Developers Offer Deal For End to Demo Delay

Developers Bruce Paradise and Barry Turkanis are offering to support two local historical endeavors if the abandons its demolition delay on the Cap'n Jack's Waterfront Inn property.

The developers offer, with conditions, to restore the Swampscott Train Station and contribute $5,000 toward a historical district study in Swampscott.

The developers, who have a purchase-and-sale agreement with the owner of the Humphrey Street inn, made their offer to the commission in a letter, copies of which Turkanis delivered to the members at their meeting Tuesday.

The letter, in accordance with the Massachusetts Public Record Law, became a public document when it was circulated to the commission at the public meeting.

The developers' offer requires the commission to drop the demolition delay so that the builders may start site work on the project this winter or in the spring.

The developers have said on several occasions that they would much rather start their construction sooner than later, preferring to start during winter when there's much less activity around the site.

The demolition delay, by power of a town by-law, prevents the developers from demolishing the three Cap'n Jack's buildings for up to nine months. 

During that time the Historical Commission can try to hammer out an agreement with the developers.

The commission has deemed the buildings to be of historical value.

The developers' letter to the commission states that they would restore the train station if the town is able to secure from the station owner a five- to 10-year option for the lease of the station. The terms of the lease would be $1 per year.

"You have a supportive party that is willing to move on that restoration," Turkanis said at the meeting.

The restoration project and agreement would have to be spelled out through a request for proposal.

The developers also state in their letter that they support the commission's plan to do a complete study of whether historical districts should be established in Swampscott.

Therefore they would be willing to contribute $5,000 to such a study, the letter states.

Commission members took no action on the offer.

They are scheduled to discuss it further next Wednesday when they meet at 7 pm at .