Sandler movie, Younger make news in Swampscott

SWAMPSCOTT – A movie set, some property battles, and a new town administrator made for an active year in Swampscott.This is the second in a series of articles examining how events of 2012 shaped Greater Lynn communities and what the events may mean for 2013.The year began with some changeover, when Thomas Younger stepped in to be town administrator after Andrew Maylor left to become town manager in North Andover.The town enjoyed a bit of Hollywood when Adam Sandler?s celebrity-studded production “Grown Ups 2” descended on Phillips Park for the summer. The town received $300,000 and many star sightings and autographs for hosting the production.Swampscott continued to be a battleground for property owners, with more condominium developments approved or planned.Neighbors of the former high school at 71 Greenwood Ave. argued that the building should be preserved after developer Tom Groom bought the property to tear it down and build 41 condos.The Historical Commission put the 19th century building under a nine-month demolition delay. The property is still in and out of Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Board meetings to discuss permit reliefs, variances, and other details in the plans. The Temple Israel property was successfully voted to be re-zoned from a 42 mid-rise condominium down to 14 single-family lots at Special Town Meeting in October.In August, The Concordia on Humphrey Street was on schedule to be finished by July 1,2013 and already had five units sold, said project developer Barry Turkanis of Parturk LLC.Other issues that await resolution in the new year:? Another site for an independent senior living facility sprouted at Archer Road for a 16-unit independent living facility for residents aged 55 and older. Residents of Archer Road, Eureka Avenue and Jesse Street were concerned that the flooding in the area>/a> would be aggravated by the development.? The School Building Committee worked throughout the summer to get support for the feasibility study for a new elementary school or renovate the Hadley School, and were rewarded with a unanimous vote at Special Town Meeting in October.The committee is looking for a company to do the feasibility study and then schematic design for a possible new elementary school, doing away with the “neighborhood school” concept in Swampscott.? On Dec. 17 at the Swampscott Public Library, representatives of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council presented the final recommendations of the Downtown Visioning study, a plan eight years in the making.Ideas gathered from town residents, business owners and representatives included improving parking on Humphrey Street in addition to making the area more pedestrian- and consumer-friendly. The plans showcased using the commuter rail stop on Burrill Street and King?s Beach to draw visitors to the town to increase revenue.Kait Taylor can be reached at [email protected].