NEWNC Supports New Juicery/Fitness Center

A request by Melina DiPaola to open a Juicery/Fitness Center with takeout at 420 Commercial Street was supported by the North End/Waterfront Neighborhood Council (NEWNC) at the community elected group’s monthly meeting held in the Nazzaro Community Center.

The new fitness center will be sound-proofed with interior activity only. No customer parking in lot in front of the building (an old gas station) and the hours will be 6:30am to 9pm. Attorney William Ferullo represented DiPaolo.

NEWNC also approved plans submitted by Jorge, Pat and Frank Mendoza to expand Monica’s Trattoria, 69 Prince Street into leased space at 67 Prince Street, actually the same building with a seating capacity of 29 seats and a beer, wine and cordials license. Closing at 11pm weekdays and 12 midnight on weekends.

A name change from Monica’s Pizzeria to Monica’s Trattoria was also supported by NEWNC.

The new restaurant will be located in two rooms with a kitchen on the first floor. A prep kitchen and storage will be located in the basement. All handicap requirements will be met. Attorney William Ferullo represented the Mendoza brothers.

While NEWNC supported a request by Rocco Zagarella owner of the Waterfront Café, 450 Commercial Street to extend the business seating capacity from 49 to 83 seats, they opposed his request to remove the license restriction of alcohol with the service of food only on the premises.

Eight or nine abutters supported Zagarella’s two requests.

Waterfront Café was the recipient of the North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) Good Neighbor Award for helping to keep the neighborhood clean.

North Bennet Street School President Miguel Gomez-Ibanez advised the committee of the school’s interest in purchasing the Department of Transportation building at 128 North Street if it becomes available. He asked for NEWNC’s support if the situation happens.

Jerome Smith the new Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services addressed the Council on several new programs the city has or will create to make things easier for small businesses and certain landlords.

An on-site abutters meeting program, a Zoning Board of Appeal Committee to deal with smaller projects and housing improvements, and a neighborhood city-wide program to assess neighborhood needs were some of the programs he described.

The next NEWNC monthly meeting will be held on Monday, October 13 at 7pn in the Nazzaro Community Center.

An abutters meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 22 at 78-80 Salem Street. Topic: Sushi Rock beer, wine and cordials liquor license transfer, according to Nicole Leo of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services.