Planning Board Approves New Essex Street Condo Building

Monday night the Melrose Planning Board approved plans to construct a condominium at 185 Essex St. The four-story, 16-unit building will likely begin construction next spring.

The project moved quickly through the Planning Board's review process. McGrath Enterprises owner Tom McGrath and his team of designers first met with the . After a , McGrath came before the board on Monday to finalize the project.

The plan calls for the demolition of a 7,800 square foot industrial building, which currently houses a roofing company and dance studio, and construction of a roughly 5,900 square foot, four-story condominium and will be pulled back from the corner intersection—the current building is right up against the sidewalk—allowing better sight lines for both pedestrians and drivers at the Essex and Vine Streets intersection.

The building will house 14 two-bedroom condos and two one-bedroom condos, the smallest being just over 1,000 square feet. A 26-car parking lot will be placed in the rear of the building, with an entrance from Vine Street.

Much of what the board discussed Monday night were aesthetic concerns they had with the property.

Various flowers and shrubbery will surround the building, allowing the concealment of the building’s condensers. Eleven trees of various species will be planted along the sidewalk adjacent to the property. A fence will be constructed along the Essex and Vine Streets corner made of granite posts and struts connecting them, preventing pedestrian traffic through the property.

Not every issue was finalized, however. The board still has concerns with the fencing along the north and west side of the property, as well as aesthetic concerns with the main entrance to the building. Neither issue was large enough to deter the board from approving the project. These issues will be addressed in sub-committee before construction commences.

The approval also contains a contingency for low-income housing required for the project. Two units are to be set aside for low-income housing, either on site or off. McGrath is currently looking to acquire a two-family house off site to allow for this housing. The board approved project with the low-income housing on site, but will allow a substitution of off site property upon McGrath’s acquisition of the second property.

The board vote for the project was unanimous. Board member voluntarily John Sadowski abstained from voting due to his absence at the July 25 meeting.

“This building is going to look great in the neighborhood,” said Ward 4 Alderman Robert Boisselle, who spoke during the hearing.

Plans for the project are currently on file at City Hall.