Check out the NEW ADVOCATE ONLINE: www.advocatenews.net Vol. 31, No.39 -FREEwww.advocatenews.net Free Every Friday State Reps take part in Fire Ops program 781-286-8500 Friday, September 30, 2022 Neighbors concerned over size of Salem Street apartment proposal By Adam Swift A proposed apartment development at 344 Salem St. will be back before the Zoning Board of Appeals at its October meeting. Last week, the ZBA granted a continuance to the developer of the proposed 25-unit, four-story apartment building. State representatives Jessica Giannino and Donald Wong are pictured with Revere Fire Dept. Kevin O’Hara, left, and Capt. Bill Cross of the Saugus Fire Dept. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Giannino) Special to Th e Advocate O n Sept. 20, State Representatives Jessica Giannino and Donald Wong joined local and state offi cials across the commonwealth and participated in the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts (PFFM)’s Fire Ops program with Revere Fire Department’s own Captain Kevin O’Hara! According to Rep. Giannino, “It was a hands-on training where my colleagues and I had a unique opportunity to learn about the profession. We learned skills like cutting apart a car using the jaws of life, extinguishing an apartment fi re, performing CPR (on a mannequin), as well as learning more about fi re gear and equipment. Growing up with family members on both the police and fi re departments in Revere, I have an acute understanding of and admiration for these selfl ess professions. Today, after training with a live fi re and using powerful tools that can save lives, I discovered a new level of appreciation and deeper gratitude for these skilled professionals who run into emergency situations when others run out. I am so grateful for the members of Saugus Firefi ghters Local 1003 & ReFIRE OPS | SEE Page 15 Football Pats Corral Mustangs, 42-15 opposed [to the project] even as it currently stands,” said Serino. At the neighborhood meeting in September, Serino said, the residents made it clear that the property at 344 Salem St. has traditionally been the home of a business, such as a mechanic’s shop or a gas station. “It has been a commercial business for the last 50 years or so, and the residents have expressed a desire to keep it, to some degree, to a business and not large-scale apartments,” said Serino. While concerns were raised about parking at past meetings, Serino said, the list of issues extends to the size of the building and to development close to a creek that runs behind the property. RICHARD SERINO Ward 6 Councillor Nancy O’Neil, the developer’s attorney, said that following a neighborhood meeting earlier in September there will be revised plans to address concerns raised by some abutters. “Our project architect and engineer are currently in the process of revising the project plans,” O’Neil said. Still, even a potential scaled down project could be too much for residents on nearby Clifton Street and Ward 6 City Councillor Richard Serino. Serino said he could not attend the initial ZBA public hearing on the proposal in August and was under the impression that many of the neighbors supported a plan to reduce the size of the apartment building from 30 to 25 units. “Clearly, that was not the case, so had I been here, I would have corrected that record, and as such, I am “When I ran for offi ce, I promised myself I would stand by my residents, and as such, I am in opposition,” said Serino. The councillor asked the ZBA not to grant the continuance and to ask that the applicant withdraw the project without prejudice until they could come back with a plan that was more palatable and acceptable to the neighbors. Clifton Street resident John Oakes noted that the neighborhood is made up of primarily single-family homes, and he also said he is concerned about building near wetlands. “The wetlands – the creek that runs behind the garage that is there now is part of the Pines River that runs down to Rumney Marsh and Diamond Creek Marsh,” said Oakes. O’Neil noted that the plans presented at the community meeting were for 25 units, but that those plans would be revised when the developer comes before the ZBA again on Oct. 26. Pats Captain Sami Elasri works his way around a Mustang defender on his way to scoring a touchdown for Revere at Harry Della Russo Stadium last Thursday evening. See page 12 for story and photo highlights. (Advocate photo by Emily Harney)
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