Zoning Board gives go ahead for project that will turn Fall River Portuguese restaurant into apartments

A Fall River restaurant placed on the market late last year will likely be turned into apartments.

O Gil’s Portuguese Restaurant at 915 County Street was established in 1991 and named after Gil Fagundo the founder of O Gil’s and creator of their famous Portuguese Steak, a recipe widely used today brought from Ponta Delgada, Azores.

Gil’s Portuguese/Azorean soul food has lived on through his family at O Gil’s Restaurant & Bar but it soon may be no more.

Jeff Tolman of Northeast Engineers and Consultants representing restaurant co-owner Victor Fagundo went in front of the Zoning Board of Appeals Thursday to convert the restaurant into 2 apartments and to waive lot coverage, setbacks, number of units allowed, and parking requirements. The building includes 2 upper-level apartments that would stay as is.

The proposal has 2 off-street parking spots where the current loading area is. There is also the potential of installing a 2-car garage.

The Board granted Tolman’s request.

A variance was also granted to divide the O Gil’s parking lot into two lots. One will be a 6,700 sq. ft. lot with 68.39 ft of frontage on Earle Street and 90.33 ft. of frontage on County Street on which a three-family townhouse would be built waiving lot area and lot coverage. Lot 2 will be a 5,000 sq. ft lot with 50 ft of frontage on Horton Street and 11.05 ft of frontage on County Street on which a single-family dwelling will be built.

Ownership is retiring which prompted the initial real estate listing.

No word on how long O Gil’s will stay in business.