Running, not really. There's trails in these woods, and it is a decent enough nature walk considering its location. I've started my walk before on that patch to the bottom left, and having to cross the VFW really can take you out of it. I'd say that's the real tragedy of the area. Once you're on the other side though, it's pretty easy to get immersed.
That being said, while I understand the sentiment on not wanting encroachment on these woods by some townhomes, I feel like the reaction here's overblown. The plot being developed is on the far side of these woods, and wouldn't really impact your experience walking though Allandale. Should it be denser, sure, should other, underutilized parcels in more urbanized areas be redeveloped first, absolutely, but this isn't going to somehow ruin Allandale, which, if not outright stated, is the sentiment I'm getting from the arguments here.
I beg your pardon, but no, it's not overblown. And I did not say it would ruin the entire woods, but that it would—completely, and utterly—ruin the parcel of these woods that contains the springhouse. If you have one iota of appreciation for woods beyond simply the technical definition of some trees, and appreciate what it is like to walk in a secluded area and stumble upon something charming, you would know what I am speaking of here. You have to walk through the woods a ways and then the elevation dips down to a wetland, and in a clearing at the far back of the woods, there is this old 19th century octagonal springhouse and some benches and chairs for people to sit, relax, I often see someone sitting there reading or picnicking. You can partially see the house which is the current address of 90 Allandale, but it's way back on a rise close to the road and partially obscured by trees. In short, this is an oasis.
It couldn't be a more peaceful spot and is a very special and unique place that most people aren't even aware exists (perhaps yourself included) and this will be completely ruined with a multitude of block houses now staring you in the face. And without the oasis, the whole area becomes "just another woods". So no, this is not overblown, and this actually matters. This development is shit.
The left side of the first picture is the wall of vegetation that will be replaced by two condo buildings.
If you look closely, the springhouse is right up against the embankment they're building. No more vegetation, no more seclusion, just another shitty, boring, pseudo-urban but really suburban development and one less quiet, leafy green space you can find in Boston. Go there and look at the site and see for yourself.
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The problem I have and that I alluded to upthread and have before is that the urbanist crowd is so jaded about forces fighting against good density, transportation etc that they see any opposition to any development as wanton NIMBYism. This board has seen plenty of that regarding the various development proposals (such as stick's "unfortunately the neighbors bitched about density" comment right upthread. The fact is that 1) not all opposition to development is NIMBYism and 2) some NIMBYist causes are still the right cause for the greater good, even if the people doing the fighting have more personal and selfish motives.
I would add one last thing, which is that there is a charm to the quiet roads of this part of Boston, mostly Brookline. These roads are part of a network of old colonial roads, many of which were built right of old Native American footpaths (Allandale connects you to the system of roads including Pond, Prince, Goddard, Cottage, Walnut, Heath—some of the oldest roads around here, not to mention Walter and Centre, which, while ruined by widening, note that one of the mile markers from the 1700s is at Allandale & Centre, built into the stone wall of the Arboretum, and it's in that location because Faulkner sits on the site of a colonial tavern once owned by Sam Adams). Allandale retains that feeling and it's very obviously a very old road the moment you turn onto it. There is also something to be said for preserving quiet and historical roads, for their own sake, as well. Allandale is quaint and nice as it is. It doesn't need to be crammed full of homes, gleefully laid out alongside plenty of schadenfreude from urbanists happy to see what's seen as enlightened development being rammed down the throats of reactionary entitled suburbanites. Sometimes things are just fine the way they are, and should be preserved as such.
Build up Rozzie. Build up the corridors of WR. Leave this area alone.
