January
31,
2007
Editorial
/ Lynn Journal
The Athanas Family, owners of the property that once housed
Anthony's downtown, unarguably the city's major eatery
for decades, has been reticent to do anything with the
property since the restaurant closed many years ago.
An effort is now underway to move the Athanas Family to
do something, anything, with the property, as its present
state represents an eyesore to the downtown as well as
a psychological stumbling block to the downtown's rebirth.
The Athanas Family apparently says it isn't ready to sell
the property and that it has very little interest in developing
it. That is all well and good except that EDIC Chairman
Jim Cowdell has set his mind to have something done to
the site - and has apparently told the Athanas Family that
if they don't do something soon, the city will take the
property from them by eminent domain.
In neighboring Revere, abandoned buildings like the Anthony's
property, are now being charged an annual fine for remaining
vacant - even if the taxes are paid up. By fining the property
owners, it is hoped that they will respond by developing
the properties or selling them to others who will do the
same.
We can guarantee that if the city set a $10,000 - $20,000
a year fine for the abandoned Anthony's site, which had
to be paid in addition to the taxes, the Athanas Family
would step up to bat and do something.
On the other hand, the city has an obligation to bring
the downtown back to life. This is a key property owned
by a family that once had a vested interest in Lynn's downtown.
The Athanas Family has shown no apparent interest in its
downtown Lynn site which is abandoned for all intents and
purposes. We expect more from this prominent and very well-to-do
family where the late Anthony Athanas really got his start.
The Athanas Family took more out of Lynn than it gave back,
and now is the time to even up the score.
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