Parking lots were on the minds of 80 people who filled the Hall of Records Wednesday night for the monthly city zoning board meeting. The crowd debated, among other proposals, a possible expansion of Cero’s restaurant on State Street (which worries neighbors including Alderwoman Elizabeth Addonizio, pictured) to plans to spiff up the Walgreen’s at Whalley Avenue and Ellsworth.
Cero’s was the first topic heard at the meeting, where commissioners listened to citizens but didn’t vote. The 754 State St. eatery has requested permission to convert into a 158-seat family-style Italian restaurant with outdoor seating.
“Cero’s would like to become a place where people walk to because it’s close by and it makes good food,” said attorney Marjorie Shansky.Residents next door voiced their support for the restaurant. Bill Woods of Bradley Street said he’s seen lots of restaurants move in and out of that space and parking has always been an issue. While Cero’s might bring in a few more cars, they’re also helping to alleviate the problem by putting up lots of “no parking” signs. The owners of Goodfellas Caf√© next door agreed and said that so far Cero’s had been accommodating and clean neighbors.
Other local residents weren’t so sure. Ward 9 Alderwoman Elizabeth Addonizio — “standing with six of her constituents — “said that Cero’s had yet to meet some important conditions. First and foremost, neighbors had not yet seen a viable parking plan. Addonizio said that traffic constantly fills the streets and parking has become nearly impossible. Not to mention safety concerns. “You take your life into your own hands if you pull from Bradley onto State Street.”
To fix this problem, Addonizio asked that Cero’s provide 22 spaces of leased parking, supposedly already required with their agreement. The lot across the street could provide for five spaces, she said, but plans needed to be shown for 17 more. Neighbors also requested a valet service at the restaurant Thursday through Saturday to make sure cars are parked in the proper spaces. And residents asked that an off-duty police officer stand guard to ticket parking violators and alleviate safety concerns.
Addonizio also expressed concern that the eatery might attract folks for more than just their food. “One hundred forty-eight people, that’s a lot of people. But Cero’s has a full liquor license, so if pizza’s not working, I bet the place will do what they need to do to make it work. It could become something very different from a family-owned Italian restaurant.”
Attorney Marjorie Shansky shot back. She noted that all the people present at the zoning meeting had attended a neighborhood meeting at the restaurant to express their concerns — “and Cero’s had already accommodated all requests. The restaurant agreed to move two garbage dumpsters on the lot. This would create 10 to 15 more parking spaces. Add that to the five across the street and you hit almost 20.
Shansky stressed that the restaurant had not asked for a full liquor license, but had inherited that from the previous owners. Cero’s was “not going to become a sports bar” with wild happy-hour specials, she said. The owners agreed to close their doors one day a week at the neighbors’ request.
But they asked to be relieved of the policeman. “Nothing’s going on that warrants one property owner to bear the brunt of the cost for an off-duty officer,” Shanksy said. “This owner has met every wish, and we’re asking for the same level of tolerance from the neighbors to let the restaurant prosper in this neighborhood.”
Parking lot issues also surfaced over discussions of a new Walgreen’s on Whalley and Ellsworth. The proposed plan calls for the demolition and reconstruction of the current Walgreen’s and the destruction of the nearby dollar store to make way for a row of retail shops. Attorney Anthony Avallone said Walgreen’s realized that this site had been a problem in the neighborhood for a “long, long time,” but hoped this could change. Sheila Masterson, executive director of the Whalley Avenue Special Services District, agreed. She said she is very excited that the “25-year eyesore” was finally going to be developed.
But Ward 24 Alderwoman Liz McCormack and eight of her constituents said that while the community was not in opposition to the entire proposal, they did have some concerns. Walgreen’s needs to get rid of the abandoned cars that litter the parking lot, she said. Shopping carts need to stay inside the store and not “walk themselves” into the neighborhood. A mesh fence with nice landscaping would be much preferred to a closed wooden one. And a 21-foot sign is inappropriate for a residential neighborhood.
Perhaps the most widely supported parking issue of the night? Two front yard parking spaces for First Calvary Baptist Church. When Eduoardo Perez, chairman of the zoning board, asked if anyone was there in support of the proposal, nearly the entire audience stood up (in photo).
“Let the record show, 30 members are here in support,” Perez said “Any in opposition?”
No one moved. “I wouldn’t dare stand either,” Perez said with a laugh.