AMHERST — An Amherst developer is again seeking permission to demolish a late 19th-century building in the heart of downtown.
Barry Roberts brought before the Historical Commission, under the town’s demolition delay bylaw, his plans to tear down 37 North Pleasant St., a building that dates to at least the 1880s and which houses McMurphy’s Uptown Tavern and Amherst Typewriter & Computer.
The property is located between the former Judie’s Restaurant, soon to be the Amherst Oyster Bar, and Antonio’s Pizza. A narrow pedestrian walkway to Boltwood Walk is on the southern side of the building.
The removal would make way for new construction in 2023 of a building, yet to be permitted, that would include a variety of uses. According to the application, the plan is to “construct a mixed-use building, including retail, restaurant and housing on the site.”
Roberts previously got approval from the commission to tear down the building in March 2021, after its members determined the building is not historically significant. Roberts then obtained a demolition permit, but Planner Ben Breger said that expired after six months when it was not renewed or extended.
That expiration is what is forcing Roberts to start the process over, Breger said.
Under earlier plans, Roberts also would demolish the neighboring 45 Boltwood Walk building opened by the Knights of Columbus in 2007 as the Rev. J. Joseph Quigley Hall. That building, now home to Mass Vintage clothing store, is not subject to the demolition delay bylaw.
Meanwhile, the Historical Commission meeting will also consider an application to remove a historic garage from a property at 285 Main St., across from the Emily Dickinson Museum.