Swampscott rejects property proposal

SWAMPSCOTT – After more than an hour of discussion, the selectmen voted to reject the recommendation of the Town Building Oversight Committee to enter into negotiations with the Hawthorne Partnership for the former Temple Israel property.The selectmen voted 4-1 to not enter into negotiations with the company, which offered $1.2 million for the parcel, which the town purchased in 2006 for $3.5 million. Chairman Jill Sullivan, who is a former member of the Town Building Oversight Committee, was the only selectman in favor of selling the property to the Hawthorne Partnership.When the town purchased the former temple, the original plan was to use the property as a police station but a few years ago the town decided to sell it to a developer for housing in order to get it back on the tax rolls.The other bid for that property was for $1.7 million from GVW Inc. of East Boston. Both responses for the former temple site were for senior living complexes but according to the Town Building Oversight Committee the proposal from Hawthorne Partnership would generate more revenue for the town in the long run because the developers were willing to negotiate Payments In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT).Resident Charles Patsios urged the selectmen not to sell the property for $1.4 million to Hawthorne Partnership because he said there are indications the commercial market is starting to bounce back.”You can only sell it once,” he said. “But you can regret it forever. There is no reason to take a $2 million hit.”Resident Robert Lee, who is also an abutter, also said he believes the market is going to improve and urged the selectmen not to sell the property at this time.Richard Bain, a former selectman, urged the selectmen to take a step back and look at other options for the parcel.”I don’t believe the town should take that kind of haircut on the property,” he said.Resident Jill Koidin expressed concerns over the viability of the business plan put forth by the Hawthorne partnership.Town Administrator Andrew Maylor said he supports moving forward and entering into negotiations with the Hawthorne Partnership. He said the facility would be consistent with the neighborhood and it would generate less traffic than a residential development.Selectman David Van Dam said he is against selling the property for $1.2 million when the town paid $3.5 million for it and Selectman Richard Malagrifa agreed.Selectman Matthew Strauss said he believes holding onto the property is the “fiscally responsible thing to do.” Selectman Robert Mazow said he believes at this time it is in the best interest of the town to hold onto the property.Sullivan said she was a “voice in the wilderness” and she believes the town should enter into negotiations with the Hawthorne Partnership.”It’s time to cut our losses and move forward,” Sullivan said.The selectmen voted to reject the proposal submitted by the Hawthorne Partnership but there was no discussion on how to proceed going forward in regards to the ultimate disposition of the property.