Town Meeting Members voted Monday to allow the Select Board to continue leasing the former Hawthorne-by-the-Sea restaurant while discussions about the broader property plan move forward.

The property has been a hot-button topic as the Hawthorne Re-use Advisory Committee recently finalized its recommendation for a mixed-use and half-parkland development. At the same time, the Athanas family announced the closure of the Hawthorne-by-the-Sea restaurant. Although demolition was originally planned for 2028, Monday night’s debate centered on whether the Select Board should issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) in the interim.

“Article No. 10 gives us the time and flexibility to keep this landmark protected, active and productive while we finish that work together,” said Town Administrator Nick Connors, adding that by keeping the Hawthorne restaurant open it allows for a “dual-track” approach through  short-term activation and long-term redevelopment. “It’s both fiscally responsible and community driven, ensuring that we generate value rather than costs while we continue forward with this plan.”

Select Board Chair Katie Phelan emphasized that the short-term solution is not a replacement for long-term planning but is meant to “run tandem.” Vice Chair Doug Thompson said the board is “trying to put together the pieces” needed to build a coalition that will support the capital expenses required for the eventual redevelopment.

Ahead of Monday’s meeting, the Select Board sent a letter urging Town Meeting Members to approve a lease extension of up to 30 months “to limit carrying costs and protect a key community asset while long-term planning continues.”

“There’s nothing in here that allows the Select Board to go willy-nilly spending money,” Thompson said. “We are simply asking for a little bit more time to explore what could be an even better solution. We don’t know for sure. It may be. It may not be…I think we all agree that there’s a lot that we don’t know yet about the long-term solution.”

At a Special Town Meeting in June 2022, voters approved purchasing several properties—including the Hawthorne parcel and the Archer Street project. The article authorized the Select Board to acquire 149–169 Humphrey Street by gift, purchase, or eminent domain for municipal use. It passed overwhelmingly, 214–3.

A community brainstorming session in January 2023 identified public space as the top priority, with residents favoring “park/open space/green space,” followed by multi-use areas. Open-space concepts drew the broadest support.

The Select Board formed the Hawthorne Re-use Advisory Committee in February 2025. Recent meetings reflected differing public viewpoints: some residents favored parkland, while others supported larger buildings to generate revenue. The committee also met with Don Giard, a regional planner with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, who presented concepts for urban-village streetscapes.

Historically, from roughly 1900 until the Hawthorne-by-the-Sea was built in 1967, Humphrey Street featured a row of buildings.

At two community meetings, residents emphasized creating “a place to go,” prioritizing pedestrians, and addressing the short lifespans of businesses on Humphrey Street. Other ideas included community spaces for food courts, cafés, artisans, and events.

On November 19, the committee presented its preferred design, Plan G1, to the Select Board. The plan features two rows of buildings, totaling around 25,000 square feet if two stories, set perpendicular to the road with a 40-foot opening to maintain views into the courtyard and open-space area. The model includes roughly 28 parking spaces.

Connors said the advisory committee has given the town “the vision, the goals, the ingredients.”

“As with any great meal, ingredients are only a part of it,” Connors said. “We have to spend some time with the recipe now.”

He added that the additional time would help mitigate costs for utilities, insurance, and debt, and that no town capital would be expended.

“It’s a chance to transform the Hawthorne from an idling building into an active destination that adds value from day one,” Connors said.

Swampscott Housing Authority Vice Chair and Board of Assessors Member Charlie Patsios noted that any new restaurant tenant would cover electricity, heat and insurance.

“That’s for sure,” Patsios said. “There isn’t a case to be made that demoliting that building immediately will get anybody what they want.”

Connors told the Select Board on November 6 that he learned of the Athanas family’s decision on October 23 and discovered that some of the family’s personal items were being auctioned that same weekend. The Athanases said the property was sold three years ago and that they are “ready to move on” as the town advances its plans.

“The Hawthorne closed just a couple weeks ago. For years it operated as an older style-restaurant using only part of the building and serving a narrow slice of our town. That chapter has ended and with it comes a rare opening for Swampscott,” Town Meeting Member Mike Kelleher said. “Right now we have a choice, we can leave this water-front building vacant and fenced off for years while long-term plans unfold or we can bring it back to life now in a way that energizes and unites that community…This is a smart step, not the final answer.”

The advisory committee previously considered whether to retain the Hawthorne-by-the-Sea building. Chair Brian Watson said the group concluded that keeping the structure would not best support goals such as maximizing ocean views and generating revenue, and that public sentiment leaned against preservation. On Monday night, Watson reiterated that the committee does not support Article No. 10.

“What Article No. 10 proposes is not financially responsible, nor is it financially realistic,” Watson said. “While stating their concern for the town finances, the Select Board wants to lease the Hawthorne building to a new restaurant operator for up to 2.5 years. That is essentially equivalent to handing nearly a blank check to a prospective restaurant tenant…A vacant building is not a boogeyman to be feared. Instead, by contrast, it’s the cost of the alternative.”

Committee Member James Smith, speaking for himself, said, “We’ve had 3.5 years of that site…Why wait? What are we waiting for? Let’s get started now.”

Connors, however, argued that even if Article No. 10 failed, the town would not be able to “immediately move to action.”

“When you look at a model like the Hadley as an example, there’s a process that we need to follow,” Connors said. “There are steps that we need to take that would take this time.”

Town Meeting Member Toni Bandrowicz said she had originally voted against Article No. 10 as a committee member but changed her mind after receiving more information.

“I stand here tonight in favor of it,” she said.

Town Meeting Member Andrea Amour said that “any contractor I’ve worked with” would seek a short-term tenant while long-term plans are underway.

“An RFP gives us information on the kind of businesses that want to take part in this parcel,” Amour said. “I think that’s really valuable. From everything I can tell, we’re not quite ready to put that patchwork together and it’s going to take us time if we didn’t put out that RFP.”

Finance Committee Member Tara Myslinski, also part of the re-use committee, said the Finance Committee initially opposed Article No. 10 but later chose to take no position. She added that the town purchased the property for $7 million three years ago and had ample time to plan.

“In the meantime…your taxes have been going to pay our debt service to the tune of $550,000 per year,” Myslinksi said. “We did not get any of that money recouped in tax payments by the Athaneses operating the Hawthorne. They did not pay property tax. We have not had property tax paid by that property in three years. They also did not pay rent…This has been a drag on the town for three years and it’s time to move. It’s time to be bold.”

She expressed concern that the article could cause the town to lose momentum on its long-term vision.

The town is also considering purchasing the parking lot next to the Hawthorne property, owned by St. John’s Church. The Select Board recently held executive sessions regarding possible acquisition, lease, or valuation of parcels at 153 and 187 Humphrey Street.

“The additional time will also allow the town to continue negotiations with the Archdiocese of Boston for the possible purchase of a portion of the parking lot,” the Select Board’s letter read. “This potential acquisition could unlock the full potential of the site, enabling a balanced plan that includes new public green space, appropriate parking and revenue-generating redevelopment.”