Greenwich residents will get their first chance this week to weigh in on a proposal to demolish one of downtown's oldest buildings.

The Historic District Commission will discuss plans Wednesday, July 8, to demolish three buildings at the corner of Greenwich Avenue and West Putnam Avenue, including the historic 2 Greenwich Ave., a Tudor Revival building constructed in 1894 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The proposal, submitted by New England Investment Partners, would replace the buildings at 2 and 10 Greenwich Ave. and 10-12 W. Putnam Ave. with a four-story mixed-use development featuring 14 apartments above ground-floor retail.

The commission's agenda notes the proposal has generated "a great deal of letter-writing and vocal opposition," prompting officials to add a Zoom option for the meeting.

A historic building at the center of debate

The 1894 building anchors the northern entrance to Greenwich Avenue's shopping district. Despite its listing on the National Register of Historic Places, it is not protected by a local historic designation, meaning the listing alone cannot prevent demolition.

The developer says decades of renovations have left the building impractical to rehabilitate and is proposing a Tudor-inspired replacement, while the adjoining buildings would feature a more contemporary design.

What's next?

The Historic District Commission will review the proposal and hear public comment Wednesday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Greenwich Town Hall and via Zoom.

The commission does not have the authority to approve or deny the redevelopment. The project must still obtain zoning variances, a special permit and site plan approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission before it can move forward. No Planning and Zoning hearing has been scheduled.