Sandwich Selectmen Accept Senior Housing Proposal for Wing School

The Henry T. Wing School was built in 1927.

SANDWICH – The board of selectmen in Sandwich voted this week to accept a proposal for the future use of the former Henry T. Wing School recommended by a review committee.

The Stratford Capital Group proposal would redevelop the property into a 128-unit mixed income senior housing facility.

The vote by selectmen now allows the town to begin negotiations with the developer, before the project goes before annual or special town meeting.

Town Planner Ralph Vitacco said it was important for the board to move the project along.

“We want to make sure we have ample opportunity to negotiate with SCG, but also we need ample opportunity to educate the public as to what is going on,” Vitacco said.

Vitacco said his planning office has received several calls over the last few weeks from residents asking about the proposal.

“The sense I’m getting is that there is still some confusion when we talk about the disposition of the Wing School – exactly how much of the property is the town looking to dispose of and how much of the property is the town looking to retain?” Vitacco said.

Vitacco said, as discussions continue, officials will have a better understanding of whether or not the project should have a dedicated special town meeting.

“We want to make sure the final product is something we can all be proud of,” he said. “We want to make sure the development fits in with the community.”

The Stratford proposal includes a purchase price of $1.265 million and requests $2.65 million in Community Preservation Act funding.

The 128-unit development would be constructed in three phases.

The proposal would retain the 1927 portion of the building and demolish the rest and build affordable elderly housing for seniors at least 62 years of age.

Town Planner Ralph Vitacco said the proposal was the most responsive and responsible, and meets all the objectives that board and the town put forward in the Request for Proposals.

In its proposal, Stratford Capital cited current demographics which indicate an aging population and the upcoming need for more housing for seniors.

The review group looked at Stratford Capital’s local projects – the Coady School in Bourne and the Simpkins School in Yarmouth.

The review team was impressed by the professionalism of the group during an interview.

Cape Cod Collaborative is the current leasee of the building.

The collaborative provides educational services for individuals with special needs and multiple handicaps. The organization’s alternative middle and high school relocated to the former Wing School in 2017.

The current lease runs through June 2020.

The collaborative submitted the other proposal that was considered.

The organization was seeking to extend that lease to 2023 with an option through 2025 for $50,000 per year.