Charles Street Market Must Promise Quiet Before Moving

Provided he enter into a Good Neighbor's Agreement, Charles Street Market owner Tracy Hollander can relocate his store to the spot now occupied by Charles Street Laundromat. 

Hollander appeared before the city's board of appeals Tuesday morning to ask them not to oppose a variance he needs to open at 39 Charles St. Hollander on the same issue.

That committee – which has no official power to decide whether a variance is granted but whose decision informs the association board's vote, which is communicated to the city – voted to support the move contingent on Hollander entering a Good Neighbor Agreement.

The city's board of appeals likewise voted not to oppose the move pending the agreement.

The main sticking point slowing an agreement is an understanding over the noise an air conditioning system would create. Hollander needs air conditioning to run 24 hours a day to keep food cooled but neighbors in Cedar Lane Way are concerned that the system would be noisy. The plan is to have four units mounted on top of the back of the building.

Hollander assured them at the April 4th meeting that he would buy a "very quiet" system and would install necessary screens to minimize noise. However, Hollander has yet to provide details on the system he would buy, according to Beacon Hill Civic Association Executive Director Suzanne Besser. 

Reached at Charles Street Market after the meeting Tuesday, Hollander said that he was going to start working on the issue immediately by researching different units.