Manchester, Connecticut officials demolished the historic Cheney Brothers house at 29‑31 Eldridge Street on June 2026 to create 20 parking spots. The town paid $455,000 for the two‑family property, hoping to replace it with a block of new parking in front of the newly expanded Main Street library.
The house, built in 1889 for workers of the Cheney Brothers silk mills, lies within the Cheney Brothers Historic District, a National Historic Landmark since 1978. Preservation Connecticut’s Brad Schide noted that the structure still holds up well, rating its condition eight out of ten.
On Wednesday, the Connecticut Historic Preservation Council voted unanimously to petition the Attorney General under the Connecticut Environmental Protection Act, citing the building’s protected status and the council’s duty to prevent "unreasonable destruction" of historic resources.
Town Manager Steve Stephanou defended the demolition, describing the house as an eyesore that has been poorly maintained and arguing that the existing 54 parking spots at the library are insufficient for growing demand. He said the new lot would also eliminate a blind spot at the rear of the parking area.
Preservationists countered that the house could be restored and that demolishing it might set a precedent for removing other historic structures. Dave Goslin of Krosky Architects suggested selling the property to a developer interested in preservation or demolishing only the garage to provide ten parking spaces while retaining the house.
The Attorney General’s office is expected to review the council’s request within 30 days, after which a court hearing could determine whether the demolition proceeds or a preservation plan is adopted.