What’s next for the Captain Davis House in Woods Hole?
May 19, 2025. Here’s an update.
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.
Getting started
The process is still developing. But for now, we’re calling for interest. Got an idea for what should happen at the Captain Davis House? Want to stay in touch about developments? Send us an email at CaptainDavisHouse@WoodsHoleCommunityAssociation.org
