By Carol Britton Meyer

The owners of the Paragon Boardwalk presented a revised development plan to the select board Wednesday night that calls for a six-story, 142-unit residential building and two levels of commercial space – 26 units larger and one story higher than their previous proposal for the property.

Bryan Vitale of Procopio Companies of Middleton and Boston architect Monte French presented the proposal to the board this week after meeting with department heads to preview the project before the formal review process begins. The property is owned by Chris and Diana Reale of Hingham, who purchased the site five years ago.

In 2021, Reale withdrew his application for the proposed Dunes project at 197 Nantasket Ave. that was to include 116 residential units in a five-story building adjacent to the Boardwalk, along with limited commercial space. This week’s new drawings showed a six-story building and two-level commercial space, with retail bays at street level and the open-air boardwalk above.

Vitale explained that Procopio was founded in 1950 and has developed 1.3 million square feet during the last three years, including an upcoming Haverhill riverfront project with 290 units.

The “interactive” proposal for the current arcade and beer garden includes 25,000 square feet of retail, about 142 market-rate rental units ranging in size from 425 square feet to 1,000 square feet, a restaurant and taproom, raising the current boardwalk to offer views of Nantasket Beach, and spaces running the length of the development with benches and music venues. The ArtWalk, which runs behind the Boardwalk property along land owned by the adjacent condominium association, would not be affected.

“These will be smaller units to provide [the necessary amenities] but also to encourage people to get out of their apartments and [move around],” Vitale said.

 In response to a question from select board member Irwin Nesoff, Vitale confirmed that “typically, we don’t see families occupying our [rental units]. We often see young couples living in our developments for four or five years and then moving on to buy homes in the community.”

While a small, boutique hotel was an earlier consideration, it is not included in the current proposal.

“That would be tough to execute right now,” Vitale said. “The space would be better used as a restaurant and taproom.”

In 2011, the town established the Nantasket Beach Overlay District “to allow for exactly what this type of development would do – create a year-round neighborhood,” Town Manager Philip Lemnios said. “This is a significant development opportunity.”

Vitale explained that the development team has spent a lot of time on the boardwalk talking with people.

“This location is impressive,” he said. “There’s a massive need and demand for people to feel that they are part of a community, and this location does that.”

French said that besides the residential component, “the middle part of the development would be the Boardwalk, which would be elevated, with space below to incorporate retail opportunities and the arcade, and views of the ocean. It would be a dynamic space, enhancing the boardwalk experience.”

The stretch in front of the development would be tied together from one end to the other for a pedestrian experience “that would harmonize well with beachgoers so they will experience Hull the way it is,” French said. “There will be fun, bustling activity along the sidewalk that is part of the property, where people can smell the food, visit the arcade, and listen to music on the boardwalk.”

Select Board Chair Jennifer Constable expressed support for the project.

“This property had been abandoned, with a lot of blight, in the past,” she noted. “The work done during the past five years has helped revitalize this district, where the goal is to make it more of a year-round rather than seasonal [experience].”

The housing component will “bring in people who will support the businesses in this area,” she said. “It might take some time, but the developers are showing an interest in our community, where there’s ferry service and a commuter rail station not far away.”

Select Board member Greg Grey asked Vitale if the development could include affordable units.

“We have seniors with no place to go. We have a crunch,” he said.

While Vitale said his company favors affordable housing, it would be difficult “to get the economics to work” with such a large portion of the development being businesses, he explained. That said, he promised to “keep these conversations going.”

Constable encouraged Vitale to include at least “a small percentage of affordable units. That would be desirable,” she said.

While the timeframe for the project is uncertain, depending on how long working through the permitting process takes, Vitale said he hopes to get started as soon as possible, “with an optimistic timeline during the next 10 to 16 months.”

According to Vitale, parking requirements will be met with spaces both underneath and behind the development, on a narrow stretch of land owned by the Reales.

Board member Donna Pursel likes the idea of the developer “creating an experience, with the same values that Chris Reale and his team had in mind when they first bought the property.”

Looking ahead, operating partner Charles Veysey will own and operate the Boardwalk business, including the beer garden and the arcade, Reale told The Hull Times after the meeting.

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