Swampscott Signs Hadley School Boutique Hotel Land Development Deal
SWAMPSCOTT, MA — The Swampscott Select Board voted to enter into a land development agreement with Delamar Hotels to design and develop plans for a boutique hotel at the site of the former Hadley School.
The land development agreement is a significant step toward turning the former elementary school, which was given to the town following the decision to build a new K-4 elementary school to replace the aged building, into a proposed 55- to 60-room hotel with an event space, spa, restaurant, and rooftop bar that would employ about 125 people when completed.
Select Board member Katie Phelan said the land development agreement begins the timeline toward a series of triggers, which includes the signing of a 99-year lease in approximately 18 months and the eventual opening of the hotel about two years later.
"There is a very long road between tonight and anybody sleeping at Hadley," Phelan said on Wednesday night. "I just want to be really frank about that so we're not sending mixed signals here to the public."
Phelan said that Delamar Hotels has agreed to be transparent during the draft design development process, including providing the public with designs open to public comment, input and concerns.
"This is a marriage," Phelan said. "The lease attached to this marriage is 99 years so it's long-term. We want what's best for our community. I think they truly feel like what's best for them is parallel to what's best for our community."
The Delamar proposal was chosen in February out of a final three that included proposals from The Drew Company and Noannet.
According to the RFP selected, Clearview "envisions repurposing the Hadley School into a market-leading full service 55-60 key 'Delamar' hotel, restaurant and spa with dedicated meeting and event space," including:
• Guest rooms will be divided between the 'main' school building, and the annex building. • What is currently the principal/nurses office/admin office will become the hotel lobby and check-in with stair access from the front of the building facing Redington Street, and ADA accessible by elevator. • What is currently the gym will become a full-service restaurant & bar with dramatic double-height ceilings, an open-concept finishing kitchen in place of the existing stage, and a private dining room. If approved, a new terrace will be built off the building to provide guests with seasonal outdoor dining overlooking historic Linscott Park and Nahant Bay. • If approved, a new one-story addition will be constructed on the roof of the 'main' building. This area will be programmed with two penthouse suites, an event space, and a seasonal outdoor bar — all of which have unrivaled views overlooking Nahant Bay and the Boston skyline. • The basement of the 'main' building will house the Spa, fitness center, and prep kitchen — along with regular back office functions such as employee offices, storage, mechanicals, housekeeping, and laundry.
• Parking will be located on the site of the existing lawn/playground, with select parking available along the Redington Street side of the property. Where possible, the existing blacktop that is not used for parking will be converted into landscaping and green space
"We all worked very hard to get to this point," Phelan said. "I'm excited that we have this opportunity to work with Delamar. They are a fantastic company — a fantastic brand, they are very reputable — and I think they will be a great addition to that district."
(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at X/Twitter:
