Great Scott Redevelopment | 1 Harvard Ave | Allston

real_EthanHunt said:
They are showing past performers that played at the original location to show the importance of bringing it back. Same with passion pit and Phoebe bridgers.
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Well, I'll be damned if Charli XCX, who now routinely fills arenas and is from the UK, once played the old Great Scott. My bad on that one, and good for them if that's the case. Assumed it was the usual render artists sneaking in random stuff we see on a lot of proposals.
 
Uh oh, let's hope BPDA aren't sticklers about spelling :LOL:

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bigpicture7 said:
I can't say I'm a fan...but I know enough to know Charli XCX just played TD Garden. This render implies quite the ambitious transformation from the 240-seat, sticky-floored dive bar Great Scott was a few years ago to now ;) (Or quite the rapid career downfall of said artist)
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Maybe her fans realized she's old enough to be their mom... it would not shock me at all if she performed there in 2011 or so.

I wonder if they used the real posters from those concerts? My thought was that there must be something to it, or those artists would never have given them permission to use their names to promote their project... it's possible Great Scott retains some rights to the promotional materials for the events held there.
 
Great name! I'll have to stop by once it's humming along.
 
allstonia.com

Great Scott Music Venue Redevelopment Returns to Zoning Board Agenda Following Community Outcry - Allstonia

On August 6, the redevelopment proposal for Great Scott, the iconic Allston music venue that closed in 2020, was returned to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)’s docket after an outpouring of community outcry against its removal from the September agenda. The redevelopment project had been...
allstonia.com allstonia.com
The redevelopment project had been removed from the ZBA agenda on July 29, according to District 9 City Councilor Liz Breadon. A few days later, the organizers of Great Scott wrote in a statement on Instagram which says, “City Hall is now saying we need more public support to give us the final required approval.”

The project had been previously approved by the Boston Planning Development Agency in April, indicating that the project had already completed the Article 80 review process. The process is required for projects such as Great Scott that intend to construct over 15 housing units — and includes a requirement to conduct neighborhood meetings with local abutters and civic groups.

“It seems to be that they are trying to get them to go back out into a civic association in Brighton to make sure that they have an opportunity to get more information about Great Scott,” says Allston resident and Great Scott supporter Lizzie Torres. “It’s confusing to me about why that wasn’t a requirement before they got board approval.”
[...]
Great Scott’s redevelopment proposal was returned to the ZBA docket on August 6. It is currently scheduled for a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on September 9 during the 11 A.M. session. This step initiates the process for deciding whether Great Scott will be granted zoning relief, which is the final regulatory step before construction permits can be issued.
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What the hell, why is this so slow to get approved. I thought Great Scott was an Allston landmark, you'd think it would get the fast track to get rebuilt. That corner of Harvard and Cambridge St could use some new development, right now it feels pretty barren.
 
We prioritize veto points rather than overwhelming consensus. God forbid some “organized” neighborhood group doesn’t get exactly what they want. They scream until there’s some fake concession that only adds time, maybe they remove a few units, then call it good. They might even get a cash payout from a developer!
 
www.bostonglobe.com

Great Scott could reopen in 2027 — but community support is critical to breaking ground - The Boston Globe

The initiative to resurrect Great Scott needs approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals before it can break ground on the grungy gem’s new home.
www.bostonglobe.com www.bostonglobe.com
On Tuesday, Sept. 9, Boston’s Zoning Board of Appeal will review the proposed Great Scott 2.0, part of a new nine-story building at 1 Harvard Ave. that will also include a redeveloped O’Brien’s Pub (currently located at 3 Harvard Ave.) and 139 rental apartments. The meeting, which will determine whether or not the project can move forward, will be livestreamed via Zoom and open to the public.
Showing (virtual) face is a key part of the project receiving approval from the board. A perceived “lack of community support” slowed down the process earlier this year, says Paul Armstrong, CEO of the music and tech company Redefined and one of the three business partners spearheading the project. (Other partners include longtime Great Scott booking manager Carl Lavin and Noannet Group real estate developer Jordan Warshaw).
After filing a letter of intent about the project last December and receiving Article 80 approval in April, the project came to a standstill over the summer when it was pulled from the agenda of July’s Zoning Board of Appeals meeting.
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Because the Globe apparently didn't link to the page with the actual info....

www.boston.gov

Zoning Board Of Appeal Hearing

Please be advised of the following appeals to be heard on September 9, 2025 beginning at 9:30 am and related announcements. All matters listed on this September 9, 2025 Hearing agenda have been noticed in accordance with the enabling act. please be advised of the following participation...
www.boston.gov www.boston.gov

Also it's at 11AM? I believe it's this listing (thanks for the opacity, Boston

Case: BOA- 1728774 Address: 1-17 Harvard Avenue Ward 21 Applicant: Allston Live Management LLC

Article(s) Article 51, Section 16 Use: ForbiddenBar with Live Entertainment is Forbidden in a CC 1

Sub District Article 51, Section 16 Use RegulationsMulti Family is Conditional in a CC 1 Sub District Article 51, Section 17 Dimensional RegulationsFloor Area Ratio is excessive Article 51, Section 17Dimensional Regulations Usable Open Space is insufficient Article 51, Section 17 Dimensional RegulationsBuilding Height is excessive

Article 51, Section 17 Dimensional RegulationsRear Yard is insufficient

Purpose : Erect 9 story and basement, 97,300 gsf mixed use building with bar and concert hall (both with live entertainment) and retails spaces on ground floor & 139 residential units on upper floors. Provide 3 car sharing spaces at grade. Request nominal fee. Separate permits to demo 4 existing buildings.
 
Even if you can't make the meeting, you can provide written comment in support of the development here.

It appears input can also be emailed to the ZBA, but it is unclear which method is preferred.
Members of the community are strongly encouraged to help facilitate the virtual hearing process by emailing letters in support of or opposition to an appeal to zbapublicinput@boston.gov in lieu of offering testimony online. It is strongly encouraged that written comments be submitted to the board at least 48 hours prior to the hearing. when doing so, please include in the subject line, the BOA number, the address of the proposed project, and the date of the hearing.
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As a side note, it is extremely frustrating that these options are made highly visible, and that people are expected to be available at 11 AM on a Tuesday to comment on any project, let one like this. This is a clearly antiquated way of soliciting feedback and completely fails to fairly represent the community.
 
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