North End restaurant owner plans major Italian redo of entire Cross Street block: Restaurant, cooking school, clothing and furniture stores

The Zoning Board of Appeal today approved plans by serial North End restaurant owner Frank DePasquale to add a second floor to the vacant strip of storefronts on Cross Street between Hanover and Salem street so he can open a series of businesses keyed to Italian culture - including a cooking school to be run with an existing culinary institute in Italy, aimed at both people looking at restaurant careers and residents and even elementary-school students who just want to learn more about Italian cooking.

DePasquale, who bought the block - 60-80 Cross St. - for $8 million last year, is also planning a two-story restaurant and cafe with large windows overlooking the Greenway and seasonal outdoor dining, as well as an Italian clothing store and an Italian furniture store, his attorney, William Ferullo, told the board at a hearing today.

Among those supporting the proposal: State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz, who, through an aide, said he "can't think of any better proponent" to ensure the rebirth of the blighted block at the main gateway to the North End.

However, the project was opposed by residents of a neighboring condo building on Salem Street, who said the building would block their light and air and views of the Greenway. One pointed specifically to a rooftop HVAC unit shown directly next to a window of one of the two units she owns. Residents also said they're concerned about proposed changes to their fire-escape egress in the event of an emergency, which relies on an easement carried with the Cross Street property.

Ferullo and Pisani said their plans would actually make emergency escape easier. Currently, people fleeing on the fire escape have to take a fire escape down to the roof of the one-story building then walk across that and climb down a 15-foot ladder to the street. Their plans call for providing emergency entrance to rooftop doors on their buildings, where residents could then walk down a safe stairway to the street.

They added that in response to neighbor concerns, DePasquale agreed to eliminate the third floor he had originally proposed and that taller buildings across the Greenway do more to shade the Salem Street building than anything their building would do.

The project needed several variances, including for being too close to its rear property line, adding a roof deck and adding another floor.

The board's approval came with a condition that Pisani work with the Boston Planning Department to both fine tune the general exterior - to possibly add some design elements that better match the neighborhood's existing brick esthetic to the overall glass design - and to work specifically on reducing the impact on residents in the Salem Street building.

The restaurant/cafe proposal will also need approval from the Boston Licensing Board - including its hours, which Ferullo said would include a 1 a.m. closing time inside and 11 p.m. on its proposed patios.