Gloucester City Council Approves Seven-Unit Housing Conversion at Former AMVETS Building

GLOUCESTER — June 24, 2025 — Gloucester City Council unanimously approves conversion of former AMVETS post to seven rental units. The council voted 6-0 Tuesday to grant Special Council Permit 2025-004, allowing 14 Prospect Street LLC to convert the long-vacant former AMVETS Post 32 building into five two-bedroom apartments and two studios, with one deed-restricted affordable two-bedroom unit required in perpetuity under the city's inclusionary zoning ordinance. Attorney Megan Breaker, representing owner Dio Braga, told the council all units would rent below $2,000 per month, describing the project as a direct response to a housing affordability crisis in which she said she regularly sees market rents of "$2,300, $2,500 for one two-bedroom apartment." The council also raised dog license fees for the first time since 2013, approving — over the city clerk's recommendation — a 4-2 vote to set the non-neutered dog fee at $25, up from $16, with a new $20 late penalty and retroactive charges for all unlicensed years; mooring fees not updated since 2017 were also increased, with the per-foot resident mooring rate rising from $8 to $10. The meeting opened with resident Debbie Liakos describing her role in reviving a drowning victim at Good Harbor Beach that afternoon and urging the council to install an AED and flat board at the beach's lower end.