Developer of proposed condo building on Liverpool Street wants to reduce the amount of parking

A developer that won approval in 2016 for a 36-unit condo building with 33 parking spaces at 151 Liverpool St. in East Boston says it's still chugging along on the project but that it wants to reduce the amount of parking to just 13 ground-floor spaces - by eliminating a proposed one-level basement garage with an expensive "vehicle elevator."

In a filing with the Boston Planning Department seeking approval for the change, City Point Development of Newton acknowledges the main reason to request the change is just how darn expensive it is to build a basement garage with a car elevator: "The costs of constructing the required foundation for the basement and of installing and operating the proposed vehicle elevator have become prohibitive."

But, the company continues: It's all good, because things have changed since 2016.

The Proponent submits that [13 instead of 33 spaces] will be sufficient for the Project expecting that fewer units will own motor vehicles and instead most unit owners will be taking advantage of alternative modes of transportation, consistent with the goals and supportive policies of the City of Boston. The Project site is well situated for residents to access local services, one block from Central Square with multiple shopping and dining destinations, including Shaw's Market, CVS, Walgreens, and Marshalls, less than a quarter mile from the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center and less than a half mile from Santarpio's Pizza. The site is within walking distance to the MBTA Blue Line Maverick station and multiple bus routes, including the 114, 116, 117, 120, and 121. The Project includes a bike room on the first floor capable of holding up to 36 bicycles.

Five of the condos would be sold as affordable. Even under the old proposal, City Point had said none of those units would get a parking space.

151 Liverpool St. filings.