A private East Sandwich school for students with disabilities wants to establish a faculty housing program as part of the project it will build on the 40-acre Twin Brooks Golf Course on Scudder Avenue in Hyannis .
"Faculty housing is part of the vision," said Riverview School Head of School Stewart Miller in an email to the Times. "But we are exploring multiple options and are not yet sure to what degree or to what scope this housing will be located on this property ."
In a video posted on the school website , Miller said many people want to work for Riverview but have to turn job offers down because they cannot afford to relocate to the Cape .
Also, current employees cannot afford to buy their own home or condo.
"We know our program is only as good as the people who deliver it," said Miller.
Cape Cod is facing a significant challenge in providing affordable and attainable housing for current and future residents, according to the Cape Cod Commission. The shortage affects those seeking housing but also the regional economy, when employers may struggle to find employees locally.
When did Riverview purchase the golf course?
The school purchased the golf course earlier this month for $9.8 million , according to a deed filed at the Barnstable County Registry of Deeds. The school received its largest philanthropic donation from an anonymous donor that allowed it to purchase the land.
Riverview will need to raise funds separately for the faculty housing program.
The nonprofit, coeducational boarding and day school serves students aged 11 to 21 with learning challenges, such as autism, Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities.
Riverview's purchase stopped a proposal by developer Quarterra to turn the golf course into a 312-unit housing complex . The school had been searching for land for almost two years and will mainly use the property to expand its offerings to students beyond 22 years old in a program to be called Friends Forever.
'Suddenly without the community'
"Families find a safe harbor at Riverview — students develop passions, have a sense of belonging, and lots of friends … and then they graduate. At age 22, they are suddenly without the community they have belonged to for years — and they need to find a new one. This will no longer be the case," said Miller in the video.
The school is still in early planning stages but is imagining a campus for Riverview adults with programs like studio arts, spaces for extracurricular activities, a pool, a garden and greenhouse, and a kitchen for food prep, nutrition, and cooking classes, said Miller.
One of the primary questions received is if there will be housing, Miller said. "The school is exploring multiple exciting opportunities on this front, but it’s too soon to share any specifics," he said.
School officials believe it could take about a year and half before they can break ground.
Miller said the golf course will remain operational through the current season and that the school wants "to support the community and maintain a positive and active use while we plan."
Search for leadership for Friends Forever program
Riverview is searching for an executive director of the program and will reach out to alumni, alumni families, and other stakeholders for suggestions as they develop the program.
A survey will be sent out to the school community in coming weeks asking for feedback concerning the new program.
Founded in 1957, Riverview has an East Sandwich campus on Route 6A that contains a cafe and a thrift store intended to allow students to work and interact with the community, as well as a couple of dormitories off-campus. All combined, it totals about 20 acres, Miller previously told the Times.
Zane Razzaq writes about housing and real estate. Reach her at zrazzaq@capecodonline.com . Follow her on X @zanerazz .
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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Riverview School vision for Twin Brooks golf course: Teacher housing, cooking classes
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