A developer seeking to build a small market-rate condo project at 240 Pacific Ave., adjacent to the Old Ship Saloon, has been seeking input and support from neighbors. Grosvenor, which has developed multiple projects across the city, hopes to get the land and approvals to eventually build 33 market-rate units on Pacific Avenue between Battery and Front Streets, along with two spaces for retail and/or restaurant use on the street level.
Since late 2014, Grosvenor has been meeting with community groups, presenting ideas and asking for feedback on the building. If the company receives all of the approvals needed, construction won't start until sometime in 2016 or 2017. On Monday night, representatives met for the third time with residents of 733 Front St., which will see the biggest impact, because it's adjacent to the lot.
The proposed condo site, showing 733 Front adjacent.
A couple of changes have occurred throughout the process, said Steve O’Connell, Senior Vice President – Development, Grosvenor Americas. "We have notched the building even further away from 733, to separate us from the adjacent building," he said.
Due to input from the Planning Department, Grosvenor is also reducing the amount of parking spaces in order to activate the street with more retail or restaurant use. The original plan for the condo building was to have 42 parking spaces—which wouldn't be visible from the street—and now it's at 36, which is still more than one for each unit, O'Connell noted.
Image courtesy of Grosvenor.
That will allow for an additional 400 square feet of space for an amenity along Pacific Avenue. The concept will be shaped based on community input, but it could be anything from a retail shop to a small grab-and-go restaurant. The project is also aiming to include one-and-a-half bike parking spaces per unit.
The proposed condo site, showing the former Globe building adjacent.
The building that housed recently-shuttered restaurant Globe would be removed if the project progresses, but Grosvenor has always planned to include a 2,000-square-foot space on the former Globe footprint for retail or a restaurant. Though Globe closed on May 30th, its lease wasn't up until the end of September, and the building hasn't even been sold.
For questions on the 240 Pacific Ave. project or to schedule a community meeting, email Steve O’Connell at [email protected] or Amelia Staveley, [email protected].
