By Dolores Sauca Lorusso

Asserting that “once open space is gone, it’s gone forever,” a citizens group is seeking to delay decisions on the disposition of the Hull Redevelopment Authority property so that alternatives other than residential and commercial uses can be studied.

“Collaboration is key. There are other economic opportunities to explore,” said Susan Vermilya,

a  founding member of S.O.S. Hull – Save Our Space – who said she believes strongly “economic development does not equal buildings.”

“Twenty years ago, there was the No Way HRA,” said S.O.S. Hull member Harriet Bosy, who recalls the No Way HRA core group with which she was involved having 15 members. She said S.O.S. Hull has a couple of hundred members and is growing. “There are so many great minds in the group. We want to open their eyes to other opportunities.”

S.O.S Hull’s Mission is to “pause” current HRA proposals to allow additional time for townspeople to propose alternatives to maintain open space, as well as consider community-focused economic opportunities, rather than private development.

The S.O.S. group began in early February and started to create avenues of participation via a website, email, and Facebook.

“The group started out of feedback from fellow citizens,” Vermilya said. “The initial intention was not to start a big group, but as people started to hear of what was going on, they all wanted to be a part of it… figuring out a better way.”

Bosy believes there needs to be “more inclusive awareness in the town” and requested that the select board put a non-binding question about voters’ preferences on the May ballot. Calling it “premature” because of the HRA’s ongoing review of its Urban Renewal Plan, the board declined.

The founders said the goal of the S.O.S Hull is to find a compromise.

“It is not the intention of the S.O.S., as some have commented, to torpedo or bring the HRA to their knees,” Vermilya said. “We want to come together to do something wonderful for the community that fulfills the mission, the town can get behind, and stops all the years of turmoil.”

The HRA is “taking away an important element of their mission which is a sense of place…sense of community in town is slowly deteriorating,” Vermilya said.

“I feel sorry for the kids in town. Carnival gone. Bonfire gone. If the Dunes gets built, the mini golf and arcade will disappear too,” Bosy said. “Little by little, kids’ activities will go away. There are not as many kids as in previous years, but still a lot of kids.”

Vermilya and Bosy said S.O.S. Hull is concerned that rising sea levels and climate change will affect this area, which is in a flood zone and is considered a barrier beach and coastal dune. The Weir River has been designated an Area of Critical Environmental Concern.

“They were not talking much about climate change 60 years ago when the HRA was formed… now it is a big problem,” said Bosy.

“As seen in the Woods Hole Oceanographic report, and YouTube videos of the No-Name Storm of 1991 and storms of 2018, the area consistently floods,” Vermilya said. “One large flood in that area could increase flood costs make the town unaffordable.”

Instead of building condominiums and a hotel in an area that is subject to flooding, S.O.S. Hull seeks alternative uses, such as passive recreation and activities for the community and visitors.

“Building in a flood and velocity zone is putting the development in harm’s way,” said Bosy.

S.O.S. Hull members says they are confident there are viable options other than those in the Urban Renewal Plan, which features some open areas with mixed-use buildings on the 13-acre site.

“There are a lot of ideas flowing,” Vermilya said. “[We] need to zero in on a few that have feasibility and are revenue-producing.”

Concerns have also been raised about decreasing parking capacity for beach visitors who may patronize local businesses.

“Parking is a big issue in town. and the HRA only has 500 spots…decreased from 900 during COVID” Bosy said. “Events need parking too. It all has to be figured out.”

Vermilya said the HRA earns revenue from parking and concessions each year, but the money does not go to the town’s budget.

“They are using the money to pursue a mission the town isn’t getting behind,” she said.

Open space proponents, along with members of S.O.S. Hull, say they do not want future generations of Hullonians to miss the opportunity to stand on one of the rare spots where they can see both the sunrise and the sunset over the water.

“It is evident the town wants a voice,” Vermilya said. “We ask the HRA to please consider this.”

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