City Councilor Tim McCarthy, a Readville native, announced today he opposes a developer's plans for a 492-unit residential development along Sprague Street just south of the Readville train station.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, McCarthy - who also represents the rest of Hyde Park along with parts of Roslindale and Mattapan - said an Oct. 1 community meeting with developer Jordan Warshaw's team convinced him he could no longer serve as a disinterested third party working just to ensure everybody had a say:
It is clear to me that the development team has failed to make a case to Readville and our Dedham neighbors that this plan would benefit our community. Therefore I will not be supporting this project as it was presented.
Warshaw's current plans for the 6.6-acre site call for four buildings - with one housing 128 condos, the rest apartments. Warshaw has proposed 511 parking spaces.
McCarthy said acknowledged that Readville has something increasingly rare in Boston - lots of land ripe for redevelopment - and that the neighborhood is under increased pressure from developers of both residential and industrial projects.
"As a Readville resident, this project would affect my family as much as anyone reading this today," he wrote. Still, he added that even as he works for "what is best for the neighborhood," he will continue his role as "a steward of a fair and transparent process" for development proposals in the neighborhood.
McCarthy's statement does not address a second proposal near Readville station - a 305-unit proposal for a 2.2-acre site just north of Readville station. That proposal is not as far advanced as Warshaw's - unlike Warshaw, that developer has yet to trigger the formal BPDA review process by filing detailed plans.
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Comments
He represents the abutters
By Waquiot
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 11:11am
Here’s another way to look at it. Say there was a development proposed within a few blocks of your house that would, in your eyes and in the eyes of your neighbors, badly affect the area, but that same development could benefit the city as a whole. What would you think if, after looking at all the facts, McCarthy came out in support of the project?
You want a councilor who advocates for the whole city over the wishes of a neighborhood, get the city charter changed so we only have citywide councilors. McCarthy weighed the issues and supports the neighbors. I might be on the other side of the district, but I am glad McCarthy is looking out for the people who would be most impacted by this.
But we can circle back to this when the next story about aircraft noise “ruining” Roslindale comes out.
WTF are you talking about?
By Parkwayne
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 11:50am
Is Dedham part of Boston?
No, it is not. McCarthy represents the interests of the residents first and foremost so no, I don't want him advocating on behalf of Dedham when it comes to development in Readville. He can defend Readville all he wants but the best interests of Dedham should f_ck all to do with it in this case. See Adam's comment above about Dedhams refusal to let industrial traffic that employ folks from outside the city onto their roads. #thinkofthechildren
If State Rep McMurty wants to weigh in on this as an elected rep for both communities that is totes different.
A quick bit of research does show that McCarthy's second biggest campaign contributor lives in the part of Dedham most likely to be impact by this but I'm sure that's just coincidence.
[img]https://www.universalhub.com/images/2018/3Screen-S...
A quick Google search turns
By Max Filth
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 12:11pm
A quick Google search turns up that Akiki and Sons is an auto body shop in Hyde Park too. So a contributer in Dedham and business in the district. Looks like you’re on to something here.
Yes, noted
By Parkwayne
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 12:53pm
To be clear, I don't think McCarthy is doing this at the behest of one specific Dedham resident. I also do think it's not his place to argue for the benefit of Dedham residents.
However, I think it's totally believable that McCarthy is sensitive to the pressures from local party donors who live in Dedham and have business interests in his district.
Where is this proposed development?
By Waquiot
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 1:40pm
I’ll give you a hint. It rhymes with Breedville. And that area is a part of District 5, which is represented by Tim McCarthy.
Are you saying the neighbors in Hyde Park are supporting this while those down the street in Dedham are opposing it?
read the quote?
By Parkwayne
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 1:57pm
"it is clear to me that the development team has failed to make a case to Readville and our Dedham neighbors that this plan would benefit our community. Therefore I will not be supporting this project as it was presented."
Why is McCarthy kowtowing to Dedham at all? Not his constituents?
I think you missed the part
By Waquiot
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 6:02pm
Where he mentioned Readville. It came right before he mentioned Dedham, so I’m surprised you missed it.
This proposal isn’t a bad deal for Dedham. 700 cars heading up Sprague Street to the rotary is easier to handle than 700 cars going over the John Hart Bridge. If they were getting the real estate tax revenue, it would be great for them.
It's actually amazing he said something in defense of Dedham
By adamg
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 10:37am
There's actually some tension along the Dedham/Readville line - people on either side have accused the other of trying to dump all their problems on them. In fact, at one meeting on the proposed complex on the other side of the train station, McCarthy basically started yelling at somebody from Dedham:
Update
By adamg
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 12:06pm
I posted my comment before seeing what Parkwayne dug up in terms of campaign contributions.
To be fair to McCarthy
By Parkwayne
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 12:43pm
I am assuming that donor is probably the owner of Akiki's auto service in HP so does have legit links and concerns to the district McCarthy reps.
Twitter
By Max Filth
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 10:17am
Let him know what you think on twitter especially if he’s your councilor: https://twitter.com/mccarthy4boston/status/1050553...
This is why Boston is soooo expensive
By The Kind Resident
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 12:50pm
Individuals like Tim McCarthy are one of the main reasons homes and apartments are extremely expensive. McCarthy is upset he was NOT PAID for and ENDORSEMENT of this project so he's against it. McCarthy needs to be investigated!
"Change is Coming" to Readville
By Michael Sambuceti
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 12:52pm
https://bit.ly/2EeXeEk
...as the Councilman warned us three years ago about opposing residential development in Readville. The full context of the remark was that change is coming, and we should consider what COULD be there if not a building that's designed to integrate with the surrounding neighborhood. What COULD be there might be much worse.
Whatever the change is he was speaking of, he clearly prefers it to the proposed Sprague Street project. Or he just likes the Ad Meliora guys more than Mr. Warshaw.
The fact that there are some
By Fitz
Sun, 10/14/2018 - 9:49am
The fact that there are some residents that complain about traffic but then say they'd prefer a large Amazon warehouse here says it all. This is just NIMBYism plain and simple. As if Readville has intractable congestion compared to anywhere else in the city. It's no worse than a lot of places. And these are homes for people, not some abstract development. They just want to be isolated like they were under Menino for two decades.
Show of good faith
By chaosjake
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 2:46pm
City councilors, the BPDA, and housing advocates might find a more receptive crowd in Readville if the city would make a concerted effort to fix the gridlock BEFORE pushing through 500 unit developments. Instead, they dangle the possibility of new traffic lights on the Father Hart bridge, or a new location for the bus stop in Wolcott Square as carrots for AFTER development is complete. Take some steps toward making driving less maddening, walking less dangerous, and transit less bankrupting, and maybe Readville residents will believe that new developments can be a net positive for the community, or a net neutral. Otherwise, we'll keep assuming that they will be a negative influence on our quality of life.
Very sensible points, but it
By selmarts
Fri, 10/12/2018 - 3:09pm
Very sensible points, but it's going to be very difficult to reduce gridlock.
Cart Before The Horse
By BlackKat
Sat, 10/13/2018 - 8:47am
I think it's really hard, with the costs involved, to get new infrastructure before new density. You need to get dense first, then have tons of problems, and only then can you get new infrastructure. If the problems are occurring in a non-dense area [from through traffic] when planners look at the cost vs. the revenue the area generates [they don't factor in through traffic as revenue] then they are not going to see a benefit.
There's smart growth
By Waquiot
Sat, 10/13/2018 - 9:29am
Then there's a lack of planning.
If the city and state are earnest about getting housing built, they need to make sure the infrastructure is there to support it. The transportation infrastructure in Readville is lacking, as Jake notes. Putting hundreds of housing units in with the hopes that "someday" "something" is done to improve the situation, this will be a failure.
There is plenty of transit
By cinnamngrl
Sat, 10/13/2018 - 12:53pm
There is plenty of transit infrastructure. There is a shaws and stop & shop in walking distance.
"Walking distance"
By Waquiot
Sat, 10/13/2018 - 2:27pm
You've never been there, have you? Both of those supermarkets are over a mile away from this development, and Hyde Park Ave is a daunting place on foot going between Shaws and the Hart Bridge. I know, as I run down that way (which I did yesterday.) The commuter rail is infrequent (and issues with the trains were discussed on this website earlier last week) and the 32 bus is constantly packed and has the issues that any bus line that goes 5 miles and is well used has.
If you can't walk 2 miles you
By cinnamngrl
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 10:20am
If you can't walk 2 miles you are disabled. If it is difficult, you should contact your doctor. It is a reasonable distance for a full grocery store. There are commercial units in the plan, and obviously one of those must be a bodega. I have owned grocery carts and bicycle baskets expressly for this trip. I have been in both stores, btw. I ride my bike through HP, on the weekends.
Your cute poop in the park, analogy actually supports approving this development. If we don't build more housing then people will start living in all of our parks, not just the downtown ones. LA has whole streets lined with tents on the sidewalk. And if you think that young professionals can't be homeless, then you should check out the community that lives in Google's Parking lot.
"Walking distance" is generally considered a quarter mile
By Waquiot
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 12:03pm
Though research bumps that up to a half mile. And again, I'll note that I probably walk a lot more than you do.
For normal people, given the option of walking several miles in the blazing heat, freezing cold, or perhaps even in good weather since two miles would be a 40 minute walk (and yes, I can walk 2 miles in 28 minutes, but we are talking the average,) people will drive to the grocery store.
But again, there's the world you think everyone should live in, and there is the real world. The local residents, their city councilor, and even Adam, are positing for the real world. And in the real world, work needs to be done before this area can handle the number of new residents proposed.
In Iowa, maybe
By anon
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 12:08pm
Human capacity is well beyond that - most communities in MA are walking distance apart - a couple of miles.
Well ...
By adamg
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 1:08pm
Not everybody can walk that distance, or at all. And even somebody who can might not want to when it's below freezing and snowing (or even if it's just raining heavily).
Maybe they can't
By SwirlyGrrl
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 8:05pm
But our little fitness tracker thingies insist that 10,000 steps a day is good for us - which is around 5 miles for many folks.
The recordings from these gizmos are increasingly used to help price health insurance.
The reality is that 2 miles with groceries is a PITA, but a bike trailer can fix that easy. Our nearest grocery store is 2.5 miles away and we can easily shop for 2-3 people with an extra pair of wheels.
Again, not for everyone, but not exactly impossible or even difficult.
Again with the bikes
By Waquiot
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 10:32pm
And I will start by noting that you did conclude that such a means of transport is not for everyone. And I appreciate that.
All I'm saying is that given that you are roughly the same distance from downtown Boston as this proposed development, though in a much different landscape, you will admit that most of the people who move in there will own cars and drive from time to time, right?
Again with the refrain
By SwirlyGrrl
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 10:42pm
Pointing out that bikes work is not a bad thing.
Actually, most of my immediate neighbors use public transportation, but use cars to run errands.
That has more to do with the distance to amenities than it does the neighborhood.
I was busting your balls
By Waquiot
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 10:53am
Thanks for the insight.
Driving is a choice
By cinnamngrl
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 10:14am
These proposed residents don't need to drive, but they can if they like just like all the other residents of Readville.
little Gnomes again
By SwirlyGrrl
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 8:05pm
running the comment replicator!
Human capacity?
By Waquiot
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 2:06pm
The Walk for Hunger is (or at least was) 20 miles. I would imagine that the Japanese had their POWs make some walks that are longer.
The article, if you cared to read it, mentions how far people walk or are willing to walk under certain circumstances. The reality is that for transportation purposes, "walking distance" is defined as a quarter mile, or a 5 minute walk. That I walk a half mile in the morning to get to the bus and a mile and a half in the afternoon to get home is immaterial. We are talking distances for normal folk.
So a walkable city has a full
By cinnamngrl
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 2:28pm
So a walkable city has a full service grocery store every half mile? I am very serious about being able to walk at least 2 miles. It is not normal to be unable to walk 2 miles, you should consult your doctor if it is a problem.
https://www.nhs.uk/news/lifestyle-and-exercise/lac...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4241367/
There are many health problems that can make it difficult to walk, and it is important to provide accommodation, but it is bizarre to act like most people can't walk 2 miles.
http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/introduction/the_d...
Blame the game, not the player
By Waquiot
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 2:53pm
In the real world, two miles is a significant distance. According to transportation planners, if the distance is more than a quarter (or according to the study, a half) mile walk from their destination, people will drive. I thought you liked the works of transportation planners.
But sure, let's build a few hundred apartments and magically all of the renters/owners there will think your way of thinking and will not use an automobile to drive places. They'll say "I need to get some milk. I'm going spend the next hour walking to and from the store to buy this milk."
Or, we can be realistic and admit that Readville is not Jamaica Plain. I like living in the real world.
In the real world people walk miles and miles every day.
By cinnamngrl
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 3:28pm
Since you are too superior to provide any references to your pronouncements, I will continue to doubt them. You continue to ignore the facts. Jamaica Plain does not have a Supermarket every quarter mile.
You seem to be holding me responsible for preventing these people from having cars or driving as a condition for allowing this development. That's ridiculous. These people can live very well without driving, but they have just as much right to drive their cars as anyone. Traffic is a pathetic and selfish reason for blocking this project. No one has to drive in Readville. Readville is not Jamaica Plain because they are a bunch of selfish Nimby's that have been entitled to artificially maintain the lifestyle of upper class gated community at the expense of nearby communities.
Traffic is the necessary stimulus, to get people walking and public transit expanded. It is manipulative to put the cart before the horse.
Did you really just write?
By Waquiot
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 3:56pm
I did. I provided a link to research. Research that showed how far people will walk. Research whose introduction explains what "walking distance" is in transportation terms. You countered with research noting how people should be walking more.
I love how you get annoyed when I accuse you of having an agenda. But sure, people will walk a mile and a half each way to get groceries. No one at this development will use cars. In fact, there is no traffic problems in Readville, despite what anyone who goes though the area says. The problem is with the people who live in Readville, and adding more people to Readville will resolve the problem. You win again, if that makes you happy.
By the way, where is the
you reference? And for that matter where do the upper classes live in Readville? I mean, you've been there, right?
if you bother to link don't
By cinnamngrl
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 4:44pm
if you bother to link don't hide it.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3377942/
Did you read this? Did you notice that this research was funded by grants from the NIH, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (Grants R21-HL106467 and R01-HL071759)? Did you realize that the goal discovering a way increase people's daily exercise to minimum health targets, rather than promote the acceptance that people don't like to walk?
It is not an upper class gated community, but it seems to feel entitled to live like one at the expense of the rest of boston. The idea that the character of a neighborhood equals an entitlement to zero traffic is fake. The rent situation in Boston is a crisis. If owners prevent new housing then we will all suffer.
Wow
By Waquiot
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 7:26pm
You’ve never seen a hyperlink before? Amazing.
Good job walking back your description of Readville. You still doubling down on the Star and Stop & Shop being “walking distance” from this location?
But seriously, you should visit the area someday.
ok, you didn't read it
By cinnamngrl
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 10:12am
Again, I ride through this area once a month, not that it is valid to exclude any opinion on that basis.
And again, you are moderating the post instead of responding with facts. Are you providing any facts about whether Boston has a full supermarket every .25 to .5 mile? Are still pretending that money isn't budgeted for improving the street? Did you miss the commercial spaces in the project that can contain a bodega?
Stop censoring me
By Waquiot
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 10:52am
You don’t like what I wrote, mainly because it is backed by facts, so you try to shut me down.
Again, you’ve never walked in the area, but you are claiming things are walking distance. It’s like arguing with a chair.
What facts?
By cinnamngrl
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 11:40am
1. you linked a study without reading it.
2. tried the agenda label again
3. keep attempting to set imaginary qualifications to state an opinion.
First, I've never been there, now its because I have never walked there? I am not shutting you down, I waiting for you to add something relevant.
I read the study
By Waquiot
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 2:17pm
It begins-
As far as my insistence that you really don't know the area, your comments are my proof. You pontificate about how walkable an area is when you have never been in the area on foot. If you had, you never would have made the crack about Shaws and Stop and Shop being walking distance. You drone on (and admittedly retract the statement) about how the area is a gated upper class community when it's been lower to solid middle class since the factories were built. Honestly, I'm just waiting for you to discuss the issue based on the real world, not on what you think the world should look like.
I mean, you could admit that you were wrong about the walkability of the area, or you could keep on doubling down. I think we all know how you think.
Irrelevant personal attacks= you know you are wrong.
By cinnamngrl
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 4:08pm
So are you purposely misrepresenting that study? Do you understand the point of the study? The sentence you quoted is from the background section of the abstract. It is the problem that this research wants to solve, not the conclusion.
You keep bringing up the quarter mile as an important argument against this development. I agree that both full sized markets are farther than that, I just think that that a mile and half is unreasonable for healthy adult (or teen). This study takes a poll of what people think a walk-able distance is, it does not say that a mile and half is un-walkable.
I used the words upper class and gated, not because Readville is rich, but because this neighborhood (and others) are acting is as if they are entitled to keep people out. You aren't entitled to park your car near your residence unless you own a driveway. You aren't entitled to control the traffic in your neighborhood unless you gate it. That is the dishonest part of Nimbyism. The historical character of this neighborhood is industrial. These under used sites a good place a large apartment complex.
This is america and I respect your right to keep insulting me and pretending you are right.
You think
By Waquiot
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 5:27pm
A mile and a half is "walking distance," and you are certainly welcome to your opinions. My opinion is that a half mile is walking distance. And at that I wouldn't mind walking a mile, since I do that constantly. I go with a half mile because I know that I am an outlier on what is walkable. In short, I understand that most people won't walk distance I will walk.
That said, you seem uncomfortable with the fact that a quarter mile (or more likely a kilometer) is the standard metric for walking distance, as once again is noted in the article. You are welcome to your opinion, but facts are facts, and the fact is that it is the standard metric.
People are having issues with this development because of transportation issues. Do you seriously think that 450 units of housing in the middle of nowhere will be completely populated with people who think a mile and a half is walking distance?
No
By cinnamngrl
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 8:12pm
Why do they need to? The point is they don’t have to drive.
No, the point is
By Waquiot
Tue, 10/16/2018 - 8:29pm
They will drive, whether they have to or not. That's what planners need to plan for. Hence a kilometer is the metric for "walking distance." You might not like it, but it's the way it is.
The plan as we are talking about has the infrastructure needed.
By cinnamngrl
Wed, 10/17/2018 - 3:40pm
It is not reasonable expect the planners to add density and prevent the residents from driving at all. You are ignoring everything that this plan includes and propose to block it based on unreasonable expectations. There will be stores on site. The full sized grocery stores are no farther away from this development than most of the people living in Hyde Park. (Meaning that most people in Hyde Park live more than a mile from a grocery store).
The proposal includes street development. As Joe P said
[quote]The city has dedicated $2 million to upgrading the roads and signaling in that area in anticipation of this development and one next to it[/quote]
If this development can be prevented for such a flimsy reason, then laws will change. Then none of the neighborhoods will have any say at all in what is developed.
One way or another, density will come.
Most of the people living in Hyde Park
By Waquiot
Wed, 10/17/2018 - 2:12pm
Drive.
I will withhold any further commenting on your apparent knowledge of the neighborhood.
Density won't necessarily happen, but when density does happen, it usually comes with upgrades to the infrastructure. You like researching. Read some books on the topic. In the meantime, read what others here (and feel free to ignore my comments) say about the infrastructure of the area. Chaosjake (whose comment spawned this thread) is a Readville runner.
Projecting more insecurity.
By cinnamngrl
Wed, 10/17/2018 - 3:53pm
Several times in this thread, it has been pointed out that the city has dedicated millions to upgrading this street. you ignored that.
Then you posted a first sentence from a study abstract, without seeming to understand that it was the proposed problem being studied, not the conclusion. You underlined this by harping on and on about .25 and .5 miles being walk-able and seemed to think that you proved that a further distance is unwalkable.
Then you resorted to excluding my opinion because I don't live in Hyde Park or I had never been to Hyde Park(?).
I think that your illogical train of thought demonstrates how much you read.
Several times
By Waquiot
Wed, 10/17/2018 - 4:18pm
Posters who frequent the area a lot more than either of us, including Adam, have noted that there has been no changes to the infrastructure.
But feel free to keep in ignoring industry standards.
Another random dishonest comment.
By cinnamngrl
Wed, 10/17/2018 - 4:51pm
The improvements have been promised. They may be behind schedule, but that is not unusual. It is a frivolous reason to block this project. It is putting the cart before the horse.
What industry standards are cryptically referring to?
For the love of God
By Waquiot
Wed, 10/17/2018 - 9:07pm
I love to argue as much as you do (obvuiously) but if, after 5 days, you need to be told was the standard referred to is, I think we’re done. But have the last word.
more fake logically
By cinnamngrl
Thu, 10/18/2018 - 9:37am
more fake logically fallacious comebacks. you are not as unintelligent as you seem afraid to display, but your presumed authority on any subject is unearned. Just because most people ignore your insulting behavior doesn't mean its required.
Exactly. This project is just
By Anon
Sun, 10/14/2018 - 9:32am
Exactly. This project is just too big and reeks of a money grab by developers. Scale it down if you want support.
It already has been scaled
By Joe P
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 8:32am
It already has been scaled down. There are acres of land there right next to a commuter rail station. If the city doesn't build a good number of housing units there, then forget anything ever being remotely affordable around here.
Here's an analogy
By Waquiot
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 9:08am
Everyone poops, but there are good and bad places to do it. You could poop in a park, as long as someone put a port-a-potty there. Without infrastructure improvement, you'll have new housing, but a really shitty situation all around.
If the city and commonwealth were serious about getting housing projects like this one online in a place like Readville, they'd be fixing the problem with the traffic on the Hart Bridge and making the Commuter Rail work. But they're not doing any of that.
If the city and commonwealth
By Joe P
Mon, 10/15/2018 - 11:22am
The city has dedicated $2 million to upgrading the roads and signaling in that area in anticipation of this development and one next to it. As for Commuter Rail, don't disagree but that's an issue in West Roxbury, Roslindale, Needham, etc. Should nothing be built in those communities too? Why is Readville any different than other parts of the city where congestion is an issue? A lot of places would love a couple million dollars dedicated to their transportation needs, will they give that up now since they're saying no to these new homes?
Share your feedback directly with Sprague Street developer
By Caroline
Thu, 10/25/2018 - 3:47pm
The Noannet Group is collecting public comments on this project's profile page on coUrbanize.com. Make an impact in your community by sharing your thoughts and comments.
https://courbanize.com/projects/sprague/comments
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