Select Board awards Hawthorne property reuse contract to performing arts group.
Select Board · Meeting of March 4, 2026
SWAMPSCOTT — Select Board backs Swampscott Center for the Performing Arts for Hawthorne temporary reuse. The board voted 4-1 to award a lease authorization through June 30, 2028, to SCFPA for a cultural hub with performing arts, restaurant, café, family programming, and local retail, committing approximately $600,000 in Year-1 capital expenditures. David Grishman dissented.
The board immediately launched a parallel request for proposals for long-term redevelopment, directing staff to refine demolition cost estimates downward from a $2,000,000 capital plan placeholder to realistic ranges near $500,000. Town Administrator Nicholas Connors reported escalating Swampscott's rail trail project removal from the state's draft Transportation Improvement Program directly to Secretary Eng and the legislative delegation, with a meeting to be arranged to ensure full discussion before any vote.
In the full story:
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Source: the Select Board meeting of March 4, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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