Commute to Boston or Cambridge? It's a 10-15 min walk from the new location of the new Chelsea station, which generally has 15-30 min weekday frequency and is only slated to go down with commuter rail modernization. Silver Line is a 20 min walk for folks going to downtown or Seaport. 0.5 spaces per unit is absolutely achievable today without cutting into the viability of the building.
Chelsea Station is 33 minute walk. That's a bit far. Again, as the neighborhood develops further we will see less spaces in these projects. This isnt in Somerville or Allston. Not only is commute far, but for most people going to the grocery store, basic services, etc will be a bit away. At this time, in such a desolate blue collar area with an incoming white collar bubble forming, the first of many future projects coming will always have some sort of extra to get people to where they need to go. If there were 5-6 of these already here with a public services, a few grocery stores and restaurants, yeah, it would make sense. As anti-car as I am, I would not live in this project without a car. There really is no draw until the area really starts to take shape.
Everett's trajectory is following a very similar model to West Loop Chicago and Weehawken/Edgewater NJ. As they became more dense, walkable and built up, the projects' parking was severely reduced over time. But I really do agree with you, just right now (especially to get people to sign those leases, because Boston has one of the highest/highest vacancy rates of any MSA right now) there needs to a draw to live there.. over say, a more transit oriented area like Chelsea itself, Allston or the South End. Im sure the rents/prices in Everett won't be too far off.