Overhaul Of Downtown's 'Oldest Building' Uncertain After Pushback

MELROSE, MA — The owner of what some argue to be the oldest building in the downtown historic district wants to turn it over into a mixed-use building. The Melrose Historical Commission wants to preserve what it said is a historically significant building in a rapidly changing part of the city.

The Melrose Historic District Commission is tasked with deciding who wins this rather literal Old Melrose-New Melrose battle. After much discussion and at times tense back-and-forth in a standing-room only aldermanic chambers at City Hall, the commission Tuesday night punted the decision to Oct. 1.

Building owner Mark Carroll said the building at 12-16 Essex St. — directly across from the side entrance at City Hall — can't sustain profitable businesses and is "barely financially solvent." The building is currently home to Beansprout Gifts, an auxiliary room for 101 Music and Always Hair For You.

Some members of the Historic District Commission asked whether it actually could be economically viable and whether that was even their problem since Carroll bought the building knowing it could be subject to such scrutiny if he were to redevelop it.

"I'm 55 now, this is my last run," Carroll said. "I want to build a masterpiece."

Carroll said if the Historic District Commission returns an unfavorable decision, he would abide by it. But he threatened what could be an ugly future for the building if so.

"There will be no investment in that building, that I can promise you," Carroll said, adding that he felt "targeted" after what he said were similar nearby projects being approved, like the old Moynihan Plaza.

The proposed development would follow the now-familiar trend of first-floor retail under three stories housing 14 residential units. A 14-car puzzle-system parking garage would be in the building.

The retail space would be 1,600 square feet. The residential units, all one- and two-bedrooms, would be between 565 and 1,325 feet, according to architect Tim Johnson. Each unit would have a side or roof deck and there would be an elevator.

Carroll also redeveloped the adjacent building at the corner of Essex and Main streets that now houses Beacon Hill Wine, Leading Edge Real Estate and H&R Block, and has residential units above. He also redeveloped the former Periwinkles site on Upham Street into Greywood Estate.

Attorney Bob Bell said this proposed Essex Street project fulfills Melrose's moral and legal obligations to add housing — including two affordable units — and make it ADA compliant.

"It's impossible to renovate this building in such a way to make it suitable for today's market," Bell said. "It cannot be done."

The exact age of the building depends on the accuracy of conflicting accounts of whether it survived a fire in 1875. If it did, then it would be the oldest one-time schoolhouse, the Melrose Historical Commission said.

Even if it did burn, the building at the turn of the century was still home to the first local business owned by a Melrose resident of color, the commission said. Charlie Sing owned Chinese Laundry in the building until 1902.

Carroll and Bell argued the building may not be the oldest around, saying what remains today was essentially built over time in pieces.

"This is an odd building to have this fight, struggle over," Bell said. "It's the least significant building downtown in terms of its architectural merit and the building has been bastardized. It's not an intact building."

Bell was one night removed from representing another developer hoping to replace 360-368 Main St. — home to the MMTV studios — as a five-story mixed-use building that would still house MMTV.

Several residents on both sides of the issue spoke during public comment Tuesday night.

Tanya Pellecchia, who owns Beansprout Gifts and and rents the next space over for large Music 101 lessons, did not offer an opinion on the development. She did, however, ask for consideration about the direction of downtown where small businesses like her children's shop won't be able to compete with larger retailers.

Some asked about what kind of precedent this was setting, while others felt it was time for Melrose to continue moving forward in its development.

In the end, it will come down to the Historic District Commission on Oct. 1.

"I ask, for the love of Melrose," Carroll pleaded, "let's continue the renaissance we now enjoy."