Public gets first look at beach vision
Thompson Group presentation aims to give new life to project
By Angeljean Chiaramida Staff writer
SALISBURY - Picture a wider beach with a secondary dunes system to prevent habitual flooding, boardwalks along the ocean and salt marsh, hotels serving as vacation and spa destinations, sheltered arcades, concert venues, a public beach club, an indoor water park, and even a 100-acre alternative energy-generating park in town to fuel it all.
Those are just some of the many concepts being considered by the Cambridge development company hoping to economically and environmentally revitalize Salisbury Beach Center.
Last night, for the first time since their move to redevelop Salisbury Beach Center began three years ago, the principal players in the Thompson Design Group discussed with beach residents and businesses what might be possible. Jane Thompson, Norm Beaulieu and Pratap Talwar made the presentation to more than 250 members of the Salisbury Beach Betterment Association gathered at the ocean's edge at its annual meeting on the deck of the SurfSide 5 lounge.
Encouraged by Salisbury Town Manager Harrington to be more public about their plans, Thompson's presentation last night finally took a veil of secrecy off the project that has generated rumors concerning its progress for years. Many federal, state and local government officials were also on hand.
Nothing is certain, but the dream of a rebirth of Salisbury Beach is possible, said the leaders of the Thompson Group, who have successfully transformed venues from Faneuil Hall in Boston to Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco. To do so, they want to create a mixed-use, year-round venue with new attractions, amenities and commerce, a completely rebuilt infrastructure and reconfigured beach center.
The presentation drew applause, as well as questions of: "When will the first shovel hit the ground?" The answer to that question has been a problem for the developers since they started this quest in February 2007. Since then, they have worked to acquire development agreements for the target area with more than 70 owners of all the property surrounding Broadway, the nucleus of Salisbury's now deteriorated, but once celebrated, Beach Center.
Gaining the cooperation of property owners was something Beaulieu once said he imagined might take six to 12 months. Now, after three years of negotiations, about half-dozen owners have still not signed on, threatening the project's viability.
Last night's presentation was a way to not only inform those who live at the beach of the project's intentions, but also to keep its spirit alive.
The project is so crucial to the town's future and so fragile in its current state, Town Manager Neil Harrington said he will use all the tools at his disposal to persuade the holdouts to get on board.
But even if all the property owners signed on tomorrow, the project is not nearly ready to implement, Beaulieu explained to last night's crowd. Community outreach would be the next phase of the project, so the company can better understand what the town wants and will support.
After that comes the final design, then the drive to gain the numerous state and local permits needed to raze the beach center and start fresh, perhaps in phases, building a sustainable environment for a sustainable economic revival.
However, if all goes well, the Thompson Group could begin construction toward the end of this year on its alternative energy-generating park, behind Salisbury Elementary School on property known in town as Pearson's Pit.
Salisbury Chamber of Commerce Chairman Chuck Takesian said he's hoping to bring Thompson Group representatives to a chamber meeting to make a similar presentation to the business community.
Harrington has also spoken of urging the developers to provide a series of opportunities for the public to learn what's possible at Salisbury Beach if the project succeeds.
