Dream A Little Dream For 10 New Whale Street

To the editor: While watching the HDC meeting on Tuesday night, October 30, I was happy to hear the HDC Commissioners' responses to National Grid’s application for the demolition of the old Nantucket Electric Company building at 10 New Whale Street.

The best comment I took away from the meeting was from HDC Vice Chair Ray Pohl: "I feel like we're reviewing a demolition for one of the Three Bricks, honestly. It's a blue-collar version of one of the Three Bricks. This building, for so many reasons — its material, its shape, its location, all of that — is so rich with meaning in terms of that downtown area. So I could never, never vote in favor of a demolition of this building.”

I agree.

I love that building and always enjoyed going to the “plant” when I was a kid with my dad (VP of Nantucket Electric) and brothers to visit the Electric Co. generator gang on weekends for updates and to check in with the expert team of workers.

After the removal of the generation plant, I always wondered what the fate of this well-designed building and the site would be. I always thought it would be great for an adaptive reuse project. Plus, the brick structure would better withstand flooding (and Coastal Resilience Advisory Committee projected sea level rise) in that neighborhood.

My design concept started when I heard plans for the revitalization of Wilkes Square. My mental charrette schematic vision went into gear, thinking about what could be the best design needs for the Old Electric site. The locus should have the feel of a couple of streets we are familiar with, like walking down Broad Street and Center Street, with storefronts at street level and apartments on the second and third floors. Now for the twist… National Grid, Nantucket Island Resorts (NIR), and the Town Administration should collaborate to create underground parking. Easy—my meds are fine and balanced. But thanks for asking.

NIR should excavate down three or four parking levels (Ref. Flagship Wharf Condo Bldg in Charleston Navy Yard) to provide much-needed OHD Core parking for Hy-Line travelers, S&S shoppers, and public and private employees who work or visit the OHD core for pleasure.

It would also be a win-win because they would be removing all of the oil-soaked sand and contaminants, most likely PFAS, from years of the “Plant” situated on that property. They could use the former Gas and Electric building as the entrance to the underground parking garage, with garage administration situated on the second floor of the building. This would cause minimal disruption to the structure.

Somewhere in my office, I completed a schematic sketch for myself to do just that. I’ve been thinking about this since Wilkes Square has been discussed for redevelopment.

So, Ms. Marisa Pizzi, the representative for National Grid, and her team, it’s time to zoom out and see what is best for Nantucket and the long-range planning for the downtown needs.

Imagine in five to seven years walking the streets of the new development, timeless in design, a feeling you get if you stepped off the ‘Eagle’ (1818) and began walking in the beautiful, well-designed, and thoughtfully planned dock area. I can see my dream. Other locals can, too. Walter Beinecke, I bet, could as well. Will you please dream a little dream with me?

Joseph Topham