The 1920s-era gas station that stood in the way of a seven-condominium development was torn down last week, as workers prepare the land at 288 S. Main St. for construction next year.
Gas sales at the building stopped long ago, but it had a second life as a farmstand. For most of the 2000s, Foote Brook Farm in Johnson sold produce from the space, but ended the operation in 2012. The building once stood close to the middle of town, but was moved to South Main Street.
South Main Development LLC, a subsidiary of Burlington-based Retrovest Properties, won approval in September to build the condo project, after nearly two years of trying. Orginally the plan was larger, but objections from the Stowe Historic Preservation Commission and the Stowe Development Review Board sent designers back to the drawing board numerous times. The commission initially said the design was too large and out of character for the area.
The historic preservation commission still objected to demolition of the gas station/farmstand, even as it recommended the project be approved. But the commission is only an advisory body, albeit one the development review board listens to closely.
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