Demo Delay Imposed on Humphrey Property

Historical Commission members are not overwhelmingly opposed to the project as it was presented to them in September. But they want to see the developer's final plans when presented to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

  Historical Commission members voted on Tuesday to impose a 9-month delay to demolition of a circa 1880 property on Humphrey Street. They aren't overly opposed to the 5-unit condo project that developer Charles Patsios has in mind for the property at 267-69 Humphrey St. — located by the Concordia project on the former Cap'n Jack's Inn site. But they want to see the final project once it has been presented to the town Zoning Board of Appeals. The developer's lawyer, Chris Drucas, said the developer still has exterior and interior details to finalize. Commission Chairman Susan Munafo said the board was imposing the delay with the hope that they can come to an agreement with the developer and lift the delay short of the 9 months. The …

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Demo Delay Hearing For Humphrey Property Tonight

The Swampscott Historical Commission will hear from the public tonight on their support or opposition for the commission to delay demolition of the building at 267-69 Humphrey St.

  Tonight at 7 the public can weigh in on whether it wants the local Historical Commission to invoke a delay to demolition of the multi-family structure at 267-69 Humphrey St. The public hearing will take place at the Swampscott Senior Center, located behind Swampscott High School. Property owner Charles Patsios is proposing to demolish the circa 1880 structure and construct condos on the site, according to the Historical Commission. The wood-shingle structure has six bedrooms and four baths and sits on a third of an acre of land, according to the town assessor's listing.  It is valued at $890,000 and was purchased in 2007 for $1,150,000. A demolition delay can last up to nine months, though an agreement can be reached and the delay lifted…

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Poll: Selectmen Discuss Greenwood Property in Closed Session

Take our poll on whether you agree with the Historical Commission's decision to invoke a delay to demolition of the former school on Greenwood Avenue.

  One night after the Historical Commission voted to delay the Greenwood Avenue condos for nine months, the Selectmen met in executive session to discuss legal action that has already been filed against the project. The Selectmen made no comment on their private discussion last Wednesday about the town's legal strategies on a lawsuit filed against the project. Groom Construction is proposing to buy the old Middle School building from the town and tear it down. It would replace it with a 41-unit condominum building. Some neighbors oppose the proposal and have hired attorneys. One of the attorneys, Carl Goodman, has filed a suit, challenging the zoning bylaw that the town enacted to make the project possible.   The Historical Commission …

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Fred Bollen

2:50 pm on Wednesday, August 15, 2012

I agree with EM's comments. I believe that the Historical Commission's actions were unbiased and within their established duties. Unpopular decisions are never easy to make.   more ›

Cap'n Jack's Demo Delay Deal Reextended

A majority of selectmen encouraged the Historical Commission to reconsider lifting its demolition delay on the historic Cap'n Jack's properties in exchange for something of value to the town.

  The owners of the three Cap'n Jack's buildings on Humphrey Street have again offered to restore the town train station if the Historical Commission 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 …

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Selectmen to Meet Historical Commission Wednesday Night

Items on the agenda include discussion of creating a historic district and perhaps talks on the demolition delay of Cap'n Jack's Inn

  Selectmen are scheduled to meet with the Historical Commission tonight, Wednesday, as part of a full agenda. Agenda items includem at 8 pm, an update on the Historical Commission as well as the commission's interest in establishing a historic district or districts in town. Historical Commission member Sylvia Belkin said it is her understanding that selectmen want to talk to the commission tonight about the demolition delay the members put in place in November. The delay has five months remaining of its original nine months. The 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.  Developers Bruce …

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Swampscott Stories

Demo Delay Debate Reemerges on $3.5 Million Property

Historical Commission talk returned to the demo delay of Cap'n Jack's Inn which was recently sold to Parturk developers for $3.5 million.

  First, Historical Commission members weighed in on changes to the Cap'n Jack's Inn property, recently closed and sold to developers Bruce Paradise and Barry Turkanis for $3.5 million. The Cap'n Jack's changes include the removal of the Inn sign and awnings, and installation of a chain-link fence. Then, at Monday's meeting, commission members debated the Jan. 16, vote they took to maintain the remaining 6 1/2-month demolition delay on the Humphrey Street property. The January vote was a rejection of the developers' proposal to restore the historic train station contingent upon an MBTA agreement. The 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…

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Justin Mattera

12:27 pm on Friday, February 17, 2012

You do realize that my last comment was being sarcastic right? They bought the temple for twice what they sold it for. For the record, I manage the books for my business and do just fine, but thanks for playing.   more ›

Deal to Lift Demo Delay on Cap'n Jack's Defeated

Historical Commission members say the railroad station renovation proposal failed to address the scale of the Cap'n Jack's Inn project.

  The Historical Commission voted 4-2 Wednesday against accepting a proposal to lift the remaining 6 1/2-month delay to demolition of the three Cap'n Jack's Inn properties on Humphrey Street. Developers Bruce Paradise and Barry Turkanis offered, with conditions, to restore the Swampscott Train Station and contribute $5,000 toward a historical district study in Swampscott if the commission lifted the delay, which runs out Aug. 1. A town by-law provides for a stay of demolition to the Inn property — which includes a Federal-style 1835 building — for up to nine months while the commission negotiates an agreement with the developers. The developers have a purchase and sale agreement on the property with the Inn owner. The developers say …

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Cap'n Jack's Talks Start Tonight

Historical Commission members and Cap'n Jack's developers will gather in a special meeting to talk about development plans for three Humphrey Street buildings.

  A little more than a month after Historical Commission members delayed demolition of Cap'n Jack's Inn's three Humphrey Street buildings for up to nine months the members will meet with the property's developers. The Commission and developers Bruce Paradise and Barry Turkanis are scheduled for a special meeting — open to the public — at 7 pm Wednesday in Town Hall's first-floor conference room.  Commission members said at their regular meeting Tuesday that they will look for ways to compromise with the developers, who plan to tear down the three buildings and construct 15 condo units on the site. The developers have the approvals they need to go forward with construction and no longer face a court challenge over zoning, said Historical …

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Cap'n Jack's Demo Appears Bound for Delay

Historical Commission members will decide Nov. 1, whether to delay demolition of the Humphrey Street hotel for up to nine months.

Historical Commission members left little doubt Tuesday that they will delay demolition of Cap'n Jack's Inn for up to nine months. The panel opted at the end of last night's public hearing to wait until Nov. 1, to vote on the delay question. But, indicating that they are likely to vote for the delay, several of them said it was their responsibility under the town's delay by-law to try to find an alternative to demolition. Chair Jean Reardon said removing the three buildings that make up Cap'n Jack's Inn would diminish the town's historic character and forever alter the Humphrey streetscape for all the town's residents. It remains to be seen whether the delay will do anything but that — delay plans to tear down the buildings and build a 15-…

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