By Seth Daniel
The Chelsea Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) approved a special permit and variances that pave the way for the newest culinary advancement in the City – with the owners of Ciao Pizza and Pastas moving forward to open a small plate lounge that will serve alcohol and gourmet foods.
The proposal by Edson Coimbra and Marvin Posada, owners of Ciao, completes a recent aggressive expansion by the gourmet pizza parlor on Williams Street. The Lounge will be on the first floor of a new building at the old location of Parrotta’s Bar.
Coimbra lined up many supporters who came to speak on behalf of the owners and their vision for the space, which does include a bar, but not the kind of rowdy bar that the space was known for when Parrotta’s occupied it.
Some abutters have not been happy with the plan as they believe it could re-ignite troubles at the location that existed when the old bar was there.
Coimbra has said he plans to bring an upscale dining experience similar to the small plate restaurant Barcelona in the South End.
With their approvals in hand, Coimbra said they would begin work on the new restaurant hand in hand with the development of the dwelling units.
Meanwhile, Ciao is nearly complete with the build out of a gourmet grocery and pasta factory at a space in Chelsea Square.
In other ZBA news:
- The 45-unit apartment building proposed at 170 Cottage St. was continued once again.
- Variances and a special permit were granted at 157 Clark Ave. for an awning for a store and an increase in the parking lot from 14 spaces to 28 spaces.
- A cell phone store was okayed at 364 Washington Ave.
- Combining two lots was allowed at 25-27 Suffolk Street in order to build a new four-family dwelling.
- A minor modification was granted to a dental office at 950 Broadway for extension of office space.
- A minor modification was granted to the car wash at 284 Eastern Ave. to use another building.