HULL - October 8 - In a unanimous vote, the Hull Select Board authorized the immediate seizure of property at 948 Nantasket Avenue through eminent domain to complete the final section of the town’s $16 million Nantasket Avenue Seawall Project before the onset of nor’easter season. The taking, approved by a 5-0 vote, awards $94,000 in damages to the property owner and secures both permanent and temporary construction easements necessary to finish a critical section of wall that protects the Hampton Circle neighborhood from coastal flooding.
The Full Story
The decision, while legally authorized by a vote at the May 2024 Annual Town Meeting, represents the culmination of months of unsuccessful negotiations with the current property owner at 948 Nantasket Avenue. Town Counsel Brian Winner explained that despite extensive good-faith efforts—including face-to-face meetings, email correspondence, and telephone conversations—the town was unable to reach a voluntary agreement with the out-of-state owner.
Waterways Project Manager Kevin Mooney emphasized the time-sensitive nature of the work during the meeting. “This is a critical portion of the wall that we have to remove the entire existing wall to build a new wall to connect to Alton Avenue Seawall,” Mooney told the board. “We are exposing the entire area going into nor’easter season. So we want to get this completed as soon as possible.”
Mooney explained that the contractor is prepared to begin work immediately once the order of taking is recorded at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, potentially starting as early as next week. The section involves completely removing existing seawall infrastructure, leaving the area vulnerable to storm damage until the new wall is constructed. Getting this work completed before heavy weather arrives is critical to protecting both the construction site and adjacent properties.
The situation was complicated by a change in property ownership during the planning phase. The previous owner had been cooperative and willing to work with the town on easement agreements. However, when that owner sold the property, no stipulations were included requiring the new owner to honor those discussions. Town Manager Jennifer Constable confirmed that “nothing obligated him to sell the property with any stipulations. And nothing restricted him from selling his property either.”
Select Board member Jerry Taverna noted his discomfort with eminent domain proceedings but acknowledged the necessity. “I would say this is a very important project. It’s going to be completed,” Taverna said, while expressing concern about ensuring the work is properly finished for the homeowner. Town Counsel Winner assured the board that the town had made “every effort in good faith” to reach an alternative arrangement short of eminent domain but ultimately “ran out of time” as the project schedule demanded action.
Board member Jason McCann reminded colleagues that the eminent domain authorization was thoroughly vetted at the 2024 town meeting. “I remember the 2024 town meeting and the discussion around this, and I feel like it was pretty well vetted and well discussed, and, you know, this is just the next step that we have to do to meet the will of the people,” McCann said.
The property taking is tied to federal grant funding that requires completion of the full seawall project. Mooney explained that when the previous owner sold, “the new property owner has been very difficult to work with. And this is now tied into the federal grants as part of the full project. So, in order to complete the project and the obligation with the federal grants, we need to complete the full wall.”
The specific section of wall at 948 Nantasket Avenue is particularly important because it addresses a “kink” in the existing seawall that causes waves to crash over during storms. By straightening the wall alignment, engineers expect to reduce the velocity of waves hitting the area and minimize flooding. Mooney explained they are installing special supportive excavation to protect the house foundation during construction, as “the new footing will be very close to the foundation of the house.”
In his broader project update, Mooney reported that the seawall work remains on time and on budget, with 1,215 feet of new wall already built out of a total 1,576 feet planned. He expects the concrete seawall to be completed before Thanksgiving, with rock revetment work finished shortly thereafter to avoid returning to the beach in heavy weather. Final roadway work and landscaping will continue into spring 2025, with full project completion expected by summer.
The board also received an update on significant design changes at the Point Allerton Avenue and Nantasket Avenue intersection. Originally not planned for elevation, the roadway will now be raised using excess material from utility work, eliminating the cost of trucking soil off-site while addressing chronic flooding from the adjacent lagoon. The redesign includes new storm drainage infrastructure, a rain garden, extended sidewalks, and pedestrian crosswalks to create a safer, more functional intersection.
Mooney explained that the current storm drain empties into the lagoon below the high tide line, rendering it ineffective. The new system will include modern, deeper catch basins and elevated drainage pipes to properly handle stormwater. A continuous walkway will extend around the lagoon, connecting to existing paths and providing safe pedestrian access from Point Allerton Avenue down to Stony Beach Road.
These changes require an individual Notice of Intent before the Conservation Commission, with a hearing scheduled for next week. While classified as a major change requiring separate permitting, the work utilizes material already on site and remains within the project’s contingency budget.
Mooney addressed concerns raised by residents about construction traffic traveling over Nantasket Avenue hill, acknowledging that one contractor had exceeded a limited permission to transport material and was immediately corrected. He explained that over the next six to eight weeks, concrete trucks will need to travel over the hill for approximately 15 days to complete the wall section, with police details stationed at key intersections to manage traffic safely. School buses will maintain priority access at all times.
In other significant business, the board accepted proclamations recognizing Hull as a Purple Heart Town—a designation that honors military service members who were wounded or killed in action. Veterans Agent Paul Sordillo presented the proclamation, explaining that while Hull declared itself a Purple Heart Town in 2019, formal recognition by the national Military Order of the Purple Heart required an official proclamation to be listed on their website. The board unanimously approved the proclamation, which designates August 7th annually as Purple Heart Day in Hull.
VFW Post Commander Kevin Beck presented a plaque commemorating the 63 past commanders of Hull VFW Post 1787, which operated from 1930 until recently consolidating with Hingham’s post due to declining membership. The memorial plaque will be displayed at Town Hall to honor nearly a century of veterans’ leadership in the community.
Town Manager Jennifer Constable announced that Hull has secured three major grants totaling over $616,000. The largest is a $332,000 Municipal Vulnerability Action Grant to advance resiliency work in the Hampton Circle neighborhood. The town also received $252,000 from Coastal Zone Management for phase three of resilient facilities work, exploring improvements to the Department of Public Works and Municipal Light Plant facilities. Additionally, the Hull Police Department received $32,000 for equipment including ballistic vests.
The board approved a comprehensive Board and Committee Handbook drafted by board member Jason McCann, pending final legal review. The handbook will standardize operations and expectations for all town boards and committees. The board postponed discussion of integrated goals and objectives until all five members can be present and additional feedback from department heads is compiled.
Following up on a recent meeting with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Constable reported that DCR has introduced new staff and is preparing to present their climate adaptation and vulnerability assessment, currently paused pending the new commissioner’s review. The town also discussed ongoing work with the MBTA on Route 714 bus stop locations and construction requirements. The board expressed support for DCR removing the deteriorated ice skating rink structure in the beach parking lot, which has become an eyesore and is no longer functional.
Select Board Chair Irwin Nesoff reminded residents about the master plan community meeting scheduled for October 23rd from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Memorial Middle School cafeteria, encouraging broad participation. An anonymous online survey is also available for residents to provide input on the town’s comprehensive planning effort.
Why It Matters
The eminent domain taking directly affects one Nantasket Avenue property owner but benefits the entire Hull community by ensuring completion of critical flood protection infrastructure before winter storm season. The Nantasket Avenue Seawall Project has been in development for years and represents a significant investment in protecting homes, businesses, and roadways from increasingly severe coastal storms. Any delay in completing the wall—particularly leaving a section exposed through winter—could jeopardize both the construction investment and the properties the wall is designed to protect. The decision also ensures Hull meets its obligations under federal grant agreements that fund the project. For residents throughout the Point Allerton and Nantasket Avenue corridor, completion of this work means improved protection from flooding, enhanced drainage, safer pedestrian infrastructure, and long-term preservation of the community’s coastal neighborhoods.
Meeting Minutes
Key Motions & Votes
Motion: To acquire by eminent domain permanent easements at 948 Nantasket Avenue and 1 Point Allerton Avenue for the Nantasket Avenue Seawall Project and award damages of $94,000. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 15:15)
Motion: To approve the Board and Committee Handbook pending legal review. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 53:23)
Motion: To approve the Purple Heart Town proclamation designating Hull as a Purple Heart Town and recognizing August 7th as Purple Heart Day. Outcome: Approved. Vote: Unanimous (5-0). (Timestamp: 25:19)
Motion: Approval of September 17, 2025 minutes was tabled pending clarification from note-taker regarding chronological order of public comments. Outcome: Tabled. (Timestamp: 5:45)
Public Comment
No formal public comment period was held during this meeting. However, presentations were made by Veterans Agent Paul Sordillo regarding the Purple Heart Town proclamation and VFW Post Commander Kevin Beck presenting a memorial plaque for past commanders. Waterways Project Manager Kevin Mooney provided extensive updates on the seawall project and answered questions from board members about construction impacts on residents.
What’s Next
The order of taking for 948 Nantasket Avenue will be signed by board members, notarized, and recorded at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds, with construction expected to begin as early as next week. The Conservation Commission will hear the Notice of Intent for roadway elevation and drainage improvements at the Point Allerton/Nantasket Avenue intersection next week. The master plan community meeting will be held October 23rd at Memorial Middle School from 5 to 8 p.m. The Board and Committee Handbook will undergo legal review before final implementation. The select board will appoint a new representative to the Zoning Bylaws Committee at a future meeting following the resignation of Chair Irwin Nesoff from that role. A follow-up DCR partnership meeting is anticipated to review climate adaptation assessment work once the new commissioner completes their review.