Cap'n Jack's Demo Delay Deal Reextended

The owners of the three Cap'n Jack's buildings on Humphrey Street have again offered to restore the town train station if the lifts the remaining five-month delay to demolition of the Cap'n Jack's buildings.

On Wednesday, several selectmen including Jill Sulllivan encouraged the Historical Commission to reconsider the deal, allowing developers Bruce Paradise and Barry Turkanis to tear down the three structures and build approved condo units now instead of when the delay runs out on Aug. 1.

Sullivan said that to refuse the offer at an impasse would be a missed opportunity since the developers are willing to spend $300,000 on restoring the train station.

Commission member Susan Munafo and Commission Chairman Jean Reardon explained why they did not accept the offer the last time it was made.

There was no guarantee that the developer would restore the train station if the commission lifted the delay and the buildings were demolished, Munafo said. 

Paradise said that he and his partner would not restore the building without a longterm lease agreement from the building's owner, the MBTA, she said.

The agreement would be a 50-year lease for $1 a year that allows the developers to sublet the property as a business venture.

The chairman of the Historical Commission said the other argument against accepting the developer's deal was that it did not address the matter at hand  —protecting the town's remaining link to its history as a summer resort and preserving the character of Humphrey Street.

She said the board would talk at its next meeting, March 6, about a proposal to have the main building moved to another site, perhaps out of state.

It remains to be seen whether the commission will take another vote on the developer's train station proposal.

The demolition delay, backed by a town by-law, prevents the developers from tearing down the three Cap'n Jack buildings until Aug. 1, unless an agreement is struck between the developers and the commission. 

Paradise and Turkanis have bought the Cap'n Jack's Inn property for $3.5 million and want to get started on the project.

In closing, Selectmen's Chairman Matt Strauss asked commission members to seek a mutually beneficial agreement with developers.