The property, located at 29-31 Eldridge Street, stands next to Manchester's new Main Street library.
A plan to demolish a historic house in Manchester, Connecticut, to make space for additional library parking has faced opposition from the state's Historic Preservation Council.
The town purchased the two-family property for $455,000 in June 2026, intending to replace it with around 20 parking spaces. However, preservation officials have now voted to seek intervention from the state's attorney general to prevent the demolition, according to CT Insider.The property, located at 29-31 Eldridge Street, stands next to Manchester's new Main Street library. It is part of the Cheney Brothers Historic District, an area recognised as a National Historic Landmark in 1978.
The house was originally built to accommodate workers employed at the Cheney Brothers silk mills.The town's decision to demolish the building drew objections from some residents and members of the local historical society. Their concerns ultimately led to a review by Connecticut's Historic Preservation Office.On Wednesday, the Historic Preservation Council unanimously voted to ask the attorney general to intervene under the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act.
The law allows action against the 'unreasonable destruction' of protected resources. Although commonly used to protect natural resources, it can also be applied to historic buildings.
House can be restored
During the council meeting, preservation advocates argued that the property should be repaired rather than demolished.According to Brad Schide, a member of Preservation Connecticut, restoring the house would be a more appropriate solution.
“The structure should be rehabbed and maintained in its present configuration. That to us is the prudent and feasible alternative,” Schide said.Dave Goslin, a principal at Krosky Architects, also assessed the building. Goslin, whose firm handles preservation projects, rated its quality eight out of 10. He said the house had remained in relatively good condition considering its age, although renovations were necessary.“When it was built it was well built and it has held up pretty well over time. The conditions within the building are tired. It’s in need of renovations,” Goslin said.Goslin suggested that Manchester could sell the property to a developer interested in historic preservation. Such a buyer could restore the building and continue using it as a two-family residence.He also proposed another option that would allow the town to create some parking without removing the house.
Under this plan, the garage would be demolished to make room for approximately 10 parking spaces. However, Goslin acknowledged that the arrangement would leave the property with a 'substandard' lot and effectively turn its backyard into a parking area.
Why town wants to demolish?
Manchester officials maintained that the house was in poor condition and that keeping it would create additional maintenance costs.Town Manager Steve Stephanou described the property as an eyesore and defended the proposed demolition.
“We cannot afford to operate and maintain a structure that frankly has been blighted for some time,” Stephanou said.He added that the building had not been properly maintained over the years and that vehicles had previously been parked on its lawn.According to Stephanou, the new library already has 54 parking spaces included in its plans. The town expects parking demand to increase, and the additional 20 spaces could eventually be reserved for library employees.
He also argued that removing the building would eliminate a blind spot at the rear of the parking lot.
Concerns over historic district
Preservation advocates raised concerns beyond the future of this particular house. Schide warned that demolishing one historic property could encourage the removal of others in the neighbourhood.“We find it all the time. Buildings, as they are removed, it kind of encourages other removal. If there’s too much of that you lose everything," Schide said.He noted that Eldridge Street still retains much of its historic character and that preserving the house would help protect the wider district.Stephanou responded that Manchester had no intention of demolishing other historic buildings. He said the town would even sign an agreement preventing further removals.However, Andy Horowitz, a Historic Preservation Council member and the state historian, argued that the district's National Historic Landmark designation already provided a basis for protecting its buildings. “It’s hard to argue here unambiguously that it’s beyond repair,” Horowitz said. He maintained that the existing historic designation should be sufficient reason to oppose demolition.