Page 4 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2026 ~ REVERE CIT Y COUNCIL ROUNDUP ~ By Barbara Taormina T he City Council met on Thursday night this week instead of their usual Monday night meeting due to last week’s snowstorm. Councillor-at-Large Joanne McKenna and Ward 5 Councillor Angela GuarinoSawaya opened the meeting with praise and thanks to the Department of Public Works for the job they did clearing the snow from city streets. GuarinoSawaya urged residents to be patient with the plows, as more snow is predicted to move in. She said some drivers are putting in 48-hour shifts and residents need to understand how much work is involved. McKinley School renovation bond C hief of Planning & Community Development Tom 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only:Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & W Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook!Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! Skwierawski and Mayor Patrick Keefe met with the council this week with a presentation on the McKinley School renovation prior to a public hearing on a $37 million bond authorization for the project. Skwierawski showed slides of renderings of the building and explained how the regional emergency call center, the early elementary education program and city offi ces will fi t into the building. Both Skwierawski and Keefe focused on how the renovation will benefi t the neighborhood. “I’m excited to revitalize that neighborhood and that building,” said Keefe. Although the bond is for $37 million, City of Revere CFO Richard Viscay said the actual cost to the city is around $17 million. By hosting a regional call center with Winthrop and Chelsea, Revere was eligible for millions in grant funding from the state’s 911program. Total project cost is estimated at $43.5 million. Funding assumptions include roughly $6.5 million in school-related grants and about $19 million in state 911 grant reimbursements, leaving an estimated net City cost of $17.5 million. www.810bargrille.com “We’re building to add at least one more community,” said Keefe. “We’ve had inquiries from other communities. The state picks up the cost for communities that regionalize.” Viscay also said the money will not be borrowed immediately. “By approving the authorization, you allow me to sign a contract so construction can start,” Viscay told councillors, who all supported the authorization. The council referred the request for the bond authorization to the Ways and Means Subcommittee for review at their meeting on Feb. 9. Transit-orientated housing T he council held a public hearing on an application for a special permit from Capri LLC, 1559 North Shore Road, to extend the existing singlestory structure by building up and adding a two-story addition consisting of eight onebedroom units. The project maintains the building’s original footprint and would be 29 feet high. Attorney Nancy O’Neil, who represented Capri at the meeting, described the project as a support for the economic activity along Shirley Avenue. O’Neil also stressed Capri is a three-minute walk to the Beachmont T station which, she said, makes the project transit-orientated housing. The council referred the special permit application to the Zoning Subcommittee, which will review it at their meeting on Feb. 9. Great plan, small lot T he council held a public hearing on an application for a special permit to replace a nonconforming garage with a two-and-a-half story twofamily dwelling on Lot A Elmwood Street. Attorney Nancy O’Neil explained that the proposal replacing the long deteriorated commercial garage with a two-family home would remove a neighborhood eyesore, eliminate nonresidential use in a predominantly one- and two-family area and improve property values and streetscapes. Ward 5 Councillor GuarinoSawaya said there was unanimous backing at a community meeting, a letter of support from a nearby resident and the provision of four required off -street parking spaces on a nearby lot under the same ownership, with planned easements to ensure permanent access. Supporters also said the lot size refl ects the historic development pattern of the neighborhood, where other homes exist on similarly small sized parcels. However, several city councillors noted the approximately 2,250-square-foot lot is far below typical zoning standards. They worried that approving a two-family structure could set a precedent for development on undersized lots, potentially creating legal issues in future cases. The application for a special permit was referred to the Zoning Subcommittee. RCCR | SEE Page 6
5 Publizr Home