The Elms Hotel in Niantic demolished to make way for private homes
East Lyme — After more than a century in the Crescent Beach community, The Elms Hotel was demolished Wednesday to make way for two private homes.
A group of about 15 residents, some taking photos or videos, watched from across the street as an excavator slowly tore down the building at 25-27 Ocean Ave.
The three-story building had overlooked Crescent Beach along Niantic Bay and stood at the corner of Ocean Avenue in the residential neighborhood.
Sandbar Properties LLC acquired the property, previously owned by Kasey Inc. The new owners, Robert Barbaro and Paul Powers, plan to break ground in the fall on the construction of two homes at the site, which they said they will each live in.
“We’re investing in the area to give it a breath of fresh air,” said Barbaro, who has a home in the neighborhood. “We both really enjoy the area and believe in the area.”
The Elms dates back to 1900 and was once two separate structures that were later joined together, according to Crescent Beach Historian Jan Pierson.
Once a bustling hotel, The Elms changed over the years and recently had fallen into disrepair, said residents.
Last August, the power was shut off at the building, which housed 24 apartment-style rental units. About 30 to 40 residents were evacuated, and the town boarded up the building and deemed it unsafe.
The property was later foreclosed on, and the title was passed on to Sandbar Properties, according to town records.
Neighbors on Wednesday noted the hotel’s historic significance in the community, but also expressed optimism about the new homes.
“It’s sad, but it’s going to be fantastic,” said Lori Barrett, who watched the demolition on Wednesday. “It’s going to be beautiful.”
Barrett said The Elms had once been a beautiful hotel that her grandmother, as well as her parents, had visited. “It was quite the vacation spot at one time,” she said.
Powers, whose family has lived in the community for more than 50 years, said he and Barbaro are constructing the new homes because they love the neighborhood.
“We’re going to live in the houses and be part of the community for hopefully the next 50 years,” he said.
New England Yankee Construction, LLC. began demolition on the building around 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
k.drelich@theday.com
Twitter: @KimberlyDrelich
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