NORTH PROVIDENCE — The owners of the former Cher’s restaurant and lounge at 83 Waterman Ave. have won permission from the Zoning Board of Review to demolish the nightspot and build a 12-unit condominium project.

Cheryl and Tom Gauthier said they decided to move in another direction after it became apparent that they were losing patrons to Twin River in Lincoln and realized that the existing building needed a lot of work.

The River’s Edge Condominiums will have two-bedroom units, including three townhouses and nine flats, on land bordering the Woonasquatucket River.

Gene Mancino of Mancino Associates, East Providence, the Gauthiers’ architect, said the condos would be built in the style of a traditional New England village building with pitched roofs. He said the building would occupy only 18 percent of the land. The project calls for one more unit than what is permitted under the town’s revised zoning regulations without a variance from the Zoning Board.

Roger Labonte, who lives across the street from the site, asked the board to hold the project to 11 units, saying he is concerned about traffic not only from River’s Edge, but also from the loft-style apartments being built at the Greystone mill.

The Gauthiers told the board that they had originally envisioned a 22-unit complex, and that if they had to go below a dozen units, the project might no longer be economically feasible.

The board approved a special-use permit and a variance on a 4-to-1 vote, with Chairman Vincent Polisena and members Ralph Wilkes, Peter Taraborelli and Michael Marciano voting in favor, and Barry Schiller voting against.

The Gauthiers said they hope to break ground next spring.

rdujardi@projo.com