According to Cowdell, a formal offer to purchase the defunct
building was presented to the family roughly two weeks
ago, but a response has yet to be heard.
“There has been absolutely no communication at all
from the Athanas family since then,” he said. “It’s
frustrating from our side of the table because we think
that a restaurant would work downtown instead of letting
it sit idling by.”
Owned by the Athanas family, the restaurant was opened
by the late Anthony Athanas in 1937.
The family owned four additional restaurants, including
Hawthorne by the Sea in Swampscott and General Glover House,
also in Swampscott, which closed approximately 15 years
ago and remains vacant. Fearing a similar longstanding
situation at Anthony’s, the option of eminent domain
remains a last step according to Cowdell, who said “every
other animal has to be exhausted first” prior to
that possibility.
Two appraisals of the building have estimated the structure
to be worth $850,000.
Generating $12,206 in property taxes each year, Cowdell
said everything has been paid and is up to date.
Aside from occasional violations for litter and trash
scattered around the building, Cowdell said the unoccupied
building is structurally sound and does not pose a threat.
While Cowdell said
there currently isn’t a deadline
in place for negotiations with the family, he said the
issue can’t go on forever. “I don’t know why they aren’t responding
because we basically rolled out the red carpet and said
that we wanted to work with them,” he said. “But
it’s not going to be sitting there next year with
me saying that I hope they develop the property.” |
