By Phil Orlandella
A request to change the legal occupancy at 97 Salem Street from retail and offices to commercial space and a 14-room boutique hotel was opposed by the North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) at their May public meeting.
Plans included erecting a five-story vertical addition for the building with a proposed height of 65.5 feet. City code allows for 55 feet in the area.
NEWRA supported a request by Saraceno and Bella Vista Restaurants, Saraceno holder of an all-alcoholic beverages license. Bella Vista has a beer, wine and cordials license, with the owner Frank Pezzano proposing to sell Bella Vista’s license and expand Saraceno’s license to include Bella Vista. Both eateries close at 1am.