SDOD Proposed on Shirley Street

Local builders are in the beginning stages of seeking an SDOD (special development overlay district) zoning designation to change a Shirley Street building from commercial to residential.

The builder and his lawyer attended Monday night’s Planning Board to introduce plans for the property, but the Planning Board had to cancel due to lack of a quorum. So they will come before that board a 7 p.m. Monday night, Oct. 22 in the Harvey Hearing room at town hall.

Attorney James Cipoletta said his clients Michael and Paul Ferrara, M&P Realty, are in “very preliminary planning stages” for 413-415 Shirley St., site of an old ambulance company, which they purchased recently for $775,000.

“We have a concept but no plan yet,” Cipoletta said after the gathering. “Once we get the designation then we will come back with a plan.”

Michael Ferrara said their concept is 10-plus condominiums with underbuilding parking. Each floor will have a one-bedroom and the other units on the floor will have two-bedrooms. There will be an elevator and up to four stories above the parking level. On average each unit will be about 1,200 square feet.

Eventually the Town Council will have to vote on the SDOD request.

Other SDODs in Winthrop include the old Winthrop Hospital being turned into The Arbors, The old Dalrymple School, the old Playmakers property on Hermon Street and an old nursing home on Pleasant Street turned into condos.

“Every one of those properties is like a feather in the cap for the town,” Cipoletta said.