Replica Of Exchange Building Proposed For West Harwich

 HARWICH – If developer John Carey gets town support, a replica of the Exchange Building, once the cornerstone of Harwich Center, could be built on the corner of Route 28 and Depot Street in West Harwich.

Carey is in the process of redeveloping the West Harwich schoolhouse into apartments. He purchased the property at 52 Route 28, and his fiance Piper Connolly acquired the adjacent lot at 48 Route 28. Carey was before the planning board on Dec. 17 discussing alternatives for development of the properties, including the idea of more housing in a replica of the Exchange Building. 

“What I am proposing tonight could resurrect West Harwich [and] establish a new village center where housing and commerce will replace abandoned buildings,” Carey told the planning board. “A place where you meet with friends. A village that becomes a place you drive to, not drive through.”

 The stretch of Route 28 known as Captains’ Row running from the Herring River to the Dennis town line is experiencing a transformation with the restoration. Projects now underway or in the planning stages include Carey’s renovation of the West Harwich schoolhouse into 10 apartments; the Davenport Realty Trust proposal to add 10 to 13 apartments at the Baptist Church site; and now Carey’s proposal to place 38 to 40 housing units and commercial space at the Captain George Winchell Baker property at the corner of Depot Street and Route 28.

 “I’d like you to envision a revitalized West Harwich, one that honors the legacy to our past while embracing the challenges of our future,” said Carey. “A place where our oldest buildings still stand as  symbols of our resilience and our newest structures are built as a testament to our ambitions.”

 Carey put two proposals before the planning board last week. Both called for the relocation of the Captain Baker house, built circa 1870, to the rear of the lot. Carey said he plans to restore the historic structure as a two-family dwelling. The historic district and historical commission approved the relocation of the historic structure on Dec. 18.

 As for development of the site, Carey presented one scenario with four additional structures with a total of 38 apartments. One of the structures in the front of the lot, located in the Commercial Highway District, would have a commercial use, possibly a cafe, sandwich shop, taco counter or a small restaurant, he said. The three apartment buildings would each contain 12 units. There would be a 58-space parking lot to the rear on the west side of the lot. Carey said the parking lot would not be seen from Route 28 or Depot Street. He is calling the project West Harwich Square.

The other option would provide an exact replica of the Exchange Building, a 58-by-100-foot four-story structure, similar to the dimensions of the historic structure that served as the cornerstone of Harwich Center for more than a century until its demolition in 1964. A variance would be needed from height limits that only allow two-and-a-half story structures in that area. The trade off is more height for fewer buildings, he said. The proposal would also add a two-and-a-half story structure to the west side of the Exchange Building.

Carey had questions about zoning and how the West Harwich District of Critical Planning Concern (DCPC) enactment would impact the project. He said he has been working with the Cape Cod Commission on the DCPC issues, and added that while under zoning a height variance appears necessary, he was not sure about DCPC provisions. 

 Planning board member Mary Maslowski said she thought the planning board had the ability to issue waivers under the DCPC provisions.

Carey said under both proposals parking would be shielded from the roadway, and the plan would be to extend a brick sidewalk and historic lighting down Depot Street to the end of his property and possibly add a couple of pick-up/drop-off street-based parking spots along the street.

The architecture would match that of the surrounding structures, such as the historic schoolhouse, Baptist Church and the Baker house, all built in the 1870s and 1880s, he added.

Board members wanted to know if the entire complex would meet affordable housing guidelines. Carey said 12 of the units would meet affordable housing standards, but all 38 to 40 units would be added to the commonwealth’s subsidized housing inventory.

Board members had questions about the site and building coverage meeting requirements. Carey said he would make adjustments, if necessary, to meet requirements.        

There were also questions about how the town’s mixed-use bylaw would impact the project. Carey called the bylaw outdated, saying that it allows one dwelling unit per 10,000 square feet of property and requires that one-third of the buildings be commercial. Under those provisions, only seven dwelling units would be allowed, he said.

Agreeing there are zoning issues that need to be addressed, Planning Board Chair Berry said it is important not to stifle creative development “because creative, adaptive, innovative buildings draw a sight line between our past and our future.”      

 “Bringing the Exchange Building back would be great,” board member Allan Peterson said.

 When asked which of the proposals Carey preferred, he indicated the Exchange Building proposal was more suitable to him. He made it clear, however, that he wants to work with the town to provide a project that is acceptable to the community.  

 “I think this can be an opportunity because so many people care about it,” Carey said of the Exchange Building. “It’s an opportunity to do something significant.”

Berry also updated the board on other changes coming along that stretch of Route 28. He said the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has a roadway improvement project scheduled to start within a year that will include additional amenities, including brick sidewalls, bike lanes and historic lighting. 

According to Berry, MassDOT has agreed that the sidewalks throughout the 1.1-mile stretch will be brick. Initially the plan was for 25 percent of the sidewalk to be brick. The initial plan also called for 50 percent of the area to have historic lighting, but the federal government has provided funds for historic lighting throughout the stretch, said Berry.

“This is the type of thing that planners could be looking at in a very positive way, sidewalks and bike lanes,” Berry said. “It’s going to be a very different place.” 

 Carey will be busy putting the project design plans together over the next few months. Given MassDOT’s plans to begin the roadway reconstruction in the winter of 2025/2026, he said he has to have his final designs done by next September so he can tie into utility connections under Route 28 before it is resurfaced.