Members of the Cedar Grove Civic Association voted last week to support a proposal by the owners of Greenhills Irish Bakery to replace their current one-story building in Adams Village with a four-story building that will include nine condos and a new space to house the popular bakery and store.

The 34-19 vote followed some intense discussion about the project in front of an audience of about 60 people in the basement of the McKeon Post on Hill Top Street last Thursday evening.

The proponents— Dermot and Cindy Quinn— were on hand to outline their plan, which will require the demolition of 780 Adams St. They said the project will take up to two years to complete. 

Mark Sullivan, an architect who designed the plan for 780 Adams St. for clients Dermot and Cindy Quinn, is shown at last week’s meeting.

“I think the challenge is convincing people that we’re going to make it a bigger and better spot,” Dermot Quinn told the Reporter at the meeting. “There’s going to be new renovations in the neighborhood. Hopefully, we have a nice building that’s going to be the footprint of development."

He added: “The neighborhood needs upgrading, there are too many old buildings. I feel like we’re starting to make it a little more pleasing to the eye.”  

Steve Bickerton, Jr., who serves as president of the civic group, was one of those who expressed reservations about the project before the vote.

“My biggest concern was parking,” said Bickerton.” I don’t love the height, I don’t love the look; however, parking was the biggest issue for me.”

The Quinns’ attorney, John Pulgini, sought to ease concerns on that front. He said that Dermot was successful in reaching an agreement with Tom Cifrino, who manages the realty trust that controls the private parking lot next door, where he can provide parking to the residents for $200 a month.

“The building itself has no parking spaces,” said Pulgini. “As far as the parking lot, he [Cifrino] has at least 20 spaces he could rent out to us.”
The height of the building was also cited as a concern by Bickerton and others. The top three floors above the bakery would include six one-bedroom condos and three two-bedroom units. 

“We’re setting a precedent in Adams Village where we can go 10 or 12 feet higher than anything else,” said Bickerton, who worried that Dorchester is becoming too much like South Boston. 

Bickerton said that he and others on the civic group's executive board were reassured by the parking plan— and recommended that the civic group support the proposal.

After much discussion, members were invited up to the front of the room to vote on the proposal using neon flashcards, which were quickly counted by the board members. Bickerton announced the approval of the proposal with count of 34 for and 19 against. 

The Quinns expressed their appreciation after the approval vote.

“We’re excited,” said Dermot. “We’ve put a lot of hard work and sweat and tears into the bakery for the last 33 years. The entire neighborhood has been very supportive of us and our families and we have tried to give back to the neighborhood as much as we’ve accepted. It’s been an honor to be in this village for the last three decades.”
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The meeting began with an update on public safety from Officer Mike Keaney, which was followed by a thank you to outgoing District 3 City Councillor Baker. … John and Anne Lydon were also on hand to present their plans to open an Irish-themed restaurant and pub— Scobie’s— at 512 Gallivan Blvd., the commercial building they own at the corner of Gallivan Blvd. and Adams Street. The Lydons’ proposal was not the subject of a formal vote during the meeting but was favored by most of the civic members in the room.