Dennis Port Revitalization
They say when one door closes, another one opens. While most people don’t take the axiom literally, it’s happening — literally — in Dennisport.
Recently, Deborah Ann’s Rainbow closed its doors after sharing the Dennisport Natural Market building for 10 years. Owner Deborah Hagen will return to nursing and operate her business online. While Hagen said her popular business was doing well, she felt it was time to move on.
In December, a photographer and an artist opened Sedona East Gallery next to Beans & Bears on the north side of Main Street. Across the street, two new businesses are poised to open this spring. Hot Diggity, an upscale dog salon, will be two doors down from Buckies Bakery, which this summer will celebrate a year in the location. Mural artist Hans de Castellane of Harwich and Brooklyn, N.Y., is closing his Brooklyn gallery and moving in next door to Jeremy’s Barber Shop in Dennisport.
Late last summer, the Dennisport Revitalization Committee retained de Castellane to paint a mural on a brick wall facing Hall Street. The project was put on hold when the committee failed to raise the necessary $3,600 before cold weather set in.
“We are still hoping for community donations,” said DRC Chairwoman Carlyn Carey. In the meantime, Carey is applying for a Cape Cod Arts Foundation grant to help fund the project that will include Dennis-Yarmouth High School art students working with de Castellone. Carey hopes to see the mural up early this summer.
Land use
What was once a cranberry bog became a Bradlees store and is now an Ocean State Job Lot off Upper County Road in Dennisport. A once sunny, tree-lined main street bustling with shoppers is now a compressed, shady passage on either side of Route 28, locally called Main Street. A village supermarket, now a Dollar Tree store, once allowed those living in the village to walk to the store for groceries. It’s the committee’s goal to draw on Smart Growth practices to bring Dennisport back to its former economic health.
Toward this end, land where once stood an old hardware store that burned down is now a town-owned pocket park. “That’s a great success story,” Carey said, noting that the property formally became the town’s on Feb. 22. The committee will conduct a naming contest and is working with selectmen liaison Alan Tuttle on the protocol for holding events in the park.
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Dateline: 7/27/11, A pleasant addition was added to the Village Green in time for last nights' concert with the Bart Weisman Jazz Group. The Baroni family, owners of the Mill Stores, donated 6 five foot long picnic tables to the South Side Civic Association. The SSCA has placed them around the Village Green. Click on the above underlined Title for more information and pictures.
Photo and story by The Dennis Register