BPDA approves 230 new affordable housing units at March Meeting
Mar 11, 2021
Adopts Language Access Policy to require interpretation and translation
The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors this month approved four new development projects that will create 307 residential units, 230 of which will be designated as income-restricted. Included in today’s approvals is the renovation of 140 Clarendon Street, the YW Boston Building, which will create 210 income-restricted units and provide social services for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, as part of a partnership with the Pine Street Inn.
The approved new development projects represent 329,300 square feet and an investment of $50.7 million and will create 295 construction jobs, 62 direct jobs, and support 157 indirect and induced jobs.
Language Access Policy
Since 2014, under the leadership of Mayor Martin J. Walsh, the BPDA has focused on creating a more inclusive and community-focused public process for reviewing development projects and participating in planning studies. This includes making sure non-English speaking individuals can participate in meetings in a meaningful way.
As part of this commitment, the BPDA formally adopted a Language Access Plan (LAP). The BPDA’s LAP will require proponents for projects undergoing large project review to create and implement a project specific LAP to ensure that residents within the neighborhood where a project is located will have language access and appropriate translation and interpretation.
Development Projects
Renovation of 140 Clarendon Street moves forward to support housing and wrap around social services for individuals and households experiencing homelessness
Live: 210 income-restricted units at or below 60% AMI, including 111 units for formerly homeless individuals or families
Work: Maintains Lyric Stage of Boston theatre and Snowden International School
Connect: Transit-oriented in the heart of Back Bay
Sustain: LEED Silver, 100 percent renewable energy purchase
The approval of 140 Clarendon Street in Back Bay will renovate the existing YW Boston Building and convert the approximately 50,000 square feet of vacant or underutilized hotel and office space into affordable housing units, resident community rooms, health and wellness amenities, and offices for building management and supportive services. Through a collaboration with The Pine Street Inn, the new project will include wrap-around social services for households that have experienced homelessness, including on-site case managers, and social activities, access to job training services, and other social service supports. The project will create 210 apartments, all of which will be income-restricted to households with incomes at or below 60 percent of the Area Median Income. The existing commercial uses on the ground floor, the Lyric Stage of Boston theatre and the Snowden International School (a Boston Public Schools facility), will remain at the building, and YW Boston will continue to have its offices at the building.
The YW Boston building is nearly 100 years old, and YW Boston is the oldest YWCA organization in the country. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. No exterior additions are planned, but exterior repairs will be undertaken. All exterior repairs will be undertaken in accordance with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings.
Next phase of Bartlett Place Development moves forward, bringing 65 home-ownership units to Roxbury
Live: 65 homeownership units, 9 of which are income-restricted
Work: 180 jobs
Connect: Part of multi-phase Bartlett Place Redevelopment in Roxbury
Sustain: LEED Gold
The Board approved Phase 5 of the Bartlett Place Redevelopment in Roxbury, which will provide new housing components for the larger, multi-phase redevelopment effort. Phase 5 includes the construction of two new buildings: Building F2 proposed as the Northampton Condominium and Building F4 proposed as the Dover Condominium.
The Northampton Condominium will construct an approximately 44,988 square foot building containing 28 homeownership units and 30 off-street parking spaces. The Dover Condominium will construct an approximately 48,792 square foot residential building containing 37 homeownership units and 32 off-street parking spaces. Of the total number of units, nine will be income-restricted, four of which will be located in the Northampton Condominium and five of which will be within the Dover Condominium.
The five phase Bartlett Place Development was approved by the BPDA Board in 2013. This parcel is among those whose ongoing development represents implementation of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan. Once completed, the entire project will bring approximately 382 residential units, 241 of which are income-restricted with approximately 166 home-ownership units to Roxbury. In addition to residential development, the Bartlett Place Development will create significant public amenities including an approximately 15,365 square foot open plaza (“The Oasis at Bartlett”), the planting of approximately 130 new trees as part of open-space planning and the installation of new traffic signal on Washington Street with accompanying crosswalk and traffic calming components.
1121 Dorchester Avenue to bring 24 residential units, restaurant space to Dorchester
Live: 24 residential units, including 3 income-restricted units
Work: 80 to 100 constructions jobs, over 70 full and part-time restaurant jobs
Connect: 6,300 square feet of commercial space
Sustain: Transit-oriented, 26 bike storage units
The project approved for 1121 Dorchester Avenue in Dorchester will combine two lots (1121 Dorchester Avenue and 31 Savin Hill Avenue) to construct two separate buildings. Building A will be a four-story building fronting Dorchester Avenue and will contain 21 rental units, three of which will be income-restricted. The second, three-story building will front Savin Hill Avenue and contain three residential units. The project will also contain ground floor restaurant space along Dorchester Avenue. The project is located on the BPDA’s PLAN: Glover’s Corner corridor.
The project will create a more pedestrian friendly and activated Dorchester Avenue streetscape with an improved sidewalk and providing ample space for outdoor dining opportunities, increased street tree coverage, and landscaping. The project is located within close proximity to the MBTA’s Savin Hill rapid transit station, major bus routes along Dorchester Avenue, and bicycle storage will be provided within the building and a Blue Bikes station will be created.
Mixed-use project with residential units and restaurant space moves forward at 658 - 660 East Broadway in South Boston
Live: 8 residential units, outdoor patio space
Work: 40 construction jobs, 20 to 30 restaurant jobs
Connect: 6,881 square feet of office space
Sustain: Enhanced pedestrian experience along East Broadway
The project approved for 658-660 East Broadway in South Boston will construct a new four-story building with eight residential units and redevelop the existing ground floor retail/restaurant space. The project will upgrade the streetscape and provide an enhanced pedestrian experience along East Broadway.