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BRA approves controversial Jamaica Plain/West Roxbury development next to Allandale Woods
By adamg on Thu, 05/12/2016 - 8:38pm
The BRA today approved construction of a 20-unit development on two acres of land on Allandale Road that its developer says will be the greenest project around but which opponents say could cause problems for the woods behind it.
The project, which would have 47 parking spaces, still needs approval by the Zoning Board of Appeals.
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47!?
Think the developer missed the memo.
2.35 parking spaces per unit
This is the number of cars developers actually expect residents to have. Everywhere else they pretend that residents will go green and take the T. But when there is no on-street parking to use, surprise they come up with the same number as ever.
All the new development elsewhere is bringing in lots more cars than they are admitting.
47 seems reasonable
How many cars do each of the neighboring houses have? Two or 3 probably. This neighborhood isn't really transit accessible (except for the bus stop down by Brighams' Hospital.)
So you allocate 2 parking spots for each unit and then 7 parking spots for guests & visitors. Seems pretty reasonable.
Need more evidence
I'd trust these numbers more if they are backed up by actual evidence of what is happening rather than some developers explanation . Developers will literally say anything to get these things built.
My guess is that the extra cars are just going where they always do, on the street.
Developers will literally say
So they have more in common with the NIMBYs who'll say anything to get these things blocked than both sides realize.
I was for this before I was against it
Initially I liked the idea, but the more I've read I'm not a fan because
1) a super green development that requires a car to get anywhere (stores, restaurants, retail, work)? Seems like green washing to me. Like something out of Dwell magazine.
2) There's too much zoning variance in development. Let's fix the zoning. This got approved because it sounds great for the city on paper, screw the existing rules.
I'm not as concerned about the impact on the woods because the Blue Hills reservation is very close by and Stony Brook, etc... I don't care if the woods are within city limits if they exist and are easily accessible (which Blue Hills is.) That's neighbors protecting their personal interests IMO.