Hull Redevelopment Authority Advances Plans for Summer Events While Working on Urban Renewal
Board approves five community events for 2025 season as discussions continue about long-term development of 13-acre waterfront property
HULL - February 26 - The Hull Redevelopment Authority is moving forward with plans for multiple community events on its property during the 2025 summer season while simultaneously working to develop a comprehensive urban renewal plan for the 13-acre waterfront site.
During a presentation to the Select Board on Monday, HRA Chair Dennis Zaia outlined five approved events scheduled between April and August, with potentially more to come.
"We have in April 28th to May 16th, the Northeast Public Power Association will be back for the second year for their line workers rodeo that was on the HRA property last year and was considered very successful," Zaia says.
Other approved events include a South Shore revival supporting people in recovery from June 2-8, two Hull Boosters/HIFA carnivals in June and July, and a "Bears at the Beach" event on August 2.
The increase in community activities represents a shift in how the HRA approaches the property, which has historically been used primarily for parking.
"One of the things that we had identified a long time ago is we needed to start recognizing that the property has to have some kind of identity, and it has to be able to start demonstrating that it can create a sense of place," Zaia explains.
HRA board member Dan Kernan emphasizes that these activities stem from community feedback.
"There was a serious request from the community and serious engagement," Kernan says. "I believe that if we're going to succeed, we have to continue the citizen feedback."
The HRA is also preparing to issue a request for proposals for parking management during the 2025 season. The RFP includes a maximum capacity of 900 vehicles, though this number requires formal approval from the Select Board at an upcoming meeting.
Bartley Kelly, another HRA member, notes that historically when the lot accommodated 900-1,000 cars, the HRA consistently received bids exceeding $200,000 to operate the parking lots.
Last year's parking operation generated $165,000 for the HRA, according to Zaia, though he indicates the vendor may have barely broken even due to weather conditions and operational costs.
The broader discussion during Monday's meeting centered on the HRA's ongoing efforts to develop an urban renewal plan for the property, a process that has been underway for several years.
Kelly expresses frustration with the pace of progress, urging the HRA to focus more on finalizing a development plan.
"It's this board's job to come up with an urban renewal plan that revitalizes that area, provides economic development to the town, and checks the boxes of creating usable open space with the improvements, checks the boxes of providing housing with some affordable housing," Kelly says.
He adds that the HRA recently heard a proposal from a family interested in establishing an early childhood education center with outdoor recreation areas on a portion of the property.
The urban renewal planning process has faced challenges, including differing visions among board members and community stakeholders about the appropriate level of development for the site.
"We have to have come to some sort of compromise," Kelly says. "Everybody's not going to get everything that they want. Everybody's not going to get 100% open space. Everybody's not going to get 150 or 200 units of housing. Everybody's not going to get 100% event space."
Town Manager Jennifer Constable suggests the HRA's planning efforts might benefit from coordination with the town's upcoming master planning process, which will provide a roadmap for Hull's development over the next decade.
"A master plan is a roadmap for the next 10 years for a community," Constable explains. "It doesn't dictate what the community will do over the course of that decade, but it provides guided recommendations."
Select Board Chair Irwin Nesoff emphasizes the importance of reaching a resolution after decades of indecision about the property's future.
"For 60 years, most of our residents that have been here along the way just ignore it till it rises," Nesoff says. "They want an end game. Whatever it may be, whatever you decide, whatever we decide, whatever happens."
During public comment, resident Lisa French argues that the HRA should prioritize community preferences based on previous public forums.
"The majority of residents obviously consistently wanted community events and activities on the HRA," French says. "The majority of people wanted to see that as a public space for the community to use, to gather, to have events."
The HRA must ultimately present its urban renewal plan to the Select Board for approval before submitting it to the state. Zaia indicates the board hopes to make progress on developing a "third option" for the property in the coming months, though town meeting and elections in May will limit meeting opportunities.
"We need to get something that we can send to the state," Zaia says.
The Select Board plans to schedule a future meeting to formally discuss and vote on the parking capacity for the 2025 season.