South Boston Infill and Small Developments

[vanshnookenraggen]

Looks like a Temu Battersea Power Station.

 

[Arenacale]

What's with the insistence on the different cladding up top? It looks unsettling, like a parasite is emerging from the masonry section.

 

[Jeremi]

What's with the insistence on the different cladding up top? It looks unsettling, like a parasite is emerging from the masonry section.

You don't want to try to match the existing brick because it will 100% certainly not work and will look awful.

 

[Smuttynose]

I think there’s one too many exterior colors for me - the old brick, the new brick, the beige columns, the dark grey, the light grey - but if they could simplify that and use high quality materials, I think it could work pretty well.

 

[stick n move]

Hotel Conversion Planned for Leather District Office​

“Embarc has released a first look at the planned adaptive reuse of 201-207 South Street. The team, along with is planning to convert two historic buildings into a striking 118-room hotel…..”

https://www.bldup.com/posts/hotel-conversion-planned-for-leather-district-office

Link

 

[BeeLine]

As of 4/17/25. 748-750 East Broadway

 

[BeeLine]

As of 4/17/25. 190-206 West Second.

 

[mssrro]

A couple of neighborhood projects (5/3 - 5/4):


400 West Broadway (36 units)



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118 B Street (33 units)



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256 Dorchester Street (32 units)



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218-220 Old Colony Avenue (32 units)



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212 Old Colony Avenue (30 units)



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33 A Street / 120 West Fourth Street (9 units + 2-floor photography studio)



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748-750 East Broadway (9 units)



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555-567 East Broadway (6 units)



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545 E 2nd Street (6 units)



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78 Gates Street (6 units)



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90 A Street (4 units)



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500-502 East Broadway (4 units)



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6 Douglas Street (4 units)



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421 E 6th Street (4 units)



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92 G Street (Renovation / expansion - 4 units)

(compare this to how the property looked before renovation)



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6 Devine Way (3 units)



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688 E 2nd Street (Renovation / expansion - 2[?] units)



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467 E 8th Street (Renovation)



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Dorchester Heights: Thomas Park (Restoration / renovation)



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500 E 1st Street (Eversource Substation 385 - new floodwalls / perimeter fencing)

 

[Arenacale]

6 Douglas looks wild to me. Granted, I grew up directly across the street from that, but it feels so un-Southie with the McMansion brickwork. I don't hate it, it's just different.

Glad to see the old Bailey's Too site (E. Broadway and L) progressing well. That and the one where Store24 was further up (at H St.) are going to do a lot to change the vibes on Broadway.

 

[stick n move]

I wish we would build more brick, I dont get why basically everything we build has a wood or fiber cement facade. If you look at the townhouses/condos going up in atlanta, dc, baltimore… the vast majority have brick facades and look a lot better. You would think in boston we would build more brick but for whatever reason outside the core its 99% wood. Id imagine its to blend in with the triple deckers, but I wish theyd change it up. Brick looks better in general, but it also looks better for much longer and it also adds needed color during the winter months. It also extends the beloved warm red color pallette further away from downtown. More brick pls! This is freaking boston for gods sake, there should be brick everywhere.

 

[stick n move]

19-21 West Third Street​

“The proposed project consists of a new six-story mixed-use building at 19-21 West Third Street in the Broadway Station area of South Boston. The new building will contain thirty-five residential condominium units for sale, including 17% income-restricted affordable units pursuant to Article 79’s Inclusionary Zoning requirements. One ground-floor commercial unit of approximately 821 square feet will be provided along with garage parking for ten motor vehicles, as well as secure storage for thirty-five bicycles.”

19-21 West Third Street | Bostonplans.org

Development Projects and Planned Development Areas (PDAs) that the Development Review division is coordinating.

www.bostonplans.org

 

[stick n move]

Restaurant owner turned developer wins OK for new apartment building with a restaurant in South Boston, but says he'll leave the food to somebody else​

“The Zoning Board of Appeal today approved Joey Arcari's plans for a four-story apartment building at 736-738 East Broadway in South Boston.

But while Arcari will outfit the ground floor of the building for a restaurant, he won't be running it, his lawyer told the board.
Arcari, who first made his name in South Boston with his restaurants, has been easing out of the food business, and plans to lease the new space for a "chef driven restaurant something above pub fare," specifically, a "high-quality sit-down restaurant with notable cuisine," George Morancy said.

Morancy said two of the apartments would be rented at what the city considers affordable rates, and would have a rear parking lot for six cars……”

Restaurant owner turned developer wins OK for new apartment building with a restaurant in South Boston, but says he'll leave the food to somebody else

The Zoning Board of Appeal today approved Joey Arcari's plans for a four-story apartment building at 736-738 East Broadway in South Boston. Read more.

www.universalhub.com

 

[stick n move]

This is moving forward again after previously being approved in 2014 and then stalling.

181 West First Street​

“The NPC Project calls for the development of 149 residential units and garage parking for 103 spaces within the building. The existing two-story warehouse building will be demolished to make space for the new four (4) story building along West Second Street and a six (6) story building along West First Street, and the Project Site will be subject to any necessary remediation.”

181-185 West First Street & 184, 190 & 206 West Second Street | Bostonplans.org

Development Projects and Planned Development Areas (PDAs) that the Development Review division is coordinating.

www.bostonplans.org

It previously looked like this:

Current iteration

181 West First St BCDC FINAL Presentation_20-MAY-2025.pdf | Powered by Box

bpda.app.box.com

-Its 2 floors taller which is good, but visually it could use some work imo.

 

[stick n move]

662-666 East Broadway​

“Erect new four-story mixed-use building to contain one ground-floor commercial unit and 21 residential units on floor two through four, with 10 garage parking spaces below grade.”

662-666 East Broadway | Bostonplans.org

Development Projects and Planned Development Areas (PDAs) that the Development Review division is coordinating.

www.bostonplans.org

2025-06-18_Small Project Review Application (SPRA)_662-666 East Broadway.pdf | Powered by Box

bpda.app.box.com

 

[itchy]

A couple of neighborhood projects (5/3 - 5/4):

92 G Street (Renovation / expansion - 4 units)

(compare this to how the property looked before renovation)

It's too bad - looks like they replaced the most intricate historic Victorian elements of the exterior and replaced them with interchangeable Lego pieces.

Does anyone know the name for the "Lego elements" aesthetic that has come to dominate single-family carpentry/construction the last few years?

You see it all across the Metro area: When far too many older houses get renovated, the contractors strip down all the historic carpentry and replace it with what looks like Lego woodwork (all right angles, stripped of any decorative elements, square, dull, often but not always the asinine black windowframes, etc.). Anyone have a good name for this style of building?

 

[RandomWalk]

Hardie Plank Special? HGTV Modern?

 

[commuter guy]

It's too bad - looks like they replaced the most intricate historic Victorian elements of the exterior and replaced them with interchangeable Lego pieces.

Does anyone know the name for the "Lego elements" aesthetic that has come to dominate single-family carpentry/construction the last few years?

You see it all across the Metro area: When far too many older houses get renovated, the contractors strip down all the historic carpentry and replace it with what looks like Lego woodwork (all right angles, stripped of any decorative elements, square, dull, often but not always the asinine black windowframes, etc.). Anyone have a good name for this style of building?At

Architectural critic Robert Campbell once described the phenomenon as "licking off all the frosting"