Allston-Brighton Infill and Small Developments

[Longfellow]

I wonder if you could prove that this building sits on one of the sites in allston that harvard bought and demolished long ago to expand their real estate footprint. It's a decent development either way.

 

[Stlin]

I wonder if you could prove that this building sits on one of the sites in allston that harvard bought and demolished long ago to expand their real estate footprint. It's a decent development either way.

According to Harvard's database, they only
purchased the site in 2019. At least through 2022 Google street view imagery signage seems to indicate it to have been a plumbing supply house.

https://harvardplanning.emuseum.com/sites/06304/6579-seattle-street

 

[stick n move]

1954 Commonwealth Avenue

View attachment 58850

"[The Proponent] proposes to develop a 26-unit multi-family residential development by relocating closer to Commonwealth Avenue and preserving the Site’s existing historic residence [...] and constructing behind the house a new 6-story building with connected central lobby including one (1) level of parking beneath the rear building. The Project will reconfigure the interiors of both the existing house and the rear building to align the unit mix with community demand and market realities, by increasing the units in the existing house from 3 to 6, increasing the 13 units currently permitted in the rear building to 20 units, and preserving the exterior dimensions of those structures."

https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/1954-commonwealth-avenue

Big changes to the overall look, big improvement imo.

SPRA

2025-06-30_Small Project Review Application (SPRA)_1954 Commonwealth Avenue.pdf | Powered by Box

bpda.app.box.com

 

[stick n move]

Developer proposes replacing two houses in Allston's BU warren with a six-story apartment building​

“A developer has filed plans to raze two of the smaller houses on Pratt Street in Allston's GAP with a six-story, 39-unit apartment building.

Under the plans submitted to the Boston Planning Department, Angelo Gianakis of Wellesley would raze a two-family house at 34 Pratt St. and a single-family home at 36 Pratt St. - and use a currently vacant lot - for the new building, which would have 11 parking spaces in an underground garage. A bike room would have space for 40 bicycles.

The apartments would be mostly split between one- and two-bedroom units, with two three-bedroom units. At least seven would be rented as affordable……”

Developer proposes replacing two houses in Allston's BU warren with a six-story apartment building

A developer has filed plans to raze two of the smaller houses on Pratt Street in Allston's GAP with a six-story, 39-unit apartment building. Read more.

www.universalhub.com

 

[Justbuildit]

Yet another example how a reasonably-sized building like this should be by-right, and yet:

The site is located within a Two-Family Residential (2F-5000) Zoning Subdistrict in the Allston-Brighton Neighborhood District, Article 51 of the Boston Zoning Code (the “Code”). See Tables 2-1 for applicable zoning regulations under a 2F-5000 zoning subdistrict.

Multi-Family Residential use is not an allowed use in this Two-Family Residential Subdistrict. Therefore, a use variance would need to be obtained from the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeal (the “ZBA”). However, multi-family residential uses are very prevalent throughout this section of Allston, including large projects at lots either directly abutting or in close proximity to the site. Additionally, any dimensional regulations or parking requirements that are not adhered to within the project will require variances from the ZBA. Based on the current proposal the project will likely need relief for floor area ratio, height, front and rear yard, and parking.

 

[BeansTheCat]

Yet another example how a reasonably-sized building like this should be by-right, and yet:

The site is located within a Two-Family Residential (2F-5000) Zoning Subdistrict in the Allston-Brighton Neighborhood District, Article 51 of the Boston Zoning Code (the “Code”). See Tables 2-1 for applicable zoning regulations under a 2F-5000 zoning subdistrict.

Multi-Family Residential use is not an allowed use in this Two-Family Residential Subdistrict. Therefore, a use variance would need to be obtained from the City of Boston Zoning Board of Appeal (the “ZBA”). However, multi-family residential uses are very prevalent throughout this section of Allston, including large projects at lots either directly abutting or in close proximity to the site. Additionally, any dimensional regulations or parking requirements that are not adhered to within the project will require variances from the ZBA. Based on the current proposal the project will likely need relief for floor area ratio, height, front and rear yard, and parking.

View attachment 64454

You're correct in pointing out how ridiculous the current zoning is. However, at least in AB, it seems likely that much of it will get fixed with the Allston-Brighton Community Plan (next meeting on July 14th for anyone interested). The expectation is for zoning for basically the entire neighborhood to at least allow what already exists, and go significantly beyond that for high quality transit corridors/nodes. It would be nice to see these changes happen a little faster, but 18 months to develop a comprehensive housing/transportation/green space framework (plan may be a bit generous) is not ridiculous.