Developer Peter McGuinness has petitioned to change the legal occupancy of 27 Sheafe Street from five units to eight units. Mr. McGuinness was represented at the June 11, 2018 North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) meeting by Attorney Daniel Toscano and Giancarlo Tiberi of Core Property Group management company.
Existing units are in a old-style “train” layout and will be renovated to include two duplex units on the garden and first floor units. The upper floors will have six studios approximating 450 square feet. A private roof deck for one of the top units is also proposed, set back from the street in the middle of the roof. Proponents noted that there will be less occupants in the building after the redesign.
Zoning violations include floor-to-area ratio, open space requirements, roof structure and lack of parking for the three new units.
The building will be for apartment rentals and proponents said they use 1-year leases, prohibiting short-term/AirBnB use.
View the video at the top of this post for the full NEWNC presentation and discussion.
Toscano and Tiberi also presented to the North End Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) at their monthly meeting on June 14. Toscano stressed the renovations will be done within the existing building, without adding another level or more living space. Proponents believe this work will make the units more efficient, encouraging tenants to stay longer.
Tiberi explained more about why these smaller units would be more efficient in the neighborhood by comparing this project to one they previously completed at 16 Hull Street. View the full presentation from the NEWRA meeting below.
NEWNC members voted 9-1 in support of the application. NEWRA members voted 12-4 in support of the application. Neighborhood group votes are advisory to the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals that will make the final determination.
*fewer* occupants
zoning *variances*