Boston – The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) board of directors recently approved two new development projects representing 201,000 sq. ft. The new projects will create 181 residential units, 118 of which will be designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 182 construction jobs and 63 permanent jobs.
The 900 Morrissey Boulevard project in Dorchester will redevelop what is currently a hotel into supportive housing for formerly homeless individuals. The building will contain 99 compact studio units. Through a collaboration with the Pine Street Inn, “wrap around” social services will be available including on-site case managers, social activities, access to job training services, and other social service supports. Senior citizens 62 years of age and older will get preference for this housing. BPDA Planning staff worked with the project to significantly improve the streetscape, pedestrian experience, and open space on site.
900 Morrissey Blvd.
Located in Jamaica Plain, the 3390 Washington Street project involves two buildings that will contain the existing business, BMS Paper & Market; 82 housing units; residential amenities; and a new restaurant. Of the 82 units, 23% will be income-restricted. The event room within the restaurant will also be available for the public to use for community meetings for free. This project will be a transit-oriented development, as it is in close proximity to the Green Street and Forest Hills MBTA stops, and has bike lanes nearby. The project will also provide sidewalk and streetscape improvements on Washington Street.
Additionally, the BPDA board of directors adopted the final PLAN: Mattapan planning initiative. The adoption of the plan comes nearly five years after the initiative began in October 2018. The plan proposes recommendations that lay the groundwork for an affordable, equitable, and resilient Mattapan: the allowance of backyard Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), mobility improvements and mixed-use zoning designed to cultivate a 10-minute neighborhood, transit improvements, and promoting investment in Mattapan Square and opportunities to strengthen local businesses.
The BPDA board also approved the contract for the Harvard Enterprise Research Campus (ERC) District and Greenway Plan. The contract is with W X Y Architecture & Urban Design to design a comprehensive regulatory master plan for the 22 acres of the Harvard ERC outside of the 14 acres within Phase A and Phase B of the proposed project. As part of the mitigation and community benefits package for the Harvard ERC Phase A, which was approved by the BPDA Board in 2022, Harvard committed to fund this planning study. The plan will be used by the BPDA and its partner agencies to determine the future land use plan for the ERC, guide review of future PDA phases, inform mitigation, refine the character and programming of the greenway, and coordinate with other neighborhood planning efforts.
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The board also approved:
- An update to a previously approved project at 4-18 Cheney Street in Dorchester for a reduction in the total unit count.
- An update to a previously approved project at 375 Cummins Highway for a reduction in parking spaces.
- An update to a previously approved project at 88 Black Falcon Avenue to split construction and renovations of the project into two phases.
- An update to a previously approved project at 2 H Street to add new income-restricted units.
- The disbursement of $100,000 to eight community organizations in the Fenway neighborhood as part of the Fenway Park Demonstration Project Community Benefits.
