By Michael Coughlin Jr.

At its monthly meeting on Monday, the Harbor View Neighborhood Association (HVNA) discussed a highly opposed restaurant proposed at 636-638 Bennington Street called El Parche and the group’s plans to formally oppose it through written letters.

During an abutters meeting in June, which the East Boston Times covered (https://eastietimes.com/2024/06/12/residents-oppose-proposed-restaurant-on-bennington-street-2/), the attorney who processed the application for the applicant went over the proposed plans for the space.

Specifically, Attorney Francisco Gonzalez Palacio detailed the applicant’s plans, which at the time were to acquire a beer, wine, and cordials license, a common victualler license, and live entertainment for a proposed 40-seat restaurant at the aforementioned address that would operate from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m.

Moreover, during the abutters meeting, there were some questions about the site’s permits with the Inspectional Services Department (ISD).

However, in an update about the project posted to the HVNA’s Facebook page on Monday, the site, which, according to Palacio at the abutters meeting, had undergone renovations for eight months or so, is “in line” with its permits at ISD.

The post also noted that an inspector did a walk-through of the site and work is being done within parameters, and “anything that got denied at ISD will now go to the ZBA (Zoning Board of Appeal), and the next abutters meeting will be about the ZBA variances and the licensing changes.”

Overall, these plans have caused quite a storm of opposition and concern among residents, so much so that the HVNA hosted its own viewing party of the virtual abutters meeting at the Salesian Boys & Girls Club, which had 28 attendees, seven of whom were abutters.

According to Skip Marcella, an HVNA Board Member, everyone who attended the viewing party mentioned above opposed the proposal.

Further, Marcella highlighted some of the concerns from residents, chief among them being that opponents feel the proposal is not what it seems.

“We believe that what we’re looking at here is more of a bar — not a restaurant — but a bar,” said Marcella.

Other concerns Marcella raised were the proposed hours, capacity, live entertainment, trash, rodents, noise, and much more.

“I think there are a number of concerns that I think that the neighborhood has with this particular project in terms of why it shouldn’t go in as planned, as proposed,” said Marcella.

After reviewing some of the concerns about the project, Marcella outlined a call to action to stop the proposal. Specifically, he asked residents, especially abutters, to write letters of opposition and for residents to sign on to a list for a letter of opposition.

As the discussion continued, several residents made comments about the proposal and its current process.

For example, one resident argued that projects that go through civic associations like the HVNA should be stopped if they are voted against rather than the current system, in which projects can be opposed by the neighborhood and then approved by the city.

The same resident also voiced displeasure that a proposal like this would be allowed in such close proximity to residential buildings under new zoning.

Another resident echoed the concerns about how close the restaurant would be to other residences and detailed the lack of parking in the area.

Ultimately, the HVNA wants to contact people to provide updates about the process and ensure residents’ voices are heard.

If you would like to contact the HVNA, you can visit its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/harborviewna/. The group’s website, https://harborvieweastboston.com/contact/, also has contact information.

“The only way that we’re going to impact this project is if we do it collectively, and that is not only the abutters but also the neighborhood,” said Marcella.