Tufts Residence Hall | 401 Boston Avenue | Medford

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New Boston Avenue dorm approved by Community Development Board, construction to begin this spring​

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“The Medford Community Development Board approved Tufts’ proposed new dorm at 401 Boston Ave. on Feb. 5, allowing construction to begin this spring.

The dorm will be a two-building complex with 299 units, and will house almost 700upperclassmen when it is scheduled to open in 2027. The board expressed their reluctance to make the decision, recognizing the project’s strongpublic opposition, but focused the decision on whether existing legal restrictions were enough to deny the proposal.

Emily Hedeman, community development board chair, recognized the need for more student housing, but sternly addressed Tufts administration after the project was passed withfive affirming votes and one abstention……”

https://www.tuftsdaily.com/article/...pment-board-construction-to-begin-this-spring

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https://tufts.app.box.com/s/9s8v90hsg8dh4rwt103ebalpjbvnlw66
 
It really is quite a bulky set of buildings. Doesn't seem like the board was that happy to approve it either. Housing 700 more students is pretty impressive though, and combined with Davis Sq's 500 unit proposal, there could finally be some slight pricing alleviation in the area.

I think the concessions are fair - Boston Ave is quite arid/open since GLX. Just compare street view from 2017 vs today. Some trees will definitely be welcomed (if that's where they're going). Not sure how the MBTA will feel about that next to their new station and uphill of the Commuter Rail ROW, but once mature, these buildings' towering features from the neighborhoods in Medford will hopefully be reduced so that they sort of loom in the back just over the tree tops.
 
stefal said:
It really is quite a bulky set of buildings. Doesn't seem like the board was that happy to approve it either. Housing 700 more students is pretty impressive though, and combined with Davis Sq's 500 unit proposal, there could finally be some slight pricing alleviation in the area.

I think the concessions are fair - Boston Ave is quite arid/open since GLX. Just compare street view from 2017 vs today. Some trees will definitely be welcomed (if that's where they're going). Not sure how the MBTA will feel about that next to their new station and uphill of the Commuter Rail ROW, but once mature, these buildings' towering features from the neighborhoods in Medford will hopefully be reduced so that they sort of loom in the back just over the tree tops.
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Agree its very awkward massing, but we do need the housing. I was walking around the Tufts campus a few months ago. The historic parts in the center are very attractive. And some of the 60's and 70's buildings they made red brick and semi-contextual as well. It gets more generic as it fans out towards the public streets. Which is I guess why I never noticed it was attractive all these years living in the Boston area. I did notice there were several underutilized parking lots and low rise pod areas also. This new building strikes me as a wall, which continues the theme of separating from the community rather than opening up to it, as parts of the similarly historic and attractive Harvard Campus do around Harvard square. And there are several other lots they could have used. Anyway, at least it looks like nice, "real" materials and it does add some much needed density. And its not TOO MANY different facades.
 
Ground level does look pretty good and stone facade is nice.
 
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