A Quincy developer wants to restore a former shoe factory in East Weymouth, add another building, and use the space for 84 apartments.
Michael Kiley of The Heritage Companies has applied for a special permit for the project at 44 Wharf Street. The plan is to put 66 units in the old factory, which was built in 1907 for shoe manufacturer George F. Keith Co. It has been used most recently by Francer Industries to fabricate metal parts for the heating and cooling industry, according to Robert Luongo, Weymouth planning director.
The developer would tear down a newer metal warehouse on the site and put up a new building with 18 units, said Luongo, who added the town has asked that 10 percent of the units be priced below market rate.
The town recently rezoned the area to allow residential use with a special permit, Luongo said. The Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to take up the issue on Aug. 19.
“We are encouraged to see this,” Luongo said of the project. “Other than the Stetson Building, which was saved [and houses medical offices], this would be the last remaining shoe building in the town. It would be kind of nice to see it restored.”
The Heritage Companies has done numerous projects in Greater Boston, including 10 Front Street in Weymouth Landing and the Bostonian Shoe Lofts in Whitman.
Johanna Seltz can be reached at [email protected].
