January 26, 2023 Information Box
Hull Redevelopment Authority Information Box as published in The Hull Times on 1/26/23
Why is an Urban Renewal Plan Necessary?
The HRA property (urban renewal area) has been vacant since the completion of the razing of the original neighborhood in 1976 based on the Urban Renewal Plan approved by the town, HUD, and the Department of Housing and Urban Renewal in 1961. The intended redevelopment was never undertaken after the initial action.
Development attempts under the initial urban renewal plan were made in 1978 and 1986 and did not succeed.
In 2002, a developer was selected and went through the permit process, but ultimately chose to not go forward with the project due to market conditions.
In 2017 and 2018, efforts were made to find a developer for the property by Request for Proposal (RFP) under Massachusetts General Law 30-B.
Due to the lack of bidders on the 2017 RFP and the questions related to the responses to the 2018 RFP, the HRA determined that the creation of a new urban renewal plan, under Massachusetts General Law 121-B, was the most viable method by which to address the complicated challenges to the improvement/development of the site, which has remained vacant and largely unused, other than for three months a year when it is utilized as parking.
The HRA’s goal is to enhance the HRA properties by creating a user-friendly area that preserves open space and is suitable for viable economic development that meets the needs of Hull.