New apartments, possible post office approved on Harvard Avenue in Allston

The Zoning Board of Appeal today approved a developer's plans to raze the current unused post office on Harvard Avenue, a repair garage and some parking lots to put up a six-story, 170-unit apartment complex that would have ground-floor room for the Postal Service to return to Allston.

The BPDA board approved the project last month. Developer Eden Properties says it has a letter of intent from the USPS to rent the ground-floor space in the building, to be called Allston Post.

The building would have 29 apartments rented as affordable - 17% of the total, compared to the currently required 14%. The building would have 49 parking spaces - 25% of which would have charging stations for electric vehicles.

City Councilor Liz Breadon and Allston Village Main Streets, which represents Harvard Avenue businesses, supported the proposal.

The Allston Civic Association split on the project. Association President Tony D'Isidoro said opponents were concerned about the building's height and overall density, which they felt could lead to shadows on neighboring buildings, as well as how package-delivery and ride-share drivers would get to and from and around the building. Supporters liked the 17% affordable units, the "re-activation" of a stretch of Harvard Avenue along the unused post office and the potential return of the USPS to the neighborhood.

D'Isidoro expressed concern that the Postal Service has yet to sign an actual lease for the space, but said nobody has yet identified any other places in Allston to which it could return.

Bob D'Amico of the Boston Transportation Department expressed concern that the driveway to the building's rear parking lot would be only 9 feet wide, when it should be at least 12.

Map showing where exactly the building will go:

25-39 Harvard Ave. filings.