The town of Sandwich and MassDevelopment, in partnership with Union Studio, Horsley Witten and Rustpoint Advisory, have released a master plan for the town’s Marina District, aimed at capitalizing on the district’s potential.
Sandwich and the Cape Cod Commission identified the district as a potential growth area and the plan was crafted improve access to the waterfront, adding market-driven residential, commercial, hospitality and civic components to attract residents, businesses and tourists while preserving and protecting open space and natural areas.
Ed Moffit Drive would serve as the central spine for the development, which includes first developing a roughly 22.5-acre parcel owned by the town. The development would eventually extend beyond the town parcel to extend Ed Moffit Drive to Merchant’s Square. The plan also proposes a new multimodal station adjacent to the railroad track, opening the possibility for transit uses in the future.
The study also proposes expanding the Town Neck neighborhood without compromising the existing natural resources and open spaces in the area.
The master planning team began the planning process in July 2014 with continuous input from local stakeholders and presented the plan to selectmen in June 2015.
Along with a contribution from the town, MassDevelopment funded the study through its Real Estate Services Division, which offers a range of technical assistance to municipalities.
“This study outlines an intuitive, complementary vision for the Town’s Marina District that highlights one of Cape Cod’s greatest assets: its waterfront,” MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones said in a statement. “I would like to thank Sandwich officials, residents and businesses for their thoughtful input throughout the master planning process, and Union Studio, Horsley Witten and Rustpoint for their tireless efforts to build this proposal for the town.”
Union Studio, a Providence-based architecture and community design firm, led the master planning process. Horsley Witten, headquartered in Sandwich, assisted with the civil and environmental engineering components and Rustpoint Advisory supported with the market context.
