Swampscott to hold hearing on vacant properties

SWAMPSCOTT – Residents will have an opportunity to offer their input on the fate of surplus properties later this month.Selectman Jill Sullivan, chairman of the Town Building Oversight Committee, said the committee is seeking feedback from the community as it prepares its recommendations for four vacant town-owned buildings.The Town Building Oversight Committee is looking at the disposition of the former middle school on Greenwood Avenue, the former senior center on Burrill Street, the former Temple Israel on Humphrey Street and the Phillips Avenue fire station.Sullivan said a meeting to discuss the fate of the Greenwood Avenue property and the former senior center would be held on Sept. 23 at 7 p.m. in the high school, 200 Essex St. A second meeting has been scheduled to discuss the former Temple Israel site and the Phillips Avenue Fire Station on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m. in the high school.”The point of the public meetings is we need public input into the ultimate disposition of these properties,” she said. “Town Meeting will be asked to vote on zoning changes for reuse.””Town Meeting decided it didn’t have enough information to make a decision on whether the town should sell those properties,” she said. “Our job is to look at those four buildings and provide enough information at the special Town Meeting this fall to allow Town Meeting members to make an informed decision.”Sullivan said the prior town building study committee recommended selling three of the four properties and keeping the former senior center on Burrill Street.”The goal is not to just come up with a recommendation for sale,” she said. “If the town decides to sell the property, we need to make sure we get a product we want and one that benefits the town.”Sullivan said coming up with a recommendation is a complex task. She said the committee is looking at developing design guidelines, zoning changes and Request for Proposals.”We’re looking at everything,” she said. “We want to ensure any reuse is compatible with the community.”Sullivan said the committee would make its recommendations at a special Town Meeting, which would be held sometime in November.