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Condo building on Border Street in East Boston wins approval
By adamg on Wed, 12/07/2016 - 9:50am
Architect's rendering.
The Zoning Board of Appeals yesterday approved a developer's plan to replace auto-body repair shops with a six-story condo building at 301-303 Border St.
The BPDA had approved City Realty's plans for the $21.6-million, 64-condo project, which will include ten 3-bedroom units and consolidate five lots into one, last month.
Mayor Walsh and City Councilor Sal LaMattina backed the plan. LaMattina particularly praised the company's plans to "adopt" the small park and stairs that now connect Meridian and Border streets by cleaning it up, removing an ugly wall and adding plantings and WiFi.
The building will have only 42 parking spaces, in a first-floor garage. Attorney Jeff Drago, however, said the project will mean more on-street parking for residents by eliminating ten curb cuts along the block. He added residents will be able to use the Umana school's parking lot, at least between roughly 4 p.m. and 6 a.m.
A Meridian Street resident submitted a petition signed by 60 residents opposed to the building's height and number of parking spaces. Board Chairwoman Christine Araujo voted for the project, but told Drago she hoped his client would continue to look for additional parking for building residents.
301-303 Border St. project notification form (18.5M PDF).
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Comments
64 units for $21.6m
That's $337k/unit. So while not cheap, it's probably on the order of $450k-$350-$250 for 3-2-1 bedrooms. On frequent bus lines, reasonably close to the Blue Line, and without an overage of parking. Of course, we probably need this 1000 times over in the region to make a dent in the housing crisis.
Given that the land are here is ~20,000 square feet or 0.5 acres, it's about 128 units per acre. Suffolk Downs is about 132 acres. At this density, it could support ±16,000 units of housing. (This is quite high, but even at 2/3 the density you'd get >10,000 units.)
Are there any plans...
...to keep some industrial areas in the city industrial? Like a historical preservation society? Maybe we need an industrial preservation society? Or is everyone ok with reaching a point where you need to get your car towed 45 minutes out of the city for repairs once all the tire shops, body shops, and auto repair facilities have been bulldozed for half million dollar one bedroom condos and parking garages that can hold all the unrepairable cars?
Its not just the auto industry either, lots of industrial space being gobbled up for development. That woodworkers building in Medford that closed up a couple years ago was heartbreaking. Union Sq's Ricky's florist being seized by eminent domain by Somerville, along with, yes, an auto body shop. DOT Ave's industrial stretch into Southie has plans to be demolished for housing/retail. Where can I go to get my windshield replaced after a drunk college kid throws a brick through it once that happens?
I'm not tryin to cry about this issue, nor am I opposed to housing being built, just honestly asking if any level of government even considers preserving the industrial areas? I know EDIC was supposed to be Marine and Industrial use only and that went right out the window, with design firms dominating the park now. Oh and snow farms/ Circus tents....
Well, there's the Flynn Marine Industrial Park
Which is supposed to be solely for marine-related industries, which the BRA/BPDA keeps expanding to include office buildings and hotels ...
There's also Readville in general and the new industrial park (if it gets built) in particular.
Hi Adam,
Hi Adam,
I just want to say thanks for embedding maps on your posts about Boston development. It is really helpful.
Keep up the amazing work!
That's EDIC
I guess its called Flynn's now? haha. But yeah that was my point about design firms. My company was forced out of there so a Kitchen design firm could take up residence. Where will Boston preserve for ACTUAL WORK to get done?
EDIC
Basically a subsidiary of the BRA/BPDA.
In that same vein..
I worry (not so much that I lose sleep) that eventually there won't be any gas stations in the core of the city. The Shell at Mass Ave and Columbus is such a monopoly that they can charge about 75¢ a gallon more than places like JP or Allston and people have little choice but to pay it.
Maybe we'll end up having "stations" like I've seen in Europe that are basically unmanned pumps that replace a couple of parking spots (like this.)
Little choice?
How about going two to three miles away? You are in a car,after all. It isn't like the lack of grocery stores in the city.
If you're only ever driving around the city …
Such that you never wind up somewhere with more than one gas station per mile, you probably shouldn't be driving in the first place.
I have been in situations
where I am in traffic and low on gas, desperately racking my brain to remember where the closest gas station is. Once ran out of gas on Storrow West trying to stretch what I had to get to Watertown. I had idled in gridlock traffic in back bay for about 20-30 mins, then caused more havoc when I ran out of gas. So embarrassing, but from where I was to where I was going there were literally no gas stations. If not for traffic I would have made it. SIGH.
Southie just lost a gas station on L street to what looks like will become a parking garage? Anyone know what that's gonna be? Where the old Gulf Station was?
Two ways to avoid this
Even 12-year old cars usually have very good GET GAS NOW features. But the best way not to run out is to always look for gas when you are down to a 1/4 tank.
In other words, stay aware and plan ahead.
Another way: if you have a smartphone, use gas buddy.
Driving a lot on a near-empty
Driving a lot on a near-empty tank also increases wear on your fuel pump. If it burns out, that can be a $500 for a tow and repair. I learned that the hard way.
Those stations aren't legal
Those stations aren't legal here due to a lack of of a petroleum retension system for spills or an emergency fire suppression system. US environmental and safety regulation is often much stricter than in the EU.
Not financially viable
Gas stations get something like a 2 percent profit margin on the sale of gasoline.
http://www.inc.com/sageworks/why-gas-station-margins-are-razor-thin.html
In most locations downtown, a gas station owner is better off selling the lot to a developer.
you sho is ugly.
That building looks like a bucket of farts.
So 60 residents opposed it
So 60 residents opposed it but it was still approved according to this. It doesn't seem like the residents really have much say, only the developers and a few other people.
C'mon now....
....those are just a few nay sayers/NIMBYs/discontents/gad-flies/backwards-thinking people. They don't represent the caliber of people who we wish to have move into the n'hood!
Besides, the project, although it needed a potpourri of variances, is actually right in line with the well-thought out development plan for the community that takes into consideration affordability, current residents, transportation concerns, infrastructure, small businesses.....what? You didn't get your copy?