49 affordable apartments for seniors and reuse of old church as community center approved in Allston

The Zoning Board of Appeal today approved plans for 49 affordable apartments for senior citizens at 279-283 North Harvard St. in Allston, next to the former Hill Memorial Baptist Church, which will be turned into a " a programmed resident and community space."

The plans, by the non-profit Allston Brighton Community Development Corp. calls for all the apartments to be rented to people making no more than 60% of the Boston-area median income. To make room for the apartments, a house on the site will be torn down.

The site would have 15 parking spaces.

The proposal was supported by the Allston Civic Association, the Brighton Allston Improvement Association and City Councilor Liz Breadon (Allston/Brighton).

One Coolidge Road resident opposed the proposal, saying it would mean parking and traffic congestion on his one-way street, that it would leave the street no longer looking residential and would only exacerbate the street's rat problem. Another Coolidge Road resident, however, supported the proposal, saying it would only enhance "the vibrant community" that already exists in the area.

The project needed zoning-board approval because of its height, insufficient yard sizes and the fact that the site's zoning prohibits multi-family housing.

The Boston Planning Department approved the project in November.

279-283 North Harvard St. filings.