Dorchester Infill and Small Developments

I'm just kidding, and no nostalgia here. I just think the three decker style (which I like) is an interesting topic to discuss because despite their limitations, there is a revival, and they are still useful to the current generation.
 

Construction Set to Begin for Dorchester Development​


“A $10M building permit has been pulled to begin work on an affordable multifamily project at 5, 9, 21, and 23 New England Avenue. The new 4-story building will offer 23 apartments…….”

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https://www.bldup.com/posts/construction-set-to-begin-for-dorchester-development

Permit Issued for 4-Story Dorchester Multifamily​

“A permit valued at $9.5M has been pulled to begin work on a 4-story multifamily project at 151 Spencer Street in Dorchester. The development will offer 19 affordable one- to three-bedroom apartments. Plans for the project were approved in 2020.”

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https://www.bldup.com/posts/permit-issued-for-4-story-dorchester-multifamily
 
stick n move said:
What do you guys think about 120-122 hancock street? I walk by it all the time and something about it I like. It looks like an actual good looking modern take on the triple decker compared to some of the abominations you see in southie. The massing makes it easily blend in to the built environment and instantly recognizable as a “boston triple decker” compared to the 5 over 1’s that have spread across every city in America. It seems like so many modern reinterpretations these days go too far with weird colors and angles and dont stay with the “spirit” of the original style, but this works. The colors look good as well cant go wrong with blues blacks and whites. The one bad part is the obviously horrible street level, but I think the building above came out surprisingly nice. Id love to see a bunch more of these built around the neighborhood. This is 100% affordable units too so pretty crazy that the affordable stuff now is as good or better than some of the luxury stuff.

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https://www.linkedin.com/posts/hayn...ablehousing-activity-7293713940885229568-qzD1
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The street level is pretty consistent with older buildings nearby. This shot from street view shows 114 and 116. Note the garages.

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I actually kind of like this for primarily residential streets. It has a bit of a San Franciso vibe, and makes good use of the hill as a feature. As for the question about Dot style vs Eastie style, I'm not sure that I agree completely. Yes, the density in East Boston is 50% higher, which is great. But keep in mind, much of Dorcehster is lower density because of declining family sizes. East Boston has a higher percentage of immigrants, which likely means more people per dwelling unit as a multiplier in addition to the more dwelling units per acre multiplier. Plenty of areas in Boston have an even lower population density, between 10,000 and 15,000 (or even lower than that). Wouldn't it be nice if we started by brining them up to the same level as Dorchester?
 
Triple deckers are great in form and function and truly are part of the urban fabric. I've seen some really nice new construction ones on the stretch of Dorchester between Savin Hill and JFK that have modern doors and windows, forced air and central AC, and are probably a bit bigger than the originals.

The problem with many of the triple deckers is that they're incredibly old and should not be expected to stay standing for 90-120 years. Some of the worst examples are basically falling over and have to be held together with tape and glue. I get that there's a strong emotional component to a lot of this, but it's OK to say that wood framed housing stock has a lifetime, and that replacing them without diminishing total number of units is perfectly fine and part of a living city.
 
Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan have hundreds of lots where buildings once stood but zoning is standing in the way of their development. If every vacant lot in a residential area could have an exact replacement of what was there, built as of right, it would create a couple thousand units without any need to increase services or school class sizes and would give a major boost to the local economy
 
Scott said:
Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan have hundreds of lots where buildings once stood but zoning is standing in the way of their development. If every vacant lot in a residential area could have an exact replacement of what was there, built as of right, it would create a couple thousand units without any need to increase services or school class sizes and would give a major boost to the local economy
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Isn't this the point of the currently in-progess neighborhood housing zoning initiative? I know that ADUs are the talking point, but a major portion appears to be rewriting the zoning code to make sure that existing forms (the triple decker) is legal by right.

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Neighborhood Housing | Bostonplans.org

Active zoning initiatives being coordinated by the Planning Department. Find more information inside each initiative, including details, associated files, and contact information.
www.bostonplans.org www.bostonplans.org

 
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Demo Set to Begin for Dorchester Senior Living Project​

“A permit has been issued to demo the existing home at 33 Hamilton Street in Dorchester to make way for an age-restricted multifamily community. The Hamilton at Mount Everett project will create 36 senior (62+) affordable rental units. The first floor will contain approximately 1,000 square feet of common space, including a community room, lobby, management office, meeting room, game alcove, package room, bicycle roo,m and two elevators.

The site plan includes 13 parking spaces and 18 bicycle parking spaces.”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/demo-set-to-begin-for-dorchester-senior-living-project

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https://www.linkedin.com/posts/davi...48378814464-4Ue4?trk=public_profile_like_view
 
www.dotnews.com

Frustrations abound over T silence on rehab of Mattapan trolley line | Dorchester Reporter

The trolley rumbles up to the Ashmont/Peabody Square platform on a shallow incline before it creaks and rattles to a stop at the eastern terminal of the Mattapan Line. The doors open squeakily to let out a stream of passengers. New riders heading toward Mattapan take their place. The car...
www.dotnews.com www.dotnews.com
Fluker-Reid noted that Mattapan and Dorchester residents often feel “forgotten” by large organizations like the MBTA because of the slow, uncertain progress on projects meant to benefit predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods.

“We all want what’s best for our community,” she said. “It’s an outdated system that is somewhat dilapidated; it does not meet the needs of modern day travel and transit; and this community deserves and needs something better.”
 

Construction to Begin for The FieldHouse in Dorchester​


“A permit valued at $65M has been pulled to begin construction of The FieldHouse in Dorchester. The new 75,000 square foot complex will offer an indoor field, tennis courts, indoor walking track, fitness/training rooms, classrooms, event space, and a teaching kitchen…..”


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https://www.bldup.com/posts/construction-to-begin-for-the-fieldhouse-in-dorchester

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https://www.dotnews.com/2024/fieldhouse-dream-comes-focus-major-donors-weigh

Cool model

 
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HenryAlan said:
The street level is pretty consistent with older buildings nearby. This shot from street view shows 114 and 116. Note the garages.

View attachment 61703

I actually kind of like this for primarily residential streets. It has a bit of a San Franciso vibe, and makes good use of the hill as a feature. As for the question about Dot style vs Eastie style, I'm not sure that I agree completely. Yes, the density in East Boston is 50% higher, which is great. But keep in mind, much of Dorcehster is lower density because of declining family sizes. East Boston has a higher percentage of immigrants, which likely means more people per dwelling unit as a multiplier in addition to the more dwelling units per acre multiplier. Plenty of areas in Boston have an even lower population density, between 10,000 and 15,000 (or even lower than that). Wouldn't it be nice if we started by brining them up to the same level as Dorchester?
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Dorchester has some beautiful streets that are all triple-decker, eg, Taft St, which surely must be the best of all examples of this style in Boston. I would much rather live on a street like that — with handsome, three-decker structures that each have their own form, breathing space in between them, and an overall greater breathability, than any of those East Boston streets that are just one unbroken wall of drab, flourishless structures. Although row houses can be nice when done right, I find those Eastie roads interesting examples of urban density but suffocating aesthetically. I certainly dont think of them as a model for ideal urbanism.

Now, that doesn't mean occasional wider stretches without a streetwall break cant be a good thing—the double triple decker is, in my mind, an ideal size for high density in the outer parts of the city (Im attaching a pic from Hewlett St in Roslindale as a great example). The "space between the triple deckers" sometimes gets replicated just to placate neighbors or play pretend that "dont worry guys, we're not really doing density here", and the results suck. The new development at 279 Lamartine in JP is a good example of this done horribly: the spaces are too wide, since they wanted nice fat driveways for modern cars, making the buildings looks like teeth with huge gaps and an excess of stark pavement and emptiness in between. Contrast that with Taft St in Dorchester or Fletcher St in Roslindale (either narrow driveway-alleys or just a little space for slipping between to get out back)—a world of difference.


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‘The Viv,’ at 500 Talbot, set to open in May; Daily Market, fitness studio on tap for site​


“A six-story mixed-use building with a small grocery and fitness studio on the ground level is expected to open next month at 500 Talbot Ave. a few blocks from Ashmont station on the former site of a Lutheran church.

The “Viv” will include 42 units of housing, including 17 marketed as affordable, and 23 parking spaces.

James Baker, the developer, updateabutters on the progress of the project during a meeting on April 1 set up to discuss proposed zoning changes needed for the ground level retail.

Slated to occupy one of the retail spaces is a second location of the popular Daily Market store on Savin Hill Avenue that offers grab-n-go and prepared meals, a robust fruit and vegetable section, coffee, and baked goods…..”

https://www.dotnews.com/2025/viv-500-talbot-set-open-may-daily-market-fitness-studio-tap-site

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https://www.vivboston.com/
 
PART 1 OF 2

4/18 & 4/19:


500 Talbot Avenue (42 units)



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Second Church in Dorchester and Codman Square Park (Renovations)



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3 Aspinwall Road (34 condos)



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151 Spencer Street (19 units)



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270 Talbot Avenue (18 condos)



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25 New England Avenue (23 units)



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18-24 Standish Street (6 condos)



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114-122 Harvard Street (16 condos)



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143-147 Norwell Street (3 single-family homes)



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101-107 Norwell Street (8 units across 4 buildings)



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104-108 Norwell Street (12 units across 3 buildings)



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218-256 Washington Street (Washington Street Urban Forest)



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185-191 Geneva Avenue (27 units)



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241 Geneva Avenue (6 units)



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268 Geneva Avenue (7 units)



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276 Geneva Avenue (7 units)



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118 Bowdoin Street (Debre Menkrat Saint Gabriel Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church)



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171-179 Bowdoin Street (9 units)



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22 Eunice Street (6 units)



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33 Hamilton Street (36 units)


 
mssrro said:
PART 1 OF 2
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PART 2 OF 2

4/18 & 4/19:


131-133 Hancock Street (Conservatory Lab Charter School addition)



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22 High Street (15 units)



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1121 Dorchester Avenue (21 units)



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734 Dudley Street (25 units)



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706 Dudley Street (26 units - possibly inactive?)



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100 Allstate Road (9 units)



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315 Mount Vernon Street (Dorchester Fieldhouse - Martin Richard Foundation and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester)



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150-160 Morrissey Boulevard (BC High - Patrick F. Cadigan '52 Family Foundation Wellness Complex)



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22-24 Tilesboro Street (Renovation / expansion)



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900 Morrissey Boulevard (Hotel to residential conversion - 99 units)



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27-29 Browning Avenue (2 units)



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94 Harvard Street (4 units)



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84 Harvard Street (8 units)



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77-81 Harvard Street (13 units)



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52-54 Elmont Street (2 units)



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20-22 & 24 Elmont Street (3 units)



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29 Bradlee Street (single-family home)



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405 Washington Street (13 units)



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38 Clarkson Street (2 units)



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30 Clarkson Street (2 units)

 
stick n move said:

Construction to Begin for The FieldHouse in Dorchester​


“A permit valued at $65M has been pulled to begin construction of The FieldHouse in Dorchester. The new 75,000 square foot complex will offer an indoor field, tennis courts, indoor walking track, fitness/training rooms, classrooms, event space, and a teaching kitchen…..”


Space-Rendering-Track.jpg

https://www.bldup.com/posts/construction-to-begin-for-the-fieldhouse-in-dorchester

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https://www.dotnews.com/2024/fieldhouse-dream-comes-focus-major-donors-weigh

Cool model

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Governor Healey Announces $12 million Commitment for Construction of FieldHouse+ in Dorchester​

“Governor Maura Healey announced that the state had committed $12 million in new resources toward the construction of FieldHouse+ in Dorchester, a generational project conceived by the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester and the Martin Richard Foundation that will provide state-of-the-art athletic, recreational and education opportunities for thousands of young people in Boston and surrounding communities.

Governor Healey announced the state funding commitment at a groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday where she joined leaders from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester, the Martin Richard Foundation, Mayor Michelle Wu, members of Congress, legislators, project donors and others. The state capital funding will help unlock further philanthropic donations that will enable the project to be completed in 2026………”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/governo...-for-construction-of-fieldhouse-in-dorchester
 
BronsonShore said:
"New England Ave" is too great of a name to be wasted on a tiny side street that is in no way an avenue. We should give that name to the South Boston Bypass or something.
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Agreed. There's a cluster of inappropriately-named "avenues" in this area that appeared around 1891 (all of which ran through land belonging to the estate of one Caroline Jackson). Don't know the reason for the nomenclature - it doesn't seem like New England Ave. was ever meant to be anything more than a minor street behind the railroad tracks.

 
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