SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Rooftop pools and hot tubs, expansive restaurants and bars, public retail and event spaces, as well as mechanisms to revitalize Humphrey Street and its small businesses, were all on display in the three visions of a new boutique hotel in the Hadley School building presented during a Swampscott Select Board public meeting on Tuesday.
The three developers were chosen out of a field of seven that filed RFPs by the Dec. 21 deadline to present to the Board and the public with 15 minutes of presentation, 15 minutes of public questions and 15 minutes of Select Board questions.
(More on Patch: Swampscott Narrows Boutique Hotel Options For Hadley School To 3)
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The conversations will continue into the next two Select Board meetings on Feb. 7 and Feb. 12 with the public having the chance to review the proposals before a decision is made on a group to carry out its respective vision.
Presenters said that from that point to the completion of the project, it will likely take about three years.
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While each of the groups shared a vision of having the hotel be a social and economic centerpiece that builds off the town’s natural oceanfront and Linscott Park beauty, there were some differences in the visions that could help determine the ultimately successful bid.
The Noannet proposal included uses that representatives said would make it an attraction and economic benefit to the town both in the busy summer season and the off-peak season where the community could use the restaurants, event space, speakeasy bar, lodge-style game room and proposed rooftop pool and hot tub.
The Drew proposal focused on a community-accessible ground floor with retail space and a setback design intended to fit in with the historic feel of the neighborhood. Drew representatives also said they intend a rooftop restaurant and will look to maximize sustainability by using as much of the current building structure and features — including the gymnasium floor — in reuse projects within the hotel.
The Clearview proposal centered around keeping as much of the current school facade intact as possible with a focus on historic preservation. A high-ceiling restaurant that could employ up to 125 full-time employees or more, a rooftop bar and event space and dog-friendly amenities were among the Clearview selling points.
The presentations will be made available on the town website ahead of the Feb. 7 Select Board meeting to discuss the visions and begin narrowing the selection process.
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)
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