Four-Story Apartment Building Proposed on Somerset Avenue

By Adam Swift

The owners of 50 Somerset Avenue are proposing a 20-unit apartment building with 10 parking spaces for the property.

At this week’s meeting, the planning board heard an informal proposal for the project from the property owners and development team. No official application for the project has been filed yet.

“We are looking to do a four-story, mixed-use building,” said project attorney Rebecca Edmondson. “All the parking will be on the first floor.”

The project is in the town’s Central Business District, and plans call for one studio unit, 18 one bedrooms, and one two bedrooms, as well as a small commercial space of 150 to 300 square feet.

The property is owned by long-time Winthrop residents James and Joseph Faretra.

“Right now, it is a one-story building basically used as a warehouse,” said Edmondson. “We are trying to transform it into a rental apartment building.”

Joseph Faretra said his family has been in the community since 1965 and has invested in some properties in the town over that time.

“The opportunity to develop down in the center came about, and we basically have something that really fits into the community,” said Faretra. “The intention is not to make condominiums, but to make rental apartments..”

James Faretra said he believes his family is putting forward plans for a good building in the location.

“I think most people are welcoming for development there,” he said. “The building has basically been vacant for some time.”

Edmondson noted that there was a community meeting attended by about 20 residents over a month ago. She said one of the major concerns raised was the parking. Edmondson added that a number of residents also want to make Somerset Avenue one-way, a request that is making its way to the town council.

The architect for the project said the four-story building will keep the footprint of the existing building. He added that during construction, an existing brick wall of the building will be maintained to act as a buffer for noise and debris for the closest abutter.

The trash and recycling area is proposed for the first floor of the building, and will be collected by a private trash hauler. The architect added that there will be small decks on the upper floors, and that the roof itself will be for mechanical equipment only.

The project will require variances for rear and side yard setbacks, as well as for height and parking.

Planning board members about the overhang aspect of the building over the sidewalk, as well as about the rear setbacks and the parking and traffic flow on the property.

Joseph Faretra said he wants the project to be friendly for the neighborhood and wants to meet the needs of abutters.