What’s next for the Captain Davis House in Woods Hole?
November 1, 2025 – Request for Proposals
The Woods Hole Community Association is issuing a formal Request for Proposals (RFP) for the historic building, known as the Captain Davis House, located at 3 Water St. in Woods Hole.
The Community Association purchased the Captain Davis House in January. Most recently it has been home to WCAI radio. Despite being offered very favorable conditions to keep WCAI in the building WGBH (the parent company) decided to relocate.
At a public community visioning session in August broad themes around potential uses for the building were discussed to inform the Community Association’s decision making process for the building’s future.
Now we are asking for formal proposals from those interested in using the building.
Proposals for full or partial use of the Captain Davis House will be considered, including potential shared use.
With the RFP, the Community Association seeks to:
- Ensure the Davis House provides meaningful benefit to Woods Hole residents, organizations, and visitors
- Support programs that enhance the cultural, educational, and civic life of the village.
- Preserve and honor the history and character of Woods Hole.
- Maintain the property in a sustainable manner for future generations.
Emails with questions can be sent to CaptainDavisHouse@woodsholecommunityassociation.org
October 9, 2025
Friends of the Captain Davis House, here’s an update.
At our public visioning session on August 19 at the Woods Hole Community Hall, community members brought forward a range of ideas for potential uses of the Captain Davis House. The Falmouth Enterprise did a nice job summarizing the event in its article, “Science, Arts and Storytelling At The Heart of Davis House Discussions.”
The next step in the process will be a formal request for proposals.
At its September meeting, the Woods Hole Community Association board identified the broad outlines of the request, which will seek to clarify the practical and tangible aspects of proposed uses.
A subcommittee is currently crafting the details of this more formal request for proposals. We expect to have it completed and shared with the community soon, along with a timeframe for those submissions.
In the meantime, people should know that WGBH is moving WCAI out of the building by the end of October. Atlantic Public Media, which also has an office in the building, will continue to operate there, while the Community Association is deciding on the long-term use of the building.
The Captain Davis House, at 3 Water Street, represents a rare opportunity: a workspace in the commercial center of the village, controlled by the village. What should happen in the building? The community will have a chance to decide.
How we got here
The Woods Hole Community Association purchased the Captain Davis House outright in January with overwhelming community support. Following the purchase, the Community Association offered WCAI, the current tenant, five years rent-free and any reasonable improvements to remain in the building. That offer was declined. WCAI is expected to move out this fall.
Imagining the future
The Community Association is soliciting ideas from the community for what could happen next at the Captain Davis House. All ideas are welcome! This is a chance to dream big, to dream fancifully, to stretch our notion of what is feasible. We offer only some very basic guidelines:
- Community benefit: the use should create a positive contribution to the community through cultural, educational, or other means
- The building may house multiple coexisting uses – it doesn’t need to be only a single use
- Use must conform to the existing zoning limitations on the property
A path forward
The Woods Hole Community Association plans to embark on a facilitated, community-wide discussion with the goal of identifying a public-benefiting use for the Captain Davis House. No timeline is imposed on the process at the outset. We will invite ideas and proposals, solicit public feedback, collectively brainstorm, and ultimately work toward identifying a mutually acceptable choice or choices. Multiple public meetings, including virtual components and online postings, should ensure that the process is transparent and accessible.
We’re excited that the process in itself represents a rare chance for the community to engage collectively on a creative project with a positive impact, and we look forward to fresh thinking and lively discussions.
