Hey, there! Log in / Register

The largest housing proposal you've never heard of

Neponset Village is so large it would actually make Boston physically bigger.

Developers have proposed turning the old 100-acre Stop & Shop warehouse complex in Readville into a development of 1,850 one-, two- and three-bedroom houses. Key problem: Half the land actually sits in Dedham, but Dedham couldn't provide municipal services because there are no roads into the land from its side. Plus, Dedham doesn't want any more housing. So the developer has proposed paying Dedham a lump sum to let Boston annex the land. It would be the first time Boston grew through annexation since 1912, when it took over the town of Hyde Park. Dedham Town Meeting, the Boston City Council and the state Legislature would all have to approve (more from the Globe).

Boston already has a Neponset Village, but probably a bigger issue would be all the traffic that would flow onto Neponset Valley Parkway and other nearby roads. The impact on local schools might be another issue.

Aerial photo of the site (via MassGIS). The red line is the Dedham/Boston line. The proposed development would take down the large buildings in the lower center and would include all the land up to the housing just to its north and some of the land just south of the parking area. The white "line" heading to the northeast is the sole road access to the property, coming out on the parkway. Due north of the parcel, where the two rail lines come together, is Readville station. The squiggly line where the red ends is the Neponset River, which also divides Boston from Milton.

photo of the site
Neighborhoods: 
Topics: 


Ad:


Like the job UHub is doing? Consider a contribution. Thanks!

Comments

I'm disappointed this didn't spur a discussion, at least yet. My wife, who I swear is omniscient sometimes, knew all about it, but this was certainly news to me. I thought before I read on that you would be talking about the new neighborhood in Cambridge, over by the Museum of Science and Charlestown and the North Station rail lines.

Or maybe a project finally being done at the old mental hospital on Morton St. What ever is happening there anyway?

I've accidentally found myself in Readville a couple times, on bike or in a car, when trying to find shortcuts between, say, Canton and the north. Usually when I've been trying to avoid Morton St and Blue Hill ave, just for a change of pace. I've never been able to build a lasting mental map of how Readville fits with the rest of the city.

-- Dave Adams
Teacher, Engineer, Dad, Bicyclist

up
Voting closed 0

There has been quite a bit of discussion about this project over at myDedham from the perspective of the town that would be giving up land. The consensus seems to be that it isn't worth it for us, but you can read for yourself here.

up
Voting closed 0