Worcester developer to demolish Franklin Street restaurant, construct 24 apartments
Image | Courtesy of Google Maps
Chioda's Trattoria on Franklin Street
A Worcester developer has plans to demolish a Franklin Street restaurant and redevelop the site into a 24-unit apartment complex, according to a proposal submitted to the Worcester Planning Board.
Michael Ermani of Worcester-based Premier Investment Properties LLC confirmed Friday he is planning to construct apartments at 631 Franklin St., assuming the property sale is complete, as it has not yet closed.
Chioda’s Trattoria, a 13-year-old Italian restaurant, is the tenant at the property. Co-owner Steve Chioda said he had not yet been notified of the demolition plans and is unsure what it would mean for the restaurant’s future.
Ermani’s proposal to the planning board calls for full demolition of the existing 1,624-square-foot restaurant and construction of an 8,749-square-foot low-rise apartment building with off-street parking. The units will be market-rate.
The property is owned by John and Theresa Travaglio, the owners of Pepe's Italian Restaurant on Shrewsbury Street, according to the proposal. Premier Investment Properties has entered into a purchase and sale agreement with the current owners, but it will not close until after the planning board approves the project, Ermani said.
The Travaglios could not be reached for immediate comment.
The property is assessed by the City of Worcester at $394,000, according to the assessors’ database. The Travaglios have owned it since 2014, when they purchased it for $320,000.
“I had this under agreement last year, and it didn’t go through, but I’m confident it will this time,” Ermani said, adding that there has been some disagreement between the current owners about whether to sell. “It’s not the smoothest transaction.”
Ermani owns the property of Leo’s Ristorante on Shrewsbury Street, which he bought in early 2021, as well as several multi-families in the region.
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A seller has no control over what a buyer does with land once they sell. So if it closes and the buyer decides he doesn't want the building there due to developing the parcel, why is that the sellers fault ?? Ridiculous to blame the seller.
It's a damn shame when the restaurant owner has to find out the news this way, about as unprofessional as it gets. Then you have the potential buyer shooting his mouth off like it's a done deal. Now, add in the reporter apparently not doing her due diligence by researching a little before printing it. This stinks all around and now Steve Chioda having to deal with the BS and caught by surprise out of this mess. Let's just hope he has some legal ramifications.
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