A small hotel on Evelyn Avenue near Castro Street, which some neighbors say is “essentially a halfway house,” would be demolished to make way for a four-story office building under a proposal heard this week by the city’s zoning administrator.
Applicant Daniel Minkoff wants to replace the Pacific Euro Hotel with a new 63,129-square-foot office building built above a 16,288-square-foot underground parking garage. Two parcels are involved — both located between Wild Cherry Lane and Bryant Street — at 871 Evelyn Ave. and 891 Evelyn Ave.
Because the city’s zoning encourages ground floor retail space downtown, the proposal requires that zoning administrator Peter Gilli approve a provisional use permit to allow office space on the ground floor. Gilli’s decision was scheduled to be made Wednesday afternoon, after the Voice went to press.
Minkoff has also requested a permit to remove a heritage tree on the site, which is required under the current design.
In a city-organized workshop in March, neighbors met to express concerns about a proposed 51-unit affordable family housing development on Evelyn and Franklin streets. During the meeting, some complained about the Pacific Euro Hotel near their condos at 108 Bryant Street, saying it detracted from the quality of their neighborhood.
City planner Rebecca Shapiro said the City Council will give final approval on the project at a later date.
— Daniel DeBolt
