It’s already happening, separate project. They’re putting a signal here and adding cycle tracks on centre and Walter. I think the signal is a shitty idea and the typical unimaginative Boston solution of just adding stoplights rather than real calming measures to permanently slow car speeds on Centre. A tight rotary would have done this but whatever bureaucracy makes rules for rotaries said it wasn’t enough space. I have advocated for the removal of a lane on each side of the stretch between weld and VFW. That stretch is 100% completely unnecessary and primes cars to speed once deeper outbound on Centre. Not sure if that will happen anytime soon.
Roslindale Infill and Small Developments
- Thread starter PaulC
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stick n move
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Is this thing going on the parking lot?
Randomgear
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Yep it is!
stick n move
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1200 centre st pnf:
PerfectHandle
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If this improves the pedestrian walkways here, I'm all for it.
I would also love to see some thought put into connecting Allandale Woods with the Arboretum better.
I would also love to see some thought put into connecting Allandale Woods with the Arboretum better.
The city of Boston sold the parcel that the Hebrew rehab sits on back in the 1960s. In my opinion, that decision was a complete travesty. It could have been a continuous green linkage between the two, with Bussey Brook fully naturalized. I still think there’s a lot that could be done, like forcing the Rehab (which has made endless promises to the neighborhood and never delivered on any of them) to participate as an active community member, greenway-ify Bussey Brook, and have a narrow green corridor performing the very linkage you propose.
Another key part is the roads. My neighborhood association has had some meetings and shared with me some documents of plans of Centre and Walter changes. I believe these are final and it’s just a matter of waiting for whenever the city gets around to construction, but those plans include protected bike lanes on Centre (just that one little stretch) and also sidewalks and bike lane on the beginning of Walter. I have advocated for a long time to reduce Centre between Weld and VFW to one lane each. It’s stupidly and pointlessly wide and encourages speeding. Eliminating one lane on each side would also make it easier to install signage and pedestrian connections around this whole area. Wayfinding, as we know, is an important aspect to putting places on the map.
JumboBuc
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It's now July and there has been zero work on this project since before winter. It's still in this semi-framed state, open to the elements. I'm worried that the developer has run out of money?25-29 Poplar Street Street (three-story addition - 9 units + ground floor commercial)
I’ve noticed that as well and been worried. Anthony, guy who owns Sq Root and is always there, would probably know the answer.
JumboBuc
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Update: just did a little digging into public records and it looks like the developer has indeed run out of money. I've found records of the contractor that did the steelwork on the building suing the developer for about $80k of unpaid bills, the City filing taking against the property for unpaid property taxes, and the lender moving to foreclose on the property.
The developer has filed for bankruptcy multiple times (I think both as a company and as an individual) and the court found last month that these multiple bankruptcy petitions are "...part of a scheme to delay, hinder, and defraud creditors.."
It looks like the the court has ruled each time that the suits against the developer can still go on despite their bankruptcy filings.
So yeah... I don't see progress on this project coming any time soon.
Well that sucks big time. This was the project with a proposed jazz club in it. I knew it was too good to be true for Rozzie
HenryAlan
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That's really bad news. I wish there was an expedited path for getting the property into somebody else's hands, who can see it through. This is a good project, both for additional housing and for updated commercial uses, right in the heart of the Square. I was also particularly excited for the jazz club. The Square Root and Rozzie Square theater are both great for intimate live entertainment settings, but I think a dedicated jazz club would really rip.
stick n move
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I found this on nerej
nerej.com
Links you to a site that said this was up for auction on june 23rd.
25-29 Poplar St.,
Roslindale, MA 02131
Date/Time:
Jun. 23, 2025, 10:00 AM
Mortgagees Sale of Real Estate @ Public Auction
3,426+/-sf lot improved by a 2,505+/-sf commercial building believed to have a 1,200 sf+/- restaurant/retail or office space w/ 2 bathrooms and a storage room with construction of residential units above.
Terms of Sale: A deposit of $20,000.00 by cash, certified or bank check will be required at the time & place of sale & balance within 30 days. All other terms announced at sale. Neither Auctioneer nor Mortgagee nor Attorney makes any representations as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Barsh and Cohen, P.C., Canton, MA. Attorney for the Mortgagee.
THIS AUCTION HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO BANKRUPTCY
TWO PUBLIC AUCTIONS IN ROSLINDALE, MA: UNDER CONSTRUCTION BLDG. AT 25-29 POPLAR ST. AND CONDO AT 124 GLENDOWER RD. : NEREJ
The commercial real estate media source.
Links you to a site that said this was up for auction on june 23rd.
Auction Details
Auction Address:25-29 Poplar St.,
Roslindale, MA 02131
Date/Time:
Jun. 23, 2025, 10:00 AM
Auction Description
Mortgagees Sale of Real Estate @ Public Auction
3,426+/-sf lot improved by a 2,505+/-sf commercial building believed to have a 1,200 sf+/- restaurant/retail or office space w/ 2 bathrooms and a storage room with construction of residential units above.
Terms of Sale: A deposit of $20,000.00 by cash, certified or bank check will be required at the time & place of sale & balance within 30 days. All other terms announced at sale. Neither Auctioneer nor Mortgagee nor Attorney makes any representations as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Barsh and Cohen, P.C., Canton, MA. Attorney for the Mortgagee.
THIS AUCTION HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN POSTPONED DUE TO BANKRUPTCY
My guess is that CC REIT II LLC (aka Cahoon Capital) got their hands on possession of the mortgage, then when they put the property up for auction they put in a bid themselves and won the process, so they ended up selling/foreclosing it to themselves.
Is that a normal thing to do?
It is in MA at least. Lenders usually foreclose through power of sale & entry, often as the high/sole bidder, in order to effectuate the actual assumption of ownership. Someone of that side of the business could probably speak better as to the specifics.
8/10:
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375 Cummins Highway (49 units)
(also cross-posted to the Hyde Park Infill/Small Developments thread given its borderline location)
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3992-3996 Washington Street (18 condos + ground floor commercial)
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602 Canterbury Street (The Canterbury - 14 modular townhomes)
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25-29 Poplar Street (three-story addition - 9 units + ground floor commercial)
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4160 Washington Street (6 condos + ground floor commercial)
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Washington Irving Elementary School / 105 Cummins Highway (renovation & expansion)
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68 Rowe Street (4 units)
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415-417 Poplar Street (2 single-family homes)
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659 South Street (Single-family home)
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21 Newburg Street (Single-family home)
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20-24 Corinth Street (Major repairs)
(a driver had slammed his car into this building in December 2022 and took out a significant chunk of the property)
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375 Cummins Highway (49 units)
(also cross-posted to the Hyde Park Infill/Small Developments thread given its borderline location)
----
3992-3996 Washington Street (18 condos + ground floor commercial)
----
602 Canterbury Street (The Canterbury - 14 modular townhomes)
----
25-29 Poplar Street (three-story addition - 9 units + ground floor commercial)
----
4160 Washington Street (6 condos + ground floor commercial)
----
Washington Irving Elementary School / 105 Cummins Highway (renovation & expansion)
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68 Rowe Street (4 units)
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415-417 Poplar Street (2 single-family homes)
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659 South Street (Single-family home)
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21 Newburg Street (Single-family home)
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20-24 Corinth Street (Major repairs)
(a driver had slammed his car into this building in December 2022 and took out a significant chunk of the property)
Nice photo documentation.8/10:
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375 Cummins Highway (49 units)
(also cross-posted to the Hyde Park Infill/Small Developments thread given its borderline location)
----
3992-3996 Washington Street (18 condos + ground floor commercial)
----
602 Canterbury Street (The Canterbury - 14 modular townhomes)
----
25-29 Poplar Street (three-story addition - 9 units + ground floor commercial)
----
4160 Washington Street (6 condos + ground floor commercial)
----
Washington Irving Elementary School / 105 Cummins Highway (renovation & expansion)
----
68 Rowe Street (4 units)
----
415-417 Poplar Street (2 single-family homes)
----
659 South Street (Single-family home)
----
21 Newburg Street (Single-family home)
----
20-24 Corinth Street (Major repairs)
(a driver had slammed his car into this building in December 2022 and took out a significant chunk of the property)
659 South is a good example of a hideous trend in new condo development where they pave over a MUCH larger driveway area than necessary. I guess it’s too much to ask people to give a shit about having plants instead of pavement these days, but degree of pavement is directly related to heat island production. Thumbs down for this one.
I think I saw some movement yesterday at the site next to St Nectarios. That’s one I’m looking forward to.
HenryAlan
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It's not clear from the picture, but this house is actually being built in the back yard of another house, so the large expanse of asphalt is parking for two buildings. While I agree with your general point, I also favor building housing in larger backyards when possible. This is a compromise I can live with, even though it does indeed symbolize our general over pre-occupation with car storage.
It's more than that. It's not just about car storage. We pave hardscape everywhere now, beyond just the fixation with automobiles. It is a lack of concern for the natural world, a disinterest in investing in the actual natural environment of one's property, and the convenience of not having to weed or tend the land in any way when it's just paved over. In many cases, the driveway is made much wider than a driveway needs to be, and it's not that it even ends up being wide enough for two cars side by side. It's too narrow for that, but much wider than one car width needs. This is the problem. In the building in question, they paved over the entire area right in front of the steps. Unless these people have three cars and one of them is parked so as to completely block the entrance to their home, this expanse of pavement is utterly unnecessary. The relatively new building at Conway did this, and there are many other examples across the city...
This could and should be regulated—the amount of blacktop contributes to extreme heat which is a growing problem, including for Boston.