Major redevelopment plans are on the drawing board for the former Edu-Comp building at the head of Main street Vineyard Haven, with a prospective buyer seeking approval to gut and renovate the existing brick building.
Major redevelopment plans are now on the drawing board for the former Edu-Comp building at the head of Main street Vineyard Haven, with a prospective buyer seeking approval to gut and renovate the existing brick building for expanded retail use, and construct an elaborate four-story residential condominium complex overlooking Veterans Memorial Park. The project comes amid a flurry of large-scale commercial developments in downtown Vineyard Haven that have the potential to tax an already-overburdened wastewater treatment system, sparking political tensions inside town hall.
A public hearing was set to open before the Martha’s Vineyard Commission Thursday night, where the project is under review as a development of regional impact (DRI). The applicant is Xerxes Agassi, a real estate developer who has a purchase and sale agreement for an undisclosed amount to buy the Edu-Comp property, according to commission documents.
Rendering shows expansion from back of building.
Rendering shows expansion from back of building.
The property at 4 State Road is owned by the family of the late Pat and Dorothy Gregory, who founded Edu-Comp, an art supply and computer store, in the 1980s. The store closed up shop in the fall of 2020, at the height of the pandemic, and soon after the property was placed on the market for sale. The asking price was $2.6 million, according to a listing in LINK, the Vineyard’s multiple listing service.
The three-story brick building dates to 1930 and formerly housed a telephone company, among other uses through the years. The plan filed by Mr. Agassi calls for completely renovating the existing 7,686-square-foot building and adding a 16,800-square-foot building onto the south side of the property, for a total of 24,486 square feet. The renovated old building will have three floors and the new building will have four floors, according to the plans. Seven retail and office condominiums are planned for the first floor in a mall-like “arcade” configuration, according to the plans and renderings, with a new building entry facing State Road. The 15 one- and two-bedroom residential apartments would range in size from 640 square feet to 1,629 square feet, with a total of 22 bedrooms. A rooftop terrace and garden with a jacuzzi and spa are also part of the plan, as well as improved pedestrian access to the town-owned Veterans Memorial Park. A total of 17 parking spaces are planned for the rear of the building. Five of the residential condominiums would be set aside for what is being termed workforce housing, with two of the units designated as affordable, that is, restricted to people earning 80 per cent of area median income in Dukes County.
According to MVC documents, the Martha’s Vineyard Hospital has already spoken for the five specially designated units. In a June 23 letter to Mr. Agassi and his business concern Delano & Company, Edward Olivier, chief financial officer at the hospital, confirmed the arrangement and offered support for the project.
“I am writing today to express Martha’s Vineyard Hospital’s support for your proposed renovation at 4 State Road,” the letter says in part. “It is the intention of the hospital to lease five units of workforce housing . . . which will be used exclusively as residential accommodations for hospital workers.” Mr. Olivier also wrote: “Because of the hospital’s current leases of other residential properties owned by Delano & Company, I can state that the ongoing experience of working with you has been consistently positive.”
As with other recent development proposals in downtown Vineyard Haven, wastewater is a pivotal issue. The Tisbury wastewater treatment plant is nearly at capacity, and the town recently began a five-year comprehensive wastewater management plan, a first step before any expansion can be considered at the relatively small treatment plant which mainly services the downtown area. Meanwhile, with demand for new sewer connections on the rise, town wastewater issues have become a political football.
First floor retail arcade concept.
First floor retail arcade concept.
In the most recent volley, last month the town selectmen, who also act as sewer commissioners, reshuffled their wastewater advisory board by ousting a longtime member who has spoken out against increases in sewer flow allocations. John Best was not reappointed to the advisory board.
The Edu-Comp building is currently serviced by an on-site septic system but the property previously had secured approval for 652 gallons per day of wastewater flow. According to MVC documents, Mr. Agassi applied to the town for the 652 gallons per day plus an additional 1,926 gallons per day, for a total flow of 2,578 gallons per day. On Sept. 16 the wastewater department issued a letter of conditional approval for the additional flow, according to MVC documents.
Wastewater commission approval hinges on approval of the development by the commission.
Located in an archaeologically sensitive area known as the Vincent Site, the project was also the subject of a survey by the Public Archeology Lab (PAL) in Rhode Island, requested last month by the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Results are pending.
Available public records show that Xerxes Agassi, whose full name is Xerxes Aghassipour, has been quietly snapping up real estate on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket over the past several years.
In October 2013, he bought a seven-bedroom house at 40 Delano Road in Vineyard Haven at a foreclosure sale for $530,000. Between 2017 and 2021, he purchased eight more homes, including five in Oak Bluffs, two more in Tisbury and one in Edgartown, either individually or through LLCs for which he is listed as manager. In 2020, he also bought two properties on Nantucket.
His company, Delano & Co., has an address at 1 Lagoon Pond Road in Vineyard Haven, which is the U.S. Post Office, and is described on its website as “a full-service property management company based on Martha’s Vineyard.” Its services include design/build construction and property maintenance.
“We employ a team of trusted contractors to resolve a range of maintenance issues including: plumbing, electrical, boiler and HVAC, roofing, painting, landscaping and much more,” according to a statement on the site.
Comments
Oh my quite ambitious
gina Menemsha / NYCOh my quite ambitious expansion. but . is the minor affordable housing contribution really off sets the " Malling of Martha " ??? Totally 0ut of scale IMO. .. VH Retail will be over supplied when you add in the Stone Bank Development .. Brick & Mortar Retail businesses are in a precarious position @ the moment ..
… exactly. One wonders about
Burgo off Nantucket… exactly. One wonders about the subtext to this sorry, amateur episode. Notice the pious, weasel reference to “hospital workers” - who could possibly dare criticise a planning proposal, however simple minded and careless of the island’s remaining character, when such piety is flaunted ?
Very simple----traffic,
mark acker VHVery simple----traffic, traffic, traffic. This is the worse location on the Island for added traffic.
Absolutely. The vehicle
Mr. B ChilmarkAbsolutely. The vehicle entry and exit points are awful/dangerous as they are, and nothing can be done to widen or resituate them. Adding pedestrian traffic for the proposed "mall" is just another nightmare in the offing for that three-way intersection. Coming out of the EduComp lot and making a left turn? Try it some day. Or ask the FedEx drivers who've tried!
Looks like a nice project.
here we go again edgLooks like a nice project. And Tisbury can certainly use the property tax revenue.
NOOOOOO! Step up MVC…shut
Susan Desmarais Oak BluffsNOOOOOO! Step up MVC…shut this down now.
Why? This is s great project!
Paul EdgartownWhy? This is s great project!
Yes shut it down let’s keep
Curious MV Oak BluffsYes shut it down let’s keep it vacant and turn into a run down eye shore don’t change anything.
Oh My God.
Adrienne Ma.Oh My God.
Don’t forget to have ALL
Islander61 OBDon’t forget to have ALL materials tested for PFAS, that’s the new standard right and no plastic at all.
Laughable
J Klingensmith Naples FloridaLaughable
I would not call the 6-foot
T Hecht Newton, MAI would not call the 6-foot wide first floor hallway shown on the architectural plans an "arcade," let alone anything like the skylit 25 foot high space shown in the article's photograph. There is clearly a need for workforce housing on the island, but this would be the largest monolithic building in Vineyard Haven.
WTH? Why not a ten-story
Carol formerly ChilmarkWTH? Why not a ten-story office tower, too? MVC are you all in comas? STOP this!
17 parking spaces for a
Downislander17 parking spaces for a building that size with residential and retail?? You cannot be serious. This is a traffic nightmare on top of the already traffic apocalypse at 5 Corners.
Why not add a helicopter pad
TisKid VHWhy not add a helicopter pad while we're at it? Perhaps some nice horse stables. Don't forget the electric charger for the Tesla, which will come from the solar panels incorporated into the bricks. Maybe an underground tunnel to get the cars out to Edgartown Rd.
And that's just for starters.
susienewsie PennsylvaniaAnd that's just for starters.
What is happening to the
Wilson Off IslandWhat is happening to the Vineyard? Why aren't you happy with the way it was and enjoy it? Who needs all the stupid changes??!!
What an ugly design, the MVC
Mark EdgartownWhat an ugly design, the MVC better shut this down
… absurdly out of scale,
Burgo off Nantucket… absurdly out of scale, laughable were it not so pitiful… the the Island’s “planners” are culpably inadequate and out of their depth … shame.
After being on the island
Bob EdgartownAfter being on the island over 30 years you feel like you get to know a lot of the local businesses and trades people. I have not heard of this developer or company and wonder who local works for them and what property the hospital leases from him. It seems he has done his homework by trying to ride on the coattails of helping out the hospital in order to help push through a big development.
No thank you huge development
Jen West TisburyNo thank you huge development!
WOW, this is extreme. In a
gampiano west tisbryWOW, this is extreme. In a word, NO.
Whatever happened to
Pia Webster Edgartown MAWhatever happened to preserving the character of the Island?
Pia, that is long gone
Edg Native EdgPia, that is long gone unfortunately. With all the McMansions/Trophy homes being built, the traffic, and the SSA issues. We will never see MV as nice as it used to be.
PLease, Please stop this in
Marie EdgartownPLease, Please stop this in it’s tracks. Just plan out of character. MVC do your magic. Thank you…
Is this a joke? What do the
Jane TisburyIs this a joke? What do the neighbors think? Attractive MV Bank, small homes/businesses…are people trying to purposely make Tisbury the ugliest town on the island? Please MVC, remember where we are!
Too big and suburban
JRS VHToo big and suburban
It's coming folks. Let's hope
Mike SomewhereIt's coming folks. Let's hope the contextual response turns out better than this design. Some thoughtful design would help here. Hinkley's and the old Fire Station are next. MVC must impose contextual guidelines for all large scale projects. Without a vision, the next 10 years of development could look like anything. What do you want your town to look like- a mish mash of developers whims? at least at Santander they tried.
Exactly, let’s take a minute
Slater MVExactly, let’s take a minute to think about all the “beautiful” houses build here during the boom of the 80s…
"five-year comprehensive
RC OB"five-year comprehensive wastewater management plan, a first step before any expansion can be considered" It'd be nice to know how many steps are needed to "consider" expansion. We're looking at what, 20 years before anything is done?
Good and amen to that!
Adrienne Ma.Good and amen to that!
If they can figure out the
David VHIf they can figure out the wastewater issues and traffic concerns, I say this will be a net positive for Vineyard Haven, especially with the additional units of house and retain space opportunities.
This looks like a nice
Brook ChilmarkThis looks like a nice project. Recycling an existing building and adding density in the back where it will be less visible from the street. Smart move to add housing close to the downtown employment center. The walkable location will mitigate traffic impact.
Ridiculous!!!!!
Jill GoodmanRidiculous!!!!!
Based on property size and
DZ TisburyBased on property size and location it would seem the existing structure should be gutted and modified internally, with NO additions or changes externally.
WHY would a MALL be considered on the vineyard???
I was born here in 1920 this
Sam Issokson VHI was born here in 1920 this building is stupid and ugly.
Put this building in the firest so we cant see it from the road
Thos is again all about$$$$$ and let all the islanders vote on it and not just a few so called leaders
Um. What?? A mall in Vineyard
Al V.H.Um. What?? A mall in Vineyard Haven? Condos with a spa on the roof? In the spirit of No Jets, Sack The Mac, and all things that are holy, rise up folks and say NO to this gross folly. Ugh.
Huzzah to you dear sir!
Paul EdgartownHuzzah to you dear sir!
Concentrating development in
Thomas Hodgson wtConcentrating development in the town centers is important if we want fewer projects eating up more and more undeveloped land. A two or three level parking structure on the park side could take care of most parking needs for an expansion, and would not even be visible from the street. If the developer's going to make parking problems, they should make more than a token effort to help solve that problem. That said, one reason for apartments in town is so you won't need a car.
Historically speaking, old New England towns used to solve their expansion issues by growing up and by concentrating, not by sprawling out and eating up the community's surrounding land.
One has the choice to remain
Adrienne Ma.One has the choice to remain sustainable. MV is an ISLAND. No, constant expansion is NOT what one does on an island or a ship. One maintains and conserves.
You want to expand, go to New Jersey or better yet, Texas.
Is this a parody???
Diane Lexington/VHIs this a parody???
This is truly very sad. I
mm edgThis is truly very sad. I hope Vineyarders will take a step back, see what is happening on the island, and try to intervene before the lovely flavor of the MV turns into something geared only to a profit making sensibility. As historic homes are demolished, and chain stores creep onto the landscape, the Vineyard will not resemble what it was. It isn't too late.... but it will be soon. Clearly, the organizations whose purpose is supposed to be to protect the island from this...have failed.
This is ridiculous!
Barbara WeatogueThis is ridiculous!
I’d rather see them redesign the building into housing for the hospital and lower income.
Vineyard Haven ( nor any other part of The Vineyard) does NOT need a building of that size nor the shopping arcade they are proposing and the traffic impact.
Truly out of place for The Vineyard.
I’m heartbroken to read this.
Let me be sure I understand.
Really? tisburyLet me be sure I understand. We lost many rentals due to the pandemic and cash out sales. We write and lament annually about the lack of workforce housing. We have multiple agencies trying to tax house sales to pay for their housing initiatives. We shut down multiple developments proposed that offered housing. Here is a compact proposal and everyone hates it. Not saying it is perfect but lay-off the complaints about the island shuffle and lack of workers. Not sure you can have it all. Think hard each time you complain and then say “no”. Walking distance to the stop and shop you want to kill and on the bus route and no cost to you.
That arcade rendering looks
B MVThat arcade rendering looks like something for a much larger town. The roads can’t handle the increase in traffic as it is. Wastewater is going to be another big issue.
This looks like city life.
Heidi Drew Vineyard HavenThis looks like city life. Do people live here for that? Not me. It will lead to multiple lane roads and traffic lights and so much worse. I'm all for housing but I don't see the need for any more high-end retail or taller buildings downtown and yes, there is the wastewater and parking issue.
This is nice. Why do all
Peter Vineyard HavenThis is nice. Why do all Chimark people and beyond (NYC etc) like to comment on our town. This can only be seen from State Road and the back adds so much needed housing and office space. If the sewer is available, then give it to the project. The paper points to infighting about sewer etc. It's been conditionally approved, what infighting?
Remember when the MVC balked at Stop and Shop? Tristan Israel put a stop to it and now we're left with a flooded aisle every storm (or not). I say move onward and upward and this is a nice addition to Main Street / State Road.
Tristan Israel did not put a
Main Street Resident TisburyTristan Israel did not put a stop to the insanely conceived Stop & Shop expansion.
That was accomplished by over 50 Islanders who came to the final open hearing to make their views known loud and clear.
( BTW I have never seen a flooded aisle at the S&S.) If Ahold of Netherlands and New Jersey had presented a reasonable, appropriate plan (compare their Nantucket store) the outcome would have been different. I hope Mr. Agassi reconsiders and presents something attractive and doable. @@Something that actually reflects and carries forward the spirit of Pat and Dorothy Gregory.
Wait. The color photo in the
Andrew T. BostonWait. The color photo in the online version of the article labeled as 'First floor retail arcade concept' is the Burlington Arcade in London. Has the term 'concept' ever been used more loosely? An historic shopping area in London is inspiration for a design program in that location? Maybe Mill V in Lowell, but something is not quite right when anyone envisions a version of the Burlington Arcade in Vineyard Haven.
Can’t even pony up for an
Slater MVCan’t even pony up for an actual rendering and instead use a photo of a London mall (was that in the public domain or did they just swipe it?) yeah definitely showing how professional the team is on this one. Smh. Poor poor Martha.
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