Swansea's Pleasure Island sold before scheduled auction

SWANSEA — People gathered on Pleasure Island hoping to see the place auctioned off on Thursday were let down, as the owner reached an agreement with a buyer before the scheduled auction could take place.

"There was no action," said Naomi Imbeault, a Swansea resident who came to watch the auction. "It's a little disappointing."

Pleasure Island, sometimes called Shady Isle, a 4.25-acre island just off the mainland near Ocean Grove Avenue, was a longtime popular event venue for local weddings, company picnics and family parties. It has sat unused for about 10 years. Edward Costa and Costa Management LLC has owned it since 2005.

An auction for the island was planned for June 2. But George Collias of Southcoast Auctions & Realty Inc., which is handling the sale for Costa, said they suspended the auction after receiving an "acceptable pre-auction offer" from a buyer that morning.

"It's a rare and enviable position, to have that happen," he said.

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Costa declined to be interviewed.

Thursday afternoon, a few dozen people trooped back over the wooden bridge connecting Pleasure Island to the mainland after hearing that the auction was canceled.

Imbeault said she wished local restaurateur Al Monte had been successful in his efforts to redevelop the island as a family fun center with activities like kayaking. A warrant article to rezone the island to be fully for commercial use failed at the 2020 Town Meeting, marking an end to Monte's plans. It would be a shame if the new private owner had plans for it that would make it inaccessible to most locals, she said.

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Cindy Oliveira, who also came to watch the auction, said she can see part of Pleasure Island from her home in Swansea and has memories of family parties there.

"I was just curious to see what was going to happen," she said. "It's such a beautiful island."

Audrey Cooney can be reached at acooney@heraldnews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Herald News today.

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Swansea's Pleasure Island sold before scheduled auction