Boston – The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) board of directors approved three new development projects that will create 152 residential units, 127 of which are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 841 construction jobs and 1,799 permanent jobs.
90 Cushing Avenue
The project at 90 Cushing Avenue in Dorchester will create 71 new income-restricted housing units for low-income families, as well as renovate 51 current shelter units at St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children. St. Mary’s is housed in the former St. Margaret’s Hospital, a retrofitted maternity hospital with buildings dating to the early and mid-to-late 20th century. The new income-restricted housing will replace what is currently a parking garage and current transitional housing building on the St. Mary’s campus. Both will be demolished to provide these new housing units.
The 1400 Boylston Street project will convert what is currently a grocery store and several parking lots into a large, mixed-use development completing the western entrance to the city from Boylston Street. It will include a mix of retail, restaurant, office/lab space, and green space. Adjacent to the new half acre of green space on site, this project has committed $12 million to building a brand new civic building which is intended to be used as a new branch of the Boston Public Library. The project will contribute $250,000 to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department to support Ramler Park and $1.5 million to Parks and Recreation to mitigate any possible project impacts to the Emerald Necklace.
358 Chestnut Hill Avenue
Located in Brighton, the 358 Chestnut Hill Avenue project is a 6-story building with 30 new residences, five of which will be income-restricted. The units will be a mix of studios, one, and two-bedroom units. In addition, the project will include indoor and outdoor bike parking, as well as ground floor retail space. This project is located within the study area of the Allston-Brighton Needs Assessment, which was adopted by the BPDA board in January. The project meets the community needs identified in the report by providing transit-oriented housing including four income-restricted units.
In addition to these projects, the board approved the Notice of Project Change for 3 Aspinwall Road which increases the size and unit count of the project.
