A Winchester developer has submitted an application to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) seeking approval for a five-story, 33-unit residential apartment building at the location of the shuttered 7-11 and its parking area in Cary Square.
Anthony Quiles brought the proposal before the City, attending an initial ZBA hearing on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 8. The project will next advance to the Planning Board for consideration later in the month.
Located at 176-178 Washington Ave., the building would provide 44 parking spaces, though 50 are required for the 33 units. Amenities would include a roof deck and other features. The proposal contains no open space and requires seven variances, encompassing height allowances and parking relief.
The residential units would consist of nine studios, 15 one-bedrooms, and six two-bedrooms.
Concerns have already emerged from the Chelsea Fire Department, which questions whether emergency access to the building is feasible given its footprint on the lot.
“I am not in favor of a development of this
size…which encompasses the entire lot with no setbacks on both sides and the
rear,” Deputy Richard Perisie noted. “The Fire Department should have access to
at least one side for apparatus placement.”
Councillor Leo Robinson has called for reducing the project to a minimum of 25 units and incorporating retail on the ground floor, ideally a grocery store or convenience store.
Robinson expressed significant concern that the purchase and sales agreement between 7-11 and Quiles prohibits any retail operations at the site. He indicated his intention to explore modifying this restriction.
“My concern and
what bothers me is that 7-11 put in the agreement not to allow a grocery store
to go there,” he stated. “That is detrimental to that part of the city. It is
heavily used by the elderly at 14 Bloomingdale and the people from the
neighborhood too. The fact of the matter is I’ve talked with the City Solicitor
and the City Manager and I think there is a tool in our tool bag we need to
use. I don’t think 7-11 should punish us for their failure not to run a good
business. There has always been a grocery store there since I can remember.”