By Seth Daniel
GTI Properties President Mario Nicosia unveiled initial plans to the Old Dover Neighborhood Association on Tuesday night, Jan. 16, for a new, 70-foot residential building in what is now a parking lot next to the Cinquecento Restaurant building – a new building that would fill in the gap in the existing streetscape.
The building would be at sidewalk level and would include 16 rental units and a marquee, 5,000 sq. ft. retail space, with an addition two small storefronts on the ground level in the back of the building.
“The building would be in the parking lot on the left side of the existing elevator shaft that serves the building with Cinquecento Restaurant,” said Nicosia. “At the time I developed the existing building, my intention was at some point to add a building to that other side. This building is a duplication of that building. It will be the same height, maybe a little bigger. It will look the same with the brick and granite, but it will be a little more modern because there is more glass…It’s going to be a very, very attractive building.”
He said the official City process would begin soon, and they will be part of the Article 80 Small Project Review. They will not be requesting any zoning relief.
“There is new zoning for the area, but we have designed this under the old zoning,” he said. “We’re not asking for any changes at the Board of Appeals. That makes it much easier.”
Nicosia said one thing that was important to him was to continue to activate the back of the building, as is done with the courtyard and outdoor patio at Cinquecento. So, he decided to add the storefronts in the back and forego parking inside the building.
“I opted to go with the stores instead of parking under the building,” he said. “I have a lot of parking and at some point in the future when I develop the rear lot, I can add parking then.”
There will be no piles used in the process, so the threat of months of pounding piles is not applicable.
Apartments will be about 1,200 to 1,300 sq. ft. each, he said.
The timeline is to break ground in January 2019, Nicosia said.
Members of Old Dover were very receptive to the project and there were no serious concerns brought up at the meeting.