Published June 5, 2025
By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — Under Article 21 on the warrant of Town Meeting next Monday night, voters will be asked to decide the fate of the function hall facility at the Hillview Country Club.
After much debate by the Hillview Commission, a seven-member volunteer board that oversees the Hillview Enterprise, an article seeking to demolish the entire function hall facility at 149 North St. rather than move forward with previous plans approved last year to replace the roof which is comprised of many sections.
Due to updates to state building codes, the Commission has learned during the past year that many other upgrades would be required to the 22,700 square foot facility, including updating the columns in the basement where the pub is located and making the building ADA compliant and updating the rear deck and stairs with estimates as high as $2.3M. The commissioners believe such a long term commitment would limit bonding capacity for many years and not fully satisfy the needs of the building with too little return on investment.
This news has been devastating for the owners of Ultra Chic to hear, as they have been paying the bills per their contract with the commission while growing their business and making internal investments in the building, including renovating several upstairs rooms for bridal parties and other guests to use during their memorable occasions such as Sweet 16 parties and weddings in addition to town functions such as the Senior Citizen Thanksgiving, Real Senior Prom and NRHS Junior Prom. In the month of May alone they had grossed $190,000 due to the several large events they created and per the terms of their contract, the Hillview Enterprise receives 3% of their gross revenues in addition to their monthly lease and covering all utilities.
Adilson and Fabiana Santos were hoping to continue with their license beyond the current five-year term as they were given the option for one five-year term with the ability to renew for another five years. The first five-year term is up in 2027.
However, there is also a clause in the license that gives either party the option to separate from the license with a nine-month notice, according to the Hillview Commission and statements made by Commissioner Lou DiFronzo at the May 15 public hearing.
Creating one-of-a-kind experiences for their clients has been a dream for the couple, who eagerly show videos of every “reveal” they’ve had with brides and grooms or excited teenagers at their Sweet 16 celebrations as well as the positive Facebook reviews.
The Santos’ want the townspeople to know that they have abided by the terms of their agreement with the Hillview Commission and that they have also enjoyed giving back to the community by providing many functions to the townspeople at or near cost in a venue that can hold up to 350 people. They also fear that the uncertainty of the future of the facility will hurt their business and make it difficult if not impossible for them to book functions in a business that often has 12- to 18-month lead time.
Many residents learned for the first time during the HC presentations to the Select Board May 1 and June 2 and during the Commission’s public hearing on the topic on May 15 that the function hall is attached to a portion of the original farmhouse — Holt House — that dates back to the early 1800s and was built by a descendant of men who fought at Lexington and Concord and was once the centerpiece of a 1,000-acre farm. But they also learned that much of the original building was cut off when the expansions were made over the decades, including adding on the function hall. There are some timbers in the attic that are likely original and some wide board flooring but also evidence of termite damage to original wood timbers in the basement.
Because the bread and butter of the Hillview Enterprise is the golf course, the current Commissioners feel the most prudent course of action is to enhance the viability of the golf course, which in turn will make future large projects possible that the town decides to invest in for the next generation.
Enterprise funds must be reinvested in the enhancing the property, paying off debt, and investing in projects like Ipswich River Park and the Arthur J. Kenney Turf Field. Once debt gets retired, more projects can be taken on but none of the enterprise funds can go to general government operations.
Article 21 seeks $1M to be appropriated — $500,000 from Hillview Retained Earnings and $500,000 to be bonded.
If it passes, the building would be demolished possibly next spring and a green space would be created. In Phase 2 a replacement Commission office would be built which would also cover the pro shop deck to make it water tight as the deck is above the golf cart barn. In the interim, a pre-fab trailer would serve as the Commission office on-site.
In Phase 3, the cart barn and pro shop would be upgraded, including adding solar panels to eventually charge electric carts and retire the gas carts.
In Phase 4, the next “community project” would be considered by the Land Utilization Committee with the use of Enterprise funds.
Not everyone is on board that the entire facility should be demolished. Some, such as lifelong resident John Watson, a restoration carpenter, have asked to have the Holt House saved, noting that everything does not have to turn a profit and preservation has value.
George Stack, who has been involved with the commission since it began studying the Hillview in 1986, said he was the last holdout on the commission to advocate for this decision because they believe they will never be able to receive the return on the investment no matter how successful the function hall is.
Stack has described the stewardship of the enterprise as “fragile,” adding that it is time for the younger generation to become involved in the decisions that keep the Hillvew Golf Course viable and to ascertain the future projects that the Hillview Enterprise will fund to benefit future generations.