Hearing Opens on Hob Knob Inn Expansion

A proposal to double the capacity of the boutique Hob Knob Hotel saw pushback at the Martha’s Vineyard Commission Thursday, as neighbors voiced concerns about traffic and other issues.

A proposal to double the capacity of the boutique Hob Knob Hotel caused some nobs to knock at the Martha’s Vineyard Commission Thursday, as neighbors voiced concerns about traffic and the appropriateness of the expansion in the Edgartown historic district.

The inn — a luxury, 17-room bed and breakfast nestled on Upper Main street — was formerly the Governor Bradford Inn before undergoing extensive renovations and becoming the Hob Knob Hotel in the early 1990s. The property changed hands in 2015 when owner Maggie White sold it to VIC Partners, a California-based LLC. Diane Carr is the general manager on the premises.

The proposed expansion was referred to the commission as a development of regional impact (DRI) by the Edgartown zoning board of appeals and includes an addition to the existing property at 128 Main Street and an expansion across Tilton Way to the site of the Tomassian Law Office. The hotel has not yet officially purchased the law office, according to land records, but attorney Sean Murphy confirmed on Friday that it is under agreement.

Rooms would increase from 17 to 35, according to a staff report by the commission, with the addition of a backyard pool, expansion of the hotel spa and a reorganization of parking on the site. The hotel also plans to tear down the current law office across the street and replace it with a slightly larger hotel structure and four units of workforce housing. Total building area on the site would increase by about 2,400 square feet.

The project needs a variety of approvals at the town level as well, including a signoff from the historic district commission.

Mr. Murphy represented the Hob Knob at the hearing on Thursday night. The builder is Patrick Ahearn.

Mr. Murphy billed the project as an important economic development for the town, saying that Edgartown had lost a total of 73 hotel rooms over the past decade. The addition would help Main street businesses frequented by guests, he said.

“It’s just a huge economic plus for everybody the more hotel rooms there are in the town,” Mr. Murphy said.

Mr. Ahearn described the aesthetic of the project, which he hoped would match the neoclassical style of the current buildings with minimal changes to their appearance.

“The Hob Knob is one of the important and significant inns as a gateway to downtown,” Mr. Ahearn said. ”It sets the town’s character in a very nice way.”

But neighbors who live in the historic village disagreed with the applicants on Thursday, arguing that the project as proposed was inappropriate in both style and scope.

Jane Chittick, who lives across the street from the hotel, said the architectural changes to the Tomassian building violated the tenets of Greek revival architecture and the historic district guidelines for building addition size and dormers.

“Our neighborhood in the historic district is being decimated,” Ms. Chittick said. “This is really a huge change. It’s obtrusive. And it doesn’t oblige by the historic guidelines at all.”

Other neighbors voiced concerns about parking and traffic at the site. Grant Greeley, who directly abuts the property on Tilton Way, said the new parking area proposed for 124 Main street would become “an interference” for residents. And Carol Wolff, who also lives in the neighborhood, felt similarly, saying traffic had increased dramatically.

“The traffic on Tilton Way has increased exponentially in the last five years,” Ms. Wolff said. “There is more activity in that small 18-foot way than you could possibly imagine.”

The commission has received nearly 15 letters about the project, with nine in favor and six opposed. Those in favor have touted the Hob Knob as an important and respectful business in town, and support the project’s aesthetics.

Commissioners continued the public hearing to Thursday, July 16.

Comments

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/11/2020 - 18:38

Permalink

Kenny Edgartown/Darien, CT

Great concept. The Hob Nob is a first class operation and a wonderful neighbor. Good luck with the expansion!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 07/11/2020 - 19:01

Permalink

Bob Edgartown

To More than double the size of a commercial business in a residential neighborhood is an unreasonable request of the neighbors and the residential district as a whole. To add a commercial pool to a quiet residential area is another big ask. These owners are only thinking of their profit and not the town.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/12/2020 - 10:12

Permalink

Main Street resident Edgartown

I have no idea where Mr. Murphy got the "73 hotel rooms lost" in Edgartown? I saw no citation. Also, if any rooms were indeed "lost", the most important fact is this: Bed and Breakfast owner-direct rentals number 106 properties accomodating 593 guests/night. This is the reason IF hotels lost rooms. My source: Air BandB and 593 guests we now have accommodated, downtown restaurants and businesses are thriving with these additional guests staying in town residences - not in hotels.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/12/2020 - 10:33

Permalink

Andie Edgartown

i strongly disagree with this proposal. it's a greedy and gross expectation to propose this type of structure, parking lot, pool, increased traffic in a residential district. stop this now.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sun, 07/12/2020 - 20:03

Permalink

John Edgartown, Los Angeles

It's not only a residential zone, it's an exceptionally high traffic intersection (Main St / Tilton Way) during the summer. Such expansion is sure to contribute to what are already highly problematic traffic and parking problems in the immediate area. As residents know well, Tilton Way became a vital traffic artery as tourism expanded and Pease Point way was changed to one-way. Hard to see how Tilton Way and Main st. can support that level of expansion without serious consequences to neighbors and anyone trying to get around town in summer.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 07/13/2020 - 10:27

Permalink

Sara Piazza Across the Street

There seems to be a big push from the Edgartown business community on this project. just a reminder, this is a residential and historic district, not a business district. If you want to build up business in Edgartown, please do it in a business district. If R5 and historic means nothing, why even bother to have a historic district committee or zoning? The funniest thing of all of course is that skip thomasian led the pack in fighting every other expansion of the hobnob over the past 20 years, but now that he's leaving the neighborhood this enormous expansion is fine? Lost hotel rooms? Ever heard of Airbnb or we need a vacation?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 08:37

Permalink

Jonathan Edgartown

Might as well get the bus charging station plan done - maybe squeeze in a helicopter landing pad and be done with it. By by historic district - and by by neighborhood.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 10:45

Permalink

ECS Ft Lauderdale / Edgartown

In a place such as this sales prices should be based on the FACT that expansion will not ever be approved, PERIOD. Then this sort of nonsense would stop. The Vineyard should stop being a place where people come to make a millions but rather a place where people come to earn a decent living in a fabulous place to live. If either one of these premises fails to work out, there is always the mainland. And 'Vineyarders' should come to the realization that not all their offspring are going to find employment on the island.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 07/14/2020 - 12:52

Permalink

Audrey Loggia Los Angeles (formerly Edgartown)

Sounds like an interesting and worthwhile expansion project. Things do change, and this seems to be a positive one!! Good Luck with this!!

Add new comment

Plain text

  • No HTML tags allowed.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.
  • Web page addresses and email addresses turn into links automatically.