Overview:
The Downtown Vitality Committee of Athol discussed the future of the former Tea Garden restaurant property and updates on the town’s parking benefits district in their meeting on December 9. The new owner of the Tea Garden building, Virginia Realty, Inc., has expressed interest in keeping the restaurant equipment in place while exploring retail use for part of the building. The committee also reviewed updates related to the downtown parking benefits district, including the ParkMobile parking system, which will allow drivers to pay for parking through a mobile app once fully implemented.
ATHOL – Members of the Downtown Vitality Committee met Dec. 9 to discuss the future of the former Tea Garden restaurant property and review updates on the town’s parking benefits district.
The former Tea Garden building was sold to Virginia Realty, Inc. Restaurant equipment remains inside, and members emphasized the importance of maintaining the space for food use, noting that the existing kitchen infrastructure makes it more feasible for future food-related tenants.
“I don’t want to lose a restaurant space,” said Director of Planning and Development Eric Smith.
Smith said the new owner has expressed interest in keeping the restaurant equipment in place while exploring retail use for part of the building. There has also been discussion about potential food truck partnerships that could make use of the existing kitchen, though no plans have been finalized.
[From left] Downtown Vitality Committee members Steve Wills, Chair Mary Holtorf and Shelly Kelley talked about the town’s parking benefits district at the Dec. 9 meeting. HANNAH MORIN / For the Athol Daily News
He added that he has heard informal interest in opening a bakery in the space and asked that potential tenants be connected with the property owner, if the interest is legitimate.
“There’s definitely a market demand for a bakery,” he said.
The committee also reviewed updates related to the downtown parking benefits district. Members said downtown parking is free for the holidays through Jan. 1, after which the town will resume metered parking.
Smith reported that the ParkMobile parking system has not yet gone live, as required signage and parking meter stickers are not fully installed.
ParkMobile will allow drivers to pay for parking through a mobile app using posted zone numbers, providing an additional payment option alongside existing parking meters once it is fully implemented.
“We were advised not to put stickers up in really cold weather, because they will peel off,” Smith said.
He added that installation has also been delayed due to special brackets needed for some lampposts that were not initially in stock and had to be ordered.
“Our goal would be to hopefully get at least all that infrastructure done by the end of the month, if we get some warmer weather, so we can go live when that meter period kicks in,” he said.
The Downtown Vitality Committee is scheduled to meet again on Jan. 20 in the Athol Town Hall.
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