City Council approves new six-unit Endicott Ave. condos

  Wakefield developer Michael Casoli was granted a special permit by the City Council to build a six-unit condominium building at 141-143 Endicott Ave. to replace the six-unit apartment building that was destroyed in a fire in 2021. The permit includes a list of conditions from the Site Plan Review Committee and the Zoning Subcommittee that outline water, sewer and drainage requirements, a ban on rental units, a two-bedroom limit for each unit, and requirements for front yard space and landscaping.

  Attorney Gerry D’Ambrosio, who represented Casoli, repeatedly stressed that the developer could, by right, build a new six-unit multifamily to replace what was lost. But D’Ambrosio told councillors Casoli wants to build something better. The new plan has underground parking that will free up space on Endicott Avenue. The building is also a few feet narrower, which increases the distance between neighbors, but it does extend farther into the backyard, leaving only 13 feet from the property line.

  Endicott Avenue neighbors opposed the project because of its size. The underground parking creates a fourth floor. They feel it will negatively impact the character of the neighborhood. Also, Andy Carey, the abutter to the rear of the proposed building, feels the rear setback is too close to his lot line.

  City Councillors agreed with D’Ambrosio that Casoli’s plan is better for the neighborhood than a building of rental apartments with transient tenants. And the underground parking is also a plus. The council voted 10-1 to approve the special permit with Ward 2 Councillor Ira Novoselsky voting against the project.

Councillor Rizzo seeks residential numbers for Suffolk Downs development

  The City Council unanimously supported Councillor-at-Large Dan Rizzo’s request for information from the Mayor’s Office about the number of Revere residents currently working for the Suffolk Downs/HYM project, including numbers for Local 22, Local 103 and other locals.

  Rizzo said it was up to the Revere Resident Monitoring Committee to keep count, but he wasn’t sure that was happening.

  “That’s information we need, and we should have it updated on a regular basis,” said Councillor-at-Large Gerry Visconti. “[Developers] always put in the requirement they will have jobs for locals, and we should be making sure our residents get first preference.”

  City Council President Patrick Keefe said he had recently made a phone call to the representative of the plumbers local on behalf of a young Revere resident looking to join the plumbers’ union. Keefe said he was told that there was a need for more Revere residents on the job. “We need more applicants.”