SWAMPSCOTT — The town has its eye on the prize; upkeeping, revitalizing, and reimagining the future of its iconic waterfront.
Swampscott released an ambitious 90-page Harbor and Waterfront Plan last week, drafted by the Harbor and Waterfront Advisory Committee, that details the history and concerns surrounding the harbor, as well as a variety of short-term and long-term goals. The draft includes plans for the installation of two Protective Living Reefs off Fisherman’s Beach, ways to address the shortage of parking along the waterfront, suggestions on how to mitigate future flooding and severe storm damage, and ideas on how to tap into the waterfront’s economic potential.
“The draft has some great concepts in it but we probably still need to organize some of the information,” said Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. “I wonder if there should be a hotel on the waterfront for a sense of relief support. Thinking about the Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, could that be a concept that would once again add a significant element to the economic and social benefit of Swampscott?”
The general objectives for the town’s waterfront vision are to provide and manage ocean access for water-related activity, promote safe boating and encourage water-related activities, efficient harbor management and administration, monitor, maintain, and improve the natural environment, encourage the increase of boat presence, develop and improve amenities to promote use of the harbor by all, and encourage integration of the coastline into the cultural, educational, and community activities.
In Swampscott’s early years, according to the plan, fishing was its major “economic engine” with dories and “jiggers” as the main fishing fleet until it was replaced with schooners at the turn of the 19th century. Boatbuilding was also an important part of the seaside town’s life.
By the late 19th century, the town was a widely recognized seaside resort with its own grand hotels, such as the Lincoln House and the Ocean House.
“It’s amazing to me to see the history of Swampscott as the place that invented not only the Swampscott Dory, which is a really important vessel, but the lobster trap,” Fitzgerald said. “When you think about the role of Massachusetts’ sea coast and the importance of nautical history, Swampscott played a huge role in that.”
While researching the town’s history for the draft plan, the Swampscott Historical Commission “uncovered evidence” that a second municipal pier once existed on the Swampscott side of King’s Beach. One proposal in the draft suggests bringing that second pier back.
“I’m excited about looking at the waterfront and how we utilize it in a way that helps residents enjoy and celebrate it,” said Fitzgerald. “Having that pier at Fisherman’s Beach widened and expanded seems like it would be a wonderful way to activate a place for folks to walk on during a summer night and just enjoy looking at the Boston skyline.”
The draft plan includes four short-term goals.
The first is to mitigate impacts to areas most vulnerable to flooding, increase boat presence, and protect boats in the harbor. The committee recommends installing two living reefs off Fisherman’s Beach, which will greatly reduce wave activity and storm surge in the bay.
The structure itself would become a magnet for sea life and would create a new habitat for existing species of marine organisms that are native to the area. The Protective Living Reef breakwater would be based on a 1924 sketch from the U.S. Army Corps for Swampscott, which wasn’t implemented after federal funding fell through.
The second short-term goal is to promote the waterfront as a focal point for the town’s visitor economy in order to emphasize cultural tourism and high quality recreational experiences and longer visitor stays. The committee suggests the development of small hotels being a vital piece in “establishing Swampscott as a destination.”
The third goal is to improve accessibility for larger boats through harbor maintenance by evaluating if there are areas in the harbor that can be dredged to accommodate larger boats. An installation of floats is also suggested.
Addressing the shortage of parking along the waterfront is the fourth short-term goal. The committee suggests the town should evaluate if converting the parallel spaces into angles spaces is a viable option to add parking. A shuttle or trolley from existing town lots like Phillips Park and the commuter rail station are also suggested.
There are seven long-term goals listed in the draft.
The first is to strengthen the access to and visibility of the harbor on the landside for “residents and visitors alike” by increasing berthing and mooring capacity for private recreational and commercial vessels, enhancing facilities for local fishermen, and develop waterside public amenities to “enhance the harbor experience.”
Maximizing the economic potential of the harbor and enhancing the quality of life for residents in adjacent areas are part of the committee’s second long-term goal. They suggest expanding tax base and economic activities, promoting private commercial development (such as restaurants and bed and breakfasts), and modifying sidewalks along Humphrey Street to accommodate outdoor dining options.
The third long-term goal suggests promoting Swampscott as a “vacation destination.” The committee suggests using art as an attraction focal point, developing a maritime distributed history museum or educational center, and developing amenities to sustain visitor interests.
Protecting and enhancing access to the waterfront for Swampscott residents and reconnecting the community to its waterfront are part of the fourth long-term goal. Suggestions include installing a bicycle rack, trolley service from town parking lots, and installing waterside public amenities such as foot washing stations, concession stands, and bathrooms.
The fifth goal is to protect and ensure aspects of the waterfront experience that can beneficially link the town to its maritime and seacoast resort past. Among the suggestions are supporting programs and projects that heighten public awareness of the historic maritime resources and the town’s seaside rich history and enhancing incentives for preservation of historic resources, such as the Fish House.
The sixth goal is to ensure that public investment in waterfront infrastructures will support and encourage private investment. One suggestion includes developing an access plan that maximizes the effective management of traffic associated with any proposed improvements.
The final long-term goal is to protect and enhance the environmental quality of the harbor and its environs as an essential component of any proposed development or revitalization efforts. Protecting the town’s eelgrass population and exploring opportunities for alternative production of energy are among the committee’s suggestions.
The committee suggested using revenue generated from day-to-day operations such as shellfish licensing, beach permitting and parking permitting to pay for the improvements. They also listed out a number of potential grant and award programs.
In order to bring the vision to fruition, the committee suggests they must become a Commission and be allowed control over the Harbor-related budget.
The cost estimates for the plan are still being developed, according to Fitzgerald. The draft will be presented to the Board of Selectmen on Wednesday. He said he wanted residents to have a chance to read about the town’s history and understand the threats to sustainability.
“My biggest concern is are we dreaming big enough?” asked Fitzgerald. “Do we have the biggest and the best ideas? A waterfront plan like this should be controversial in a sense it should provoke discussions about the big ideas. We have to make sure we are not being too careful. We want to get folks to look at this and give us feedback but also help us evolve the biggest and best vision for the town.”
