By Michael Coughlin Jr.
At the Community Alliance of Mission Hill’s (CAMH) monthly meeting in January, attendees learned of plans to bring a new building and various units to 36 Parker Hill Avenue. According to the zoning attorney for the project, the proposal is to build a five-story, 38-unit residential building at the corner of Hillside Street and Parker Hill Avenue. Moreover, the attorney explained that the 36 Parker Hill Avenue property, which is currently a parking lot and is planned to contain the proposed building, will be combined with another lot that holds 40 and 44 Parker Hill Avenue, each of which has 16 existing residential units. Regarding how this proposal, which is subject to Article 80 Small Project Review, aligns with zoning, several variances are required. Specifically, a table in the presentation shown to CAMH depicts that the project would require variances for lot area, floor area ratio (FAR), building height (feet and stories), usable open space, front yard, parking, and loading bay. “Obviously, there is no shortage of violations on this lot.
Part of that can be attributed to the strange shape of it as we combine the two lots. It’s not exactly a traditional city lot, so when you look at some of the dimensions, that’s where some of the variances will come from,” said the project’s zoning attorney. Eight parking spots are proposed. The attorney mentioned that the existing parking behind 40 Parker Hill Avenue would be used. Following a brief project description, Monte French of Monte French Design Studio took the floor and provided more details about the proposal. For example, French walked through plans for improvements to the sidewalk, including introducing trees as part of the complete street guidelines.
He also pointed out a proposed courtyard behind the building and plans for a shared fitness room and a bike storage room for residents. French also detailed plans for trash management for all of the buildings on the combined lot. The plan is for the garbage truck to stop in the existing driveway next to the building at 40 Parker Hill Avenue, where the workers would then get out and get the trash from all three buildings. “I think the intention is that they would have 15 new cans at the 36 Parker Hill proposed project, and the intention would be to get those in and out; I think it’s either two or three times a week to keep things off the sidewalk and managed easily,” said French. Later, French highlighted the floor plans. There are slated to be 16 two-bedroom and 22 studio units.
Additionally, a roof deck is proposed for the top floor. After some renderings of the proposed building were displayed, attendees at last month’s meeting were allowed to comment and ask questions. One resident expressed concerns about the amount of parking and whether future residents of the building would have cars and just end up parking on the street. Jay Walsh, who is working with the development team, explained that of the 18 parking spots at the site currently, 17 are being used by people who work in the area. He later added, “We haven’t talked to anyone about memorializing a pledge to make people that live in this building ineligible for resident permit parking stickers. We certainly would be open to that. Again, it’s geared toward people that are not drivers.”
There were also a few comments and questions regarding affordability. Walsh indicated that he would get back to residents with information about potentially accepting vouchers and that the building is at about 17.5% IDP (inclusionary development policy) units. Further, one resident commented on the number of variances sought, especially for a project with the proposed number of market-rate units: “This is barely affordable, given that you think you only owe the 17% IDP—that’s not getting us anywhere.” This same resident requested a deed restriction on the project barring short-term rentals, corporate short-stays, Airbnbs, and undergraduate students and requiring all leases to be at least one year. As the discussion continued, residents made their voices heard and expressed concerns about the size of the building, the use of studios instead of one-bedroom units, the amount of parking, and other issues. Moreover, residents also expressed their desire for the developer to attend the meeting, as this would have made negotiations with the neighborhood easier.
“It would be very helpful for the developer to represent himself in these meetings, and it would not be an imposition for him to show up on Zoom,” said one resident. Eventually, the discussion ended. Since this was the initial presentation, no vote was held. However, at the end of the meeting, there was some conversation about the development team potentially returning to another meeting. According to the group’s website, the next CAMH meeting is scheduled for February 19th. For more information about CAMH, visit https://www.camh.boston/.