Gerald Sneirson, a local developer, has put forward plans to convert two buildings on the historic St. Stanislaus Church campus into rental housing. The proposed 35-unit apartment complex would occupy the former convent and school structures at 179-187 Chestnut St., while the church and rectory buildings will remain unchanged for now. This development proposal will be presented to the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals on July 12th at City Hall.
According to materials filed with the City, the project envisions market rate rental apartments arranged in a campus-style layout. The existing structures will be preserved and renovated to accommodate units ranging from 440 sq. ft. to 840 sq. ft. across three floors and the basement level. The development will include 19 off-street parking spaces, with vehicular access planned from Chestnut Street and exit routes behind the property on Cherry Street. Sneirson could not be reached for comment before publication.
The St. Stanislaus property has attracted developer interest before. The Archdiocese of Boston sold the school and convent to Chelsea Residential Group in 2005 for $945,000, though that group’s plans never materialized. The property subsequently changed hands in 2008 when Chelsea Residential Group sold it at a loss to Tom Truong of Real Estate Center LLC for $800,000. Sneirson acquired the property through foreclosure last year for $400,000.
Also scheduled before the Zoning Board on July 12th is a proposal from Michael Zullo, owner of Kokopelli Tanning in Prattville, to convert his 1,500 sq. ft. storefront into a liquor store. Zullo cited challenging market conditions in the tanning industry as his reason for the change. “The tanning business is off due to the emergence of booths in all the gyms like Planet Fitness,” he wrote in his submission to the Board. Currently operating under a 5-year lease with building owner Dimitrious Meletlidis, Zullo seeks a more profitable use for the remaining lease term. Should the Board approve the change of use, Zullo estimates it would require an additional six months to a year to secure a package store liquor license. The storefront is situated at 363 Washington Ave.