Rendering of proposed replacement for A Street scrap-metal business.
The Zoning Board of Appeal today gave the owner of a scrap-metal company at 29 A St. in South Boston a year to find a place in the city to relocate so that he can convert his current location into a nine-unit residential building.
The zoning board originally approved A Street Scrap Metal owner Frank Burns's plans for a six-story building in 2017. The board has since granted him two extensions on the time he needs to begin construction because of a title issue with a neighboring property owner.
Frank Burns's attorney, George Morancy, told the board this morning that the title issue has been fixed, but that Covid-19 screwed everything up last year. And now, Morancy said, Burns has run into another issue: He wants to keep his scrap-metal business in Boston, but is having trouble finding a site.
"As the board can imagine, it's been quite difficult to secure a location," Morancy said.
The board unanimously approved the request, but acting board Chairman Mark Erlich cautioned this would be the last extension the board would grant.