AMHERST — A development team that has completed three mixed-use projects in downtown Amherst and has another one under construction is submitting plans to construct a new five-story building, containing 55 apartments on the upper floors and retail space on the ground level.
Archipelago Investments LLC recently gave the Planning Department a proposal to redevelop properties owned by Summerlin Trust at 9-15 East Pleasant St., immediately north of the One East Pleasant building that replaced the former Carriage Shops four years ago.
The plans, which could be the subject of a Planning Board hearing in late April, show a rectangular-shaped, 75,165-square-foot building that extends from the East Pleasant Street sidewalk east to the perimeter of West Cemetery.
Across from Kendrick Park, the building would take up most of a site that includes the Summerlin and Piper buildings and an expansive private parking lot.
The 134 tenants at 11 East Pleasant, as plans developed by SVE Associates of Greenfield and Modus Studio Architects of Fayetteville, Arkansas are labeled, would live in a mix of studio and one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments. These would range in size from 400 to 1,400 square feet. The 20 four-bedroom apartments would be most common, though there would also be a combined 20 studio and one-bedroom units.
Planning Director Christine Brestrup said the building is similar in height to others constructed by Archipelago, but appears to have a wood-like appearance for its siding. The building will have a modern appearance similar to that of One East Pleasant, Brestrup said.
The project, with just 16 parking spaces, is likely to face scrutiny and concerns from residents who have previously objected to such “in-fill” buildings. The concerns have included the impact on downtown parking, the appearance of the buildings and whether the mix of tenants is appropriate.
Business leaders see the project as helping in the recovery from the pandemic.
BID Executive Director Gabrielle Gould said this is part of much-needed development in the area of the Triangle and East Pleasant streets roundabout that also is expected to include the reuse of the former Bertucci’s building for a new restaurant.
In addition to One East Pleasant, where the Iya Sushi and Noodle Kitchen is located, Archipelago in downtown has completed Boltwood Place, Kendrick Place and is constructing another building on Spring Street across from the Inn on Boltwood. Archipelago also built Olympia Place, an apartment building reserved for area college students, on Olympia Drive
To make way for the project, the Summerlin and Piper buildings, along with the building that housed The Pub restaurant for more than 50 years, will be torn down.
In 2019, the Historical Commission voted to allow demolition to proceed and demolition permits were issued last year by the town.
The Pub, where late singer Natalie Cole performed in the early 1970s, was built in 1968, while the Summerlin Building opened in 1921 and the Piper Building in 1965. Before businesses such as Cousins Market and The Mercantile were located in the Summerlin site, the building housed a laundromat and in the 1960s the Tower pizza restaurant.