hamin, the Rogers have not yet responded to his reaching out to them regarding a follow-up meeting.
Kelly noted that the HRA also received another proposal for the property but did not provide details since it was not listed on the agenda.
‘Gathering place for the town’
“I would love to see one of the parcels used for some kind of community or arts center – a gathering place for the town,” HRA member Adrienne Paquin said, adding her preference to keep the “special and unique” view corridor open.
Kelly noted that board members “agree that community-oriented space is good – a place to bring people and groups together,” while also advocating for the potential for “some type of neighborhood housing.”
HRA member Dan Kernan said he is in “strong support of the community center idea” while preferring to focus “on what are the most important things we can do on this property, that are of the highest value to our community, and figure out how to achieve those.”
Board member Joan Senatore envisions a potential community center adjacent to a park with a focus on the arts, music, a mobile stage, and other attractions – “a place for events, with parking.”
Regarding housing, she said, “I’m back and forth on that.”
Various ideas were floated for different parcels, with no decisions made.
‘Reaching some kind of consensus’ is the goal
Partway into the discussion, Hamin was asked to share his thoughts.
“The board is starting to get into the fine details of particular parcels rather than reaching some sort of consensus about [overall uses]…,” he said. “I think the fine details need to be provided by someone with expertise in urban design.”
Hamin also emphasized the importance of finding uses for the HRA parcels that are compatible and complementary to abutting properties.
While Kelly sees a high financial value to building some kind of housing, including affordable units, that could provide funds to the HRA and tax revenue, some members don’t support that concept.
Paquin reiterated an earlier comment – “I don’t believe the HRA is responsible for solving all the town’s problems” – and noted the various financial contributions the authority has made to town projects and to various organizations. “Where does it end? It could become a never-ending cycle.”
At one point, Kelly said the HRA’s current mission “is to provide economic development for the town.”
Paquin asked Kelly to define “true economic development,” which Kelly described as “bringing in revenues to the town in perpetuity” including attracting people to Hull who will spend money here, along with the residents who are already doing so, he said. “People coming here with coolers and spending 20 bucks to park to go to the beach is not economic development.”
‘Such a precious asset’
Paquin is opposed to selling “such a precious asset” to a developer and doesn’t think “housing of any kind belongs on this property.”
“Selling the land is a misconception,” Kelly responded. “If we put a residential development on two acres, we wouldn’t be selling all of that land – just the portion that would provide tax revenue to the town in perpetuity. With the two-way road plan, which the town is still pursuing, we would gain two acres of open space. I see it as a win-win because there would a net loss of zero acres of open space.
“A community center is a great idea, but it doesn’t bring tax revenue to the town,” he said. “It will attract people here to visit, but that’s not enough.”
Board member Dennis Zaia suggested deed-restricted, reasonably priced workforce housing “for school teachers, firefighters, police officers, and others working in Hull,” calling this his “dreamscape.”
“We also need to start investing in attracting younger people to come here and settle down so we have more kids in the schools,” he said. “Small apartments vs. oceanfront homes – good living in a great environment.”
Zaia also noted that the community “is bemoaning the loss of the miniature golf course” and floated the idea that maybe one could be included in a potential community center.
In other business…
• The board approved, on two separate votes, a contract with T. Grey Landscape & Design for the 2025 season that will pay the company a $975-per-cut grass cutting fee that includes the entire HRA property, with the exception of the lots that are under the control of the seasonal parking lot operator, and $150 per hour for property maintenance, with a minimum fee of $50 for less than an hour’s work, and the fee broken into 15-minute increments after the first hour.
• Kelly addressed correspondence to the board through the hra02045.com website.
An email from the Hull Nantasket Chamber of Commerce in support of the Hull Artists’ proposal said such a use would help strengthen the town’s economy, provide a cultural benefit, and would be a “critical component of Hull’s revitalization strategy.”
Another question related to “the water supply issue in Hingham and Hull.”
Kelly reported that he talked with Weir River Water System Managing Director/Superintendent Russell Tierney and was told that Procopio Companies – developer of Paragon Dunes, now called The Wayfarer – “will be approved for water. They did seek alternative sources,” he said, noting that “this has nothing to do with the HRA. They will be allowed to connect to the water system, but no permits for new development will be issued without a letter from WRWS regarding enough capacity. Even if the URP included housing, we couldn’t get a building permit without access to water, sewer, and electricity.”
Another question related to the availability of resident parking on the triangle lot, followed by a similar inquiry by C. Anne Murray.
Kelly said that parking is available on that lot for residents – those who have town parking stickers – on a first-come, first-served basis, as well as paid parking for visitors this year under the seasonal parking lot operator agreement.
Paquin noted that a large number of residents are still using the lot, which was once reserved for their use. “Maybe at times there won’t be a parking space available, but 94 town parking stickers were [observed] on that lot last Monday, a lot higher than last year.”
• Paquin told the board that she noticed “cash exchanged” at a lot under the control of this year’s seasonal parking lot vendor when she was stopped at a nearby traffic light rather than through an app, which was a requirement of the agreement. Hamin agreed to look into the situation and report back to the board.
At the end of the meeting, Kelly noted that the board had “reached a general consensus of a community center” and encouraged members to come to the next meeting with the goal of reaching a compromise “to accomplish the goals we all have and to move this forward.”
A number of residents spoke during the comment period for those participating in the Zoom meeting, with Kelly asking them to keep their comments brief as the hour approached 10 p.m.
“Keep in mind that we’re trying to reach a consensus amongst each other,” he said. “We have heard from many people at public meetings and on a daily basis, and the board is doing its best to come up with a plan the town wants and needs.”
Resident Cindy Borges, who also is a member of the planning board, said the financial gain from a residential development would be “a drop in the bucket” compared with the large projects Hull residents have willingly supported in the past when needed.
She also asked about Kelly’s conversation with the Rogers family and whether other board members were aware of it. He responded that they are aware and that he’s not trying to keep anything in the “dark.”
Borges also said she feels it’s “premature” for the board to be talking about specific parcels for the potential two community centers.
“It’s upsetting to be asked not to talk about it,” she said, referring to Kelly’s comments asking the audience to be brief.
Resident Lisa French said that less than 25% of the 615 resident respondents to an earlier survey said they were interested in a community center and that open space is their number-one priority.
Kelly asked her to bring her comments to a close at one point, saying that “people are lining up to speak, and I’m hearing the same things.”
“You are not allowed to stop me!” French responded.
“I can as chair,” Kelly said.
Following a back-and-forth between the two, French continued. “The board added later to the original mission [of the HRA] approved at town meeting regarding economic development,” she said. “The idea of creating tax revenue doesn’t have to [be part] of the broader goal of improving the economy. This can be done without residential development on HRA land. We don’t need more residents in Hull.”
Resident Valerie Carlson suggested there is a “need for the board to come to a consensus amongst themselves as to what economic development means. … It’s not necessarily tied to bringing in income in the traditional sense.”
SOS Hull member Susan Vermilya encouraged the board to move forward with another survey as suggested by Paquin earlier, that would be done “at the same time the HRA is going through the URP process to see what major [components] citizens would get behind and excited about.”
Paquin is still exploring methods for another survey to present to the board for a final decision.
A replay of the meeting is on Hull Community Television’s website, www.hulltv.net. The next HRA meetings are scheduled for July 14 and 28.
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