EDITOR’S NOTE: This report has been updated from its original version to reflect further detail on the project’s background.
HAVERHILL — What was once a 150-acre farm will now become a destination for small weddings, baby showers and weekend getaways — but not without some limits.
The Haverhill City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Maryam Salehi-Ala-Yamin’s request to operate Mariam’s Cottage, a four-bedroom, family-run bed-and-breakfast at 421 East Broadway.
This vote makes Mariam’s Cottage the first bed-and-breakfast in Haverhill, according to the applicant’s attorney, Donald Borenstein. The property will be allowed to host small-scale gatherings, such as weddings and similar events, and invite some guests to stay overnight.
“This is the type of venue that’s going to really attract not only high-end people, but high-end events — small, intimate events,” Haverhill City Councilor Thomas Sullivan said.
“I just think this is a unique opportunity to try something in Haverhill that we’ve never had before, and I’m not sure why we’ve never had it,” he added.
For Salehi-Ala-Yamin, the path to realizing her vision has not been without its snarls. Last summer she thought her “Alice in Wonderland”-inspired establishment was about ready to open as she planned for gatherings of up to 50 people, weddings, culinary classes and tea parties.
But then she was was alerted that the wonderland she envisioned would first need to pass through city inspections and attain a special permit, City Council President Timothy Jordan said.
That wasn’t the only roadblock. Abutters Tim Sturgeon and Judith Biewener voiced opposition in a letter to the City Council, citing safety concerns, potential noise disturbances, and fears that approving the permit could set a precedent for commercial uses in the neighborhood.
The two opposing neighbors eventually hired their own attorney, which led to the back-and-forth dispute over the development through several meetings this year.
A compromise was found as a list of conditions for Mariam’s Cottage was formulated. Salehi-Ala-Yamin must live on the property, and gatherings at the inn will be limited to 30 guests.
Events must take place primarily inside the inn, or on the rear porch and deck. No tents requiring a city permit may be erected at the site, and bands and DJs will not be permitted.
Events must also comply with the city’s noise ordinance and be limited to 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., except for activities involving overnight guests.
Salehi-Ala-Yamin also must install screening between the property and her neighbors’, as well as pay the cost of more road signs on East Broadway.
Salehi-Ala-Yamin’s proposal has been before the City Council on and off since April, drawing both strong support and opposition from residents. She originally requested approval for gatherings of up to 50 people, but issues were raised with arguments that larger parties could negatively affect abutters and not fit the character of the neighborhood.
Attorney Donald Borenstein, representing Salehi-Ala-Yamin, said his client has previously invited abutters to the property and held open houses to hear their thoughts about her plans.
“She envisioned this as a place for a special weekend away for local residents,” Borenstein said. “You don’t have to drive to Vermont, you don’t have to drive to Maine for that bed-and-breakfast experience. In fact, you can have it right here in the Merrimack Valley in Haverhill.”
He said the proposal went through a number of city reviews and there were no objections as of Tuesday.
The project itself is located on an estimated 2.5-acre parcel with an existing four-bedroom home built in 1817.
The house originally was part of a 150-acre farm, but fast forward to 2020, and the former farm was divided into separate parcels, leaving the property at 421 East Broadway just an abandoned, decaying home.
In 2022, the bank auctioned the property, and Salehi-Ala-Yamin bought it. She then began putting her vision for Mariam’s Cottage into place, investing in renovations, restoring and preserving the house.
Many supporters attended Tuesday’s meeting to witness the council’s decision, with some speaking during public comment and others wearing pink “Mariam’s Cottage” stickers on their chests.
Phil Rice, a direct abutter, spoke heavily in favor of the property owner and her plans.
“I know her integrity,” Rice said. “I know her background and her abilities. I don’t think that you could find a finer person and a better candidate and a better person for this endeavor.”
The council ultimately voted unanimously to approve the special permit allowing Salehi-Ala-Yamin to operate the bed-and-breakfast in the rural residential zoning district, with the conditions. The cottage owner and Sturgeon shook hands after the decision, as those in support hugged and clapped in celebration over the call.