Proposed Dockside Condo Project Clears Latest Hurdle

CCB MEDIA PHOTO
Developer Stuart Bornstein presents his plans for a 33-unit condominium development at the Dockside restaurant property on School Street on Hyannis Harbor to the Hyannis Main Street Waterfront Historic District Commission.

HYANNIS – A planned luxury condominium development overlooking Hyannis Harbor has received initial approval from the Barnstable Planning Board.

Following the unanimous planning board vote, The 30 million dollar project proposed by Shoestring Properties for the east end of the harbor now moves on to the full town council for a final verdict on the controversial venture.

“This is a depressed area this is an investment that will hopefully spur development in the east end,” Shoestring Properties attorney John Kenney told the board, “Take a ride down Main Street when you go out tonight, see how many empty buildings there are, ask some of the people who own restaurants how they’re doing this year. This town is hurting and we’re on a precipice and to have this type of an investment in a depressed area, frankly…I think it should be welcomed.”

The property in question, currently occupied by the Dockside Bar, occupies just over 1.3 acres off of South Street. Should it be approved, the development would eventually include nine newly constructed buildings containing a total of 33 condominium units with an average purchase price of 800 thousand dollars, in addition to an underground parking structure for residents and visitors.

According to developer Stuart Bornstein, the team behind the endeavor has already spent well over 700 thousand dollars on infrastructure improvements to the property. He went on to suggest that the new complex would bring several hundred thousand dollars in annual new tax revenue into the town coffers.

Proponents have pointed to the development’s potential impact on the surrounding area including a commitment to improve landscaping along South and School Streets, upgrades to existing utilities and lighting, drainage improvements, the addition of a new water main, and the replacement of sidewalks and pavement that have fallen into disrepair over the last several decades.

An issue which remains unresolved following the planning board meeting is the developer’s request to alter a town zoning requirement which mandates that 10 percent of the development be earmarked for affordable housing. Bornstien is requesting permission to house the low-income units off-site,

“I offer three units floating, we may put one in a different development so that they are not all bunched together but we would sign an agreement that before we got any occupancies or building permits we would designate three workforce housing,” Bornstien told the board, “You have enough safeguards that you’re secured of getting them before we get building permits.”

The appeal has the support of the Barnstable Housing Committee and will be officially considered by the planning board at a later date.

By DAVID BEATTY, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

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