Residents gathered on Monday, September 29 at the Swampscott High School to discuss plans for the former Hadley Elementary School, which is set to be redeveloped into a boutique hotel. 

The Select Board voted last year to enter into a land development agreement with Delamar, whose plan was selected in early 2024 from three finalists. Built in 1910, the Hadley School closed when the town consolidated its elementary schools last school year. Now, its classrooms are slated to become hotel suites, its gymnasium a ballroom, and its former science lab a pub.

The public forum on Monday gave community members a chance to ask questions and share concerns about the project’s design, construction and impact on the neighborhood. Developers emphasized that much of the building’s historic character will remain intact, including the restored façade and original Italian-crafted stage art. The design also calls for solar panels and an elevator tower to ensure ADA accessibility.

“We’re going to clean it up and restore it to its former glory,” said Dixon Mallory, Delamar’s director of business development.

The residents, however, voiced various worries.

“A number of people in the neighborhood are concerned about the parking lot,” said Michael Brison, who lives next door. “Will it block headlights into my living room?”

Developers guaranteed that stone retaining walls, native greenery and fencing would soften the light and noise. Food and package delivery will take place on the backend of the property. Valet service and off-site solutions could also ease the overflow during events, according to Mallory.

The concerns though stretched beyond parking. Neighbors John and Siobhan Giantis, who live across the street, were worried about the wear and tear of heavy construction vehicles.

“We just don’t want trucks parking there,” Siobhan said. “We’ve had a lot of construction around us, and they continually try to park heavy trucks.”

Environmental concerns also came to light. Resident Deb Newman urged developers to adopt bird-friendly windows.

“It actually helps. The bird-friendly windows are much better thermodynamically,” Newman said.

Developers said they were open to the idea. Mallory said during the presentation that the hotel will have “more of the original windows” installed rather than the current black-framed windows, which will be “much more aligned with when the school was built in 1910, 1911.”

Others lamented the potential loss of the school playground, once a neighborhood gathering space. One resident called the area “so central” to the neighborhood, especially for young families moving into Swampscott.

The Open Space and Recreation Committee and the Conservation Committee are considering alternate sites for the playground set. Marzie Galazka, the town’s director of community and economic development, said the playground may be moved to Linscott Park.

Not all comments were critical, however. Lori Lebbon, a member of the Hadley Elementary School Re-use Committee, praised the attention to detail.

“The windows are fabulous,” Lebbon said. “I’m so excited to see something closer to the historic building put back in.”

Even former critics struck an appeasing note.

“I want you to be successful,” said Charlie Patios, who had previously opposed the project. “As a town, we have to really think about the message we’re sending, telling you to run it like a hotel but then saying we want a pass-through and a playground.”

Looking ahead, Delamar projects a three-year timeline: 13 months of planning and permitting, followed by 18 to 24 months of construction. The Select Board is expected to review revised plans at its next meeting, with additional public hearings to follow.

Mallory said that following the creation of construction drawings the group will be able to “get real bids on the cost of construction.”