Allston-Brighton Infill and Small Developments

Shepard said:
Yes indeed - but I've always wondered what the pushback would be from small residential Franklin St which would turn overnight into a major bus artery?
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Joy and exuberance at transit being accessible just steps away?
 
datadyne007 said:
This is SketchUp. He does all his work that he posts on here in SketchUp.
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Correct. Although if I'm doing anything with complex splines I usually go back and fourth with AutoCAD because Sketchup sucks with anything that's not a straight line or circle.

What is this Franklin St bus tunnel, was it an actual plan?
 
There's a 19th century Allston subway which was constructed under the tracks to provide grade-separated pedestrian way along the line of Franklin Street. From what I can tell, it's still there, covered up in 1965. It's probably about the dimensions of a city bus. I think that's what he is referring to.
 
In the long run I think that would be great, if we can get any air rights projects off the ground ever again (which may finally be happening). The triangle of Cambridge St and the pedestrian overpass seem to make a great frame for it too.
 
Matthew said:
There's a 19th century Allston subway which was constructed under the tracks to provide grade-separated pedestrian way along the line of Franklin Street. From what I can tell, it's still there, covered up in 1965. It's probably about the dimensions of a city bus. I think that's what he is referring to.
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Forgot about that. It's only 7'-9" high and 9' wide though.

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I think the approach at Lincoln Street was either parallel to the pike or very steep as well, so even if the dimensions were correct you couldnt get a bus through there.

The interior is white glazed brick though, so with some modern lighting and security cameras it could be reopened I would imagine. I couldn't see it being any sketchier than the footbridge...
 
Whoa...a subway in Allston?? Now I wanna go over there and scour the ground for clues as to where the entrances once were, or at least the one entrance that wouldn't be in the middle of the Pike. Madness!
 
There's one entrance covered over somewhere on the side of the depot and the other on the edge of Lincoln street. Supposedly someone was killed crossing the street there to get to the subway back in the 60s. Lincoln street - same as ever.
 
Is there some issue with the former Kelly's location in Alston at the corner of Comm and Harvard? That has sat empty for a pretty good amount of time now, with no new tenant coming in. I would think that a prime location like that should have little to no issue finding a tenant to come in.
 
^^Maybe the commercial space is managed by Alpha, haha.
 
mass88 said:
Is there some issue with the former Kelly's location in Alston at the corner of Comm and Harvard? That has sat empty for a pretty good amount of time now, with no new tenant coming in. I would think that a prime location like that should have little to no issue finding a tenant to come in.
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Apparently rent is an issue. From what I heard Marty's never wanted to leave that space but the rent was getting out of hand. It'll probably end being another bank.
 
davem said:
Forgot about that. It's only 7'-9" high and 9' wide though.

Google Books

I think the approach at Lincoln Street was either parallel to the pike or very steep as well, so even if the dimensions were correct you couldnt get a bus through there.

The interior is white glazed brick though, so with some modern lighting and security cameras it could be reopened I would imagine. I couldn't see it being any sketchier than the footbridge...
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That's got to have some ridiculous drainage issues if it dips under on that steep a grade. The low-lying areas over there don't hold their drink well at all.
 
The old Marty's is being rented out by Kelly's. They signed a long term lease, failed at running a restaurant, and then decided it would be cheaper to shut down and just eat the cost. So the landlord currently has no motivation to find another tenant.

Last summer some lawyers from the Bon Chon came by and talked about taking over the lease for a 2nd restaurant in the neighborhood but I guess that fell through.
 
I think a Boloco would be excellent there. There aren't any nearby that I can recollect.
 
I can't help but think an outdoor beer garden would be a nice addition to Alston.
 
Matthew said:
The old Marty's is being rented out by Kelly's. They signed a long term lease, failed at running a restaurant, and then decided it would be cheaper to shut down and just eat the cost. So the landlord currently has no motivation to find another tenant.

Last summer some lawyers from the Bon Chon came by and talked about taking over the lease for a 2nd restaurant in the neighborhood but I guess that fell through.
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Good info.
 
Didn't think Boloco was into such big spaces. I hope something is worked out, it's a real shame how it's wasted now, but the landlord's happy as long as the rent money's coming in.

I can't help but think an outdoor beer garden would be a nice addition to Allston.
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Deep Ellum has a pretty nice patio. White Horse has one too. I wouldn't mind another beer garden, of course (maybe like this one), I can imagine some heads exploding over it though.
 
dshoost88 said:
I think a Boloco would be excellent there. There aren't any nearby that I can recollect.
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There was talk about boloco taking over Kellys lease last summer, but I didn't hear anything about it since. The pita pit up the street also was looking into renting part of the space but they don't want to split it up
 
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