Old Saybrook voters approve Saybrook Point waterfront land swap

Old Saybrook voters approved a proposed land swap involving the former Dock & Dine waterfront parcel and the Vicki Duffy Pavilion in a town referendum held March 31, 2026.

Under the approved exchange, the town would provide a land lease and transfer the Vicki Duffy Pavilion building in return for the former Dock & Dine property at Saybrook Point. The waterfront parcel covers 2.2 acres, according to the Town of Old Saybrook.

The vote advances the town’s broader Saybrook Point revitalization project. It does not complete a redevelopment or establish a final use for the property. Instead, it gives the town a path toward a larger role in planning the future of a prominent waterfront site.

What the referendum approved

The referendum addressed the proposed property exchange. The town’s announcement described the result as voter approval but did not state the number of votes for or against the measure.

The transaction brings two pieces of Saybrook Point planning together: the former Dock & Dine site and the Vicki Duffy Pavilion. The 2.2-acre parcel could affect future decisions about public access, parking, redevelopment and visitor activity in the waterfront area.

Approval of the swap does not guarantee a particular commercial, recreational or parking use. Those decisions remain part of the project’s next stages, along with the design and financing of any improvements.

Funding and next steps

The town’s Saybrook Point project FAQ lists state grants, fiscal-year surplus funds and town debt issuance as potential funding sources. The list identifies possible ways to support the project, not a completed financing package.

The FAQ also says redevelopment costs will depend on the project scope that is ultimately approved. The final design, total cost and construction schedule remain undetermined, so the referendum does not set a construction start date.

For residents, the immediate result is approval of the proposed land exchange. The longer-term effect will depend on how the town defines the revitalization project, secures funding and makes decisions about access and future activity at Saybrook Point.

The approved swap therefore marks a property and planning milestone rather than the opening of a finished redevelopment. Further decisions will determine what is built, how it is paid for and when work could begin.