Roslindale Infill and Small Developments

[FK4]

The Roslindale Market Kitchen that popped up when the Dragon Chef closed has also signaled an intention to return, but I don't know that it's a done deal. My understanding is that the Bob's Pita folks are retiring and that the Delicious Yogurt folks do not intend on returning.

A lot of criticism this building faced during the approval process was focused on its potential impacts on the abutting Sumner School building on Basile St, but by the time this opens that school will already have been closed for multiple years.


As is the case for so many buildings of this vernacular, the outcome will really depend on the quality of materials used. And that's very hard to tell from the renderings. With high-quality siding and glass this could play very nicely with the handsome brick BCYF building to the right in the render.

The proposed building's setback from Washington will also be much improved over what it is replacing. This should help the pedestrian experience in that (busy) area and potentially even further enliven the Square if the patio ends up with a restaurant tenant.

I still dream of the day when the big old abandoned former K of C building two doors down is redeveloped.

It’s not just the materials that concern me. There’s something very sterile and corporate about that structural piece that appears to partly separates the entrance on the right commercial space from the sidewalk. Looks like a Bank of America or something. And again, why does every building have to replace 4-5 small businesses with two? Every time this happens, anywhere in Boston, you either wind up with empty commercial space because these small downtown spots can’t afford or don’t need a larger footprint, or you just get crappier and more corporate businesses.

Re bob’s, the owners are sick of moving and they’re closing down in a huff. I talked to the people about this in the store many times. Unfortunately, in that case I’m not sure there was an alternative solution; I definitely support the new building on the site, so I’m afraid it’s just a casualty of change. I will say it sucks now driving all the way to Norwood just to get the same fresh pita that I used to be able to walk down to the square get.

 

[Kinopio]

It’s not just the materials that concern me. There’s something very sterile and corporate about that structural piece that appears to partly separates the entrance on the right commercial space from the sidewalk. Looks like a Bank of America or something. And again, why does every building have to replace 4-5 small businesses with two? Every time this happens, anywhere in Boston, you either wind up with empty commercial space because these small downtown spots can’t afford or don’t need a larger footprint, or you just get crappier and more corporate businesses.

Re bob’s, the owners are sick of moving and they’re closing down in a huff. I talked to the people about this in the store many times. Unfortunately, in that case I’m not sure there was an alternative solution; I definitely support the new building on the site, so I’m afraid it’s just a casualty of change. I will say it sucks now driving all the way to Norwood just to get the same fresh pita that I used to be able to walk down to the square get.

This link says it will have space for 5 commercial businesses. I talked to a lady heavily involved with the Rozzie theater and she seemed excited about the plans for the new theater.

4200 Washington | Boston Communities

4200 Washington is a highly sustainable, extremely transit oriented, five-story mixed-income and mixed-use community with 31 homes above five commercial businesses including the Rozzie Square Theater. The development team is partnering with local MWBE businesses to redevelop a vibrant corner of...

www.bostoncommunities.com

 

[FK4]

This link says it will have space for 5 commercial businesses. I talked to a lady heavily involved with the Rozzie theater and she seemed excited about the plans for the new theater.

4200 Washington | Boston Communities

4200 Washington is a highly sustainable, extremely transit oriented, five-story mixed-income and mixed-use community with 31 homes above five commercial businesses including the Rozzie Square Theater. The development team is partnering with local MWBE businesses to redevelop a vibrant corner of...

www.bostoncommunities.com

4200 Washington is Bob’s pita. My issue re number of businesses being lost is the project across the street on South St

 

[JumboBuc]

4200 Washington is Bob’s pita. My issue re number of businesses being lost is the project across the street on South St

I don't follow. The project that you responded to in the below quote:

This thing looks ugly. While ideally we would never have to deal with ugly buildings, in such a prominent setting, they need to do better. But, much worse, this is replacing a string of small commercial spaces and blathering about the new commercial square feet aside, this looks like the typical pattern where a new development replaces a row of shops and replaces them with only or two much larger commercial spaces that end up either being filled with bland or corporate tenants who can afford the space, or sitting empty. The city needs to figure out a ay to change policy: I get that the endless red tape of modern regulations make it impossible to build new hole in the wall places, but complacency is not the answer to this problem. Everything about this project screams a complete and total disregard for the Square; I wouldn't be surprised if the person who made this image had never even stepped foot in the Square. We can do better.

is 4200 Washington / Bob's Pita. What other project are you thinking of?

 

[FK4]

I don't follow. The project that you responded to in the below quote:

is 4200 Washington / Bob's Pita. What other project are you thinking of?

Huh. Ok, well, I was totally confused here. I thought that the original post (what I said is ugly) was the site across the street... I put in the address on Buildup and it took me to the nail salon next to Napper Tandy's. I was initially confused by the conversation seeming to reference this being an old project but assumed I must have missed some major planned development. So I thought we were alternating between two projects on two addresses across the street from each other, and thought they were eliminating all those shops on the curve. I was totally wrong!

And, I am still concerned this new building looks ugly! The color scheme is sterile and harsh, and just does not make sense for a small New England urban center. https://www.bostoncommunities.com/4200-washington I certainly dont think we need brick and/or boring Elkus every time, but this looks like a bad fit.

 

[mssrro]

12/20:


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375 Cummins Highway (49 units)

(taken on April 26 - 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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25-29 Poplar Street (three-story addition - 9 units + ground floor commercial)




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4471 Washington Street (8 condos)




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4160 Washington Street (6 condos + ground floor commercial)




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3915 Washington Street (6 units)




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68 Rowe Street (4 units)




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50 Bradeen Street (3 units)




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8-12 Amherst Street (3 townhomes)




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104R-106R Walter Street (2 condos)




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132-134 Sycamore Street (2 single-family homes)




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Canterbury Street Bridge (Rehabilitation Project)




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1002 Canterbury Street / 635-641 Hyde Park Avenue (Demolition)