A developer wants to tear down the former Palmer's Restaurant and Tavern building on Elm Street in downtown Andover and replace it with a 12-unit apartment building.
The roughly 200-year-old building at 18 Elm St. would be combined with the neighboring lot at 24-26 Elm St. to make room for the multifamily project. The Eagle Tribune first reported the proposal on Sept. 4, and Andover News published a detailed account on Sept. 9 based on materials filed with the Andover Preservation Commission.
Jonathan Stark-Sachs, an Andover attorney with Johnson and Borenstein, submitted the demolition application on behalf of 22 Coolidge Roads Investments LLC, a Marblehead-based company that owns the property. Stark-Sachs has worked on historic preservation projects, according to Andover News.
The building dates to approximately 1819. Over two centuries it housed a residence, a funeral home and other commercial tenants. Palmer's was the most recent, operating for 30 years before closing in May 2025.
Why the applicant opposes a delay
In a written narrative opposing a demolition delay, the applicant argues that extensive 1980s renovations stripped the building of much of its historic character. Those changes included opening interior walls for dining areas and installing a commercial kitchen.
The application also contends that converting the building back to residential use would be prohibitively expensive. Increased competition among downtown restaurants, the applicant argues, makes it unlikely a new operator would take over the space.
The Preservation Commission can declare a building preferably preserved, which blocks the town from issuing a demolition permit for up to 12 months while alternatives are explored. The delay can be lifted sooner if preservation is deemed unlikely or the applicant agrees to conditions set by the commission.
Stark-Sachs argues that a 12-month hold could jeopardize the housing project at a time when Andover and Massachusetts are both pushing to increase housing production.
What happens next
The commission began reviewing the application on Aug. 11 and visited the site on Aug. 20. The commission took up the proposal again on Tuesday, Sept. 8. The outcome of that hearing has not been publicly confirmed.
No development application for the apartment building had been filed with Andover's Planning Department as of the week before Sept. 9. A filing would likely follow the commission's review, and the existing building would remain standing until the residential proposal clears all required town approvals.
