On Thursday, September 18, the high school auditorium echoed with voices of residents debating over the future of one of Swampscott’s most valuable assets: the Hawthorne-by-the-Sea property on Humphrey Street.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Tania Lillak, chair of Swampscott’s Open Space Committee. “A waterfront park can be the gateway jewel to our town. It’s something you can’t put a price on.”

For nearly two hours, residents had a heated discussion over whether to transform the site into a park or develop it with shops and restaurants to generate revenue.

The town purchased the 149–169 Humphrey Street parcels in 2022, and it has since been a topic of discussions. The Hawthorne Re-use Advisory Committee has been meeting consistently to advise the Select Board on the future use and redevelopment of the land. Thursday’s discussion was part of the committee’s work to gauge the public.

At the first public meeting the Re-use Advisory Committee held in August, it was highlighted that 25% of residents wanted the full property preserved as a park, 28% favored 75% green space, and 25% supported 50% or more devoted to parks. That meeting also brought out strong desires for pedestrian-friendly areas and community gathering spots as well as skepticism about retail space lasting along Humphrey Street.

Tuesday’s meeting deepened the split within the town.

The latest community survey results, unveiled Tuesday, show just how divided Swampscott remains. Of 545 responses, 230, or 42.2% of responses, favored a full-site park. An additional 244, or 44.8% of responses, favored either the streetscape and courtyard schemes, or some combination of buildings, parking and park. Only a handful of residents endorsed keeping the current restaurant and parking lot intact.

Some residents questioned whether such limited survey participation truly reflects the town’s will.

“This is a very light turnout,” said Kate Green, a Town Meeting Member. “My neighbors are busy and without more outreach, we can’t know if these results represent Swampscott.”

Others suggested that the town should think more creatively. 

One resident urged the committee to reuse the existing Hawthorne restaurant rather than tear it down, calling for “imagination in reuse, because that is the environmentally responsible thing to do, to reuse what we have and not tear things down and not spend so much money.”

New concerns emerged this week around the building height.

“At the last meeting, there was no mention of how tall the buildings might be,” resident Jennifer Dorsey said. “Now we’re hearing two or three stories. That completely changes my response.”

Thursday’s forum echoed the first open meeting in August. Then, as now, many spoke longingly about unobstructed ocean access, while others emphasized the need for economic development to strengthen the downtown. 

The Swampscott Conservancy reiterated its stance in a letter read aloud Thursday, suggesting that the majority of the property should remain open space.

“Access to the coast has decreased significantly, giving way to private development,” a Conservancy representative read. “This is a chance to restore that connection.”

Since the purchase, four designs have emerged: one full-park layout and three “streetscape” concepts with varying degrees of buildings, parking, and open space. The committee will recommend a plan to the Select Board later this year.

Until then, the debate is likely to continue a passionate tug-of-war between those who see Swampscott’s future in green space and those who see it in revenue-generating development. The Hawthorne Re-use Advisory Committee will continue to meet. The next public meeting is not currently scheduled on the town’s website.

“We will never get this chance again,” Lillak said.