To the editor:
For the Town of Swampscott’s purchase of the Hawthorne property to make financial and practical sense, there needs to be a viable structure on the site. Just 200 feet to the west lies a beautiful park with roughly four miles of open shoreline. We already have abundant open space and waterfront access.
What Swampscott truly needs is a thoughtfully designed amenity that lets residents and visitors actually enjoy the water views they value so highly. There is already ample parking and unobstructed places to walk along the water. The missing piece is a comfortable, sheltered indoor space where people can sit, relax, and enjoy the scenery 365 days a year, protected from wind, rain, and harsh New England weather.
If the Hawthorne building is removed, we will simply be left with more exposure to the elements. Instead, we have a rare opportunity to create an engaging indoor community amenity — something with the welcoming character of the Shalin Liu Performance Center in Rockport, the vibrant energy of Bow Market or Boston Market in Somerville, or the relaxed atmosphere of the Charles River Speedway in Cambridge. Think of it as a modern reading room in a library: a warm, inviting gathering place where people can support a local business, enjoy light entertainment, meet friends, or simply watch the world go by along the waterfront.
Additional low-impact activities could enhance the space — perhaps an indoor bocce court, a curling lane, or pickleball courts — creating year-round activity without disrupting the natural setting.
Parks are wonderful, and we’re fortunate to have them. But at the Hawthorne site, we have the chance to build something more: a true community hub that brings people together, strengthens local bonds, and serves as a fiscally responsible asset for the town rather than another open lawn exposed to the weather.
This approach turns the Hawthorne property into a destination that residents will actually use and love, all while honoring its prime waterfront location.
George Potts
SwampscottÂ
