February
21,
2007
By Jill Casey
/ The Daily Item
The Economic Development and Industrial
Corporation authorized the head of the agency this week
to move forward with an economic development plan for
Anthony’s Hawthorne
restaurant, a move that is widely seen as the initial step
before eminent domain.
James Cowdell, executive director of the EDIC, requested
approval from the board as part of his efforts to put pressure
on the owners to develop or sell the property. Cowdell
said a vacant business in the heart of downtown is a hurdle
in his efforts to revitalize and entice new businesses
to set up shop in downtown Lynn.
“It’s a vacant building and at this point
in time, the owners have no plan to develop it and we plan
on taking on a very aggressive approach to seeing it developed,” Cowdell
said Wednesday.
The EDIC approved the request at its meeting this week.
“It’s basically a vote of confidence and hopefully
Jim can sit down with the owners and come up with a plan
for the site,” said Charles Gaeta, chairman of the
EDIC Board of Directors. “Eminent domain is a very
strong tool, but when you are using all of these resources
(to revitalize the downtown), you have to be creative in
order to develop the site.”
Cowdell said he would contact the
Athanas family, who own the property and two other restaurants
located in Swampscott and Boston, in the coming weeks
to arrange a meeting to discuss a plan for the property.
He said he would also begin drafting a plan for the shuttered
restaurant at 35-37 Central Ave. and the surrounding
area, which is a prerequisite when a municipality seeks
to expropriate a property without the owner’s consent.
*
According to officials, the property was recently appraised
for $850,000 and generates close to $13,000 in taxes each
year, which are currently paid in full.
Anthony’s Hawthorne opened
in 1937 and closed its doors more than five years ago
because it lost its economic vitality, according to a
recent interview with a consultant for the Athanas family.
A call was placed to the Athanas’ business
office on Wednesday for a comment, but was not immediately
returned.
Cowdell said the more desirable route
over eminent domain would be for the Athanas’, who still operate Anthony’s
Pier 4 in Boston and Hawthorne By the Sea in Swampscott,
to sell the property or reopen the restaurant.
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