“Parsons Crossing,” known as “where Minihane’s used to be” to everyone else, is the potential site of 60 apartments, retail use and parking. The proposed development, at the corner of Washington and Parsons Street, includes the former Minihane’s, the Commerce Bank building, and an adjacent house on Parsons Street which would be preserved. All told, we’re talking four stories, 60 housing units, 139 parking spaces and commercial space dedicated to the bank and some kind of “urban” grocery store. The BRA is hosting a meeting on Wednesday, December 4 at 6:30PM. It will be held at the Brighton Marine Hospital on Warren Street. You can find the submission to the city here, which includes a rendition of a quite substantial building.
April 4, 2013
Former Minihane’s site proposed for housing and retail complex
The property at the corner of Washington and Parsons Streets in Brighton Center may be transformed into a complex that would incorporate the existing home at 10 Parsons. Except for that house, the bank and the old Minihane’s Florist building would be demolished. More details at Boston.com.
April 2, 2013
Naked to get Thai makeover
The Bangkok Bistro wants to move to the site that Naked Pizza occupied for a few months and has been empty since early last year, except for a short stint as Elizabeth Warren’s local campaign office. Right now the restaurant operates in Cleveland Circle, the proposed location is 344 Washington Street in Brighton Center.
Other than that, it looks to be one of the quieter meetings at the BAIA this Thursday, with only a presentation from the Allton Brighton Community Development Corp. and the monthly report from the BPD. More meeting details here.
ADDITION: I omitted that at-large city councilor and possible mayoral candidate Felix Arroyo will also be speaking at the meeting.
February 5, 2013
62 units, plus commercial space proposed for 425 Washington & 10 Parsons site
The developer will present his plans for the property this Thursday night at the BAIA meeting at 7PM. It will include 10,000 square feet of commercial space and 104 parking spaces. A design that preserves the house at 10 Parsons would be great. Full agenda here. Last fall the property owner withdrew his plan to demolish 10 Parsons, pledging to work with the neighborhood. Also on the agenda is a plan for 37 units (with no parking) at the corner of North Beacon and Everett Streets.
UPDATE: Will the 37 Everett proposal have parking or not? It depends. At the BRA meeting, it was no parking. At the Allston Civic, 37 parking spaces materialized. It is absurd to think that no one will have a car. Wonder what the developer will conjure up for Thursday night.
CORRECTION: The proposal is for 44 units, as stated in the original post, link above.
February 1, 2013
St. E’s, bigger and bigger
The pile of masonry that houses St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center continues to grow. The steel frame of the latest addition, three stories on top of the recently added three story emergency room, was recently completed. The new construction was part of an agreement that the owners of the for-profit facility, Steward Health Care a.k.a Cerebus Capital Management, agreed to when they bought the hospital. The Attorney General’s office, which oversees implementation of the agreement, has released a report stating that first year goals were met. Financially, the chain is losing money on its Boston area operations.
October 16, 2012
Still standing: 10 Parsons Street
Faced with opposition from neighbors and preservation-minded residents, the owner of 10 Parsons Street, Babak Veyssi, has decided to withdraw his application to demolish the property. In his letter to city representatives he stated his desire to incorporate the house into his plans for the site, which includes the adjacent property that formerly housed Minihane’s Florist. Upper Parsons Street was cited in a Mass. Historical Commission survey as possibly eligible for National Register of Historic Places status.
Kudos to the Brighton Allston Historical Society, neighbors and Charlie Vasiliades for their work on this. And to Mr. Veyssi for reversing course and pledging to work with the community.
June 19, 2012
Over someone’s dead body
The former McNamara Funeral Home at 460 Washington Street, Brighton will be the focus of a BRA hearing tonight, June 19 at 6:30PM, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 321 Washington Street. The most recent iteration of the plan is to convert the existing structure to four residential units, and build 24 new units behind it. There would also a parking garage and outdoor parking.
May 16, 2012
No cure for ugliness
St. Elizabeth's Hospital, circa 1915.
What is perhaps one of the ugliest buildings in Boston is about to get bigger. The BRA has approved a three-story addition to the emergency and urgent care building at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center. The expansion will add 23 beds to the current 252. A bit of landscaping is also planned, but it will be behind the new addition. Can’t have greenery disturb the fortress-like structure looming over Brighton Center.
Years ago, when the hospital was seeking another expansion, the architect of the Cardinal Medeiros pavilion admitted he “wasn’t proud” of it. No kidding. (photo via Boston Public Library)
May 10, 2012
Boston joy ride, 1964
Take a spin through Boston and Cambridge, including Cleveland Circle and Brighton Center, circa 1964. It is amazing how few cars there are on the road. Things look a lot more stylish on Mad Men, but maybe that is just Boston. (h/t to @bostonsnudisco on Twitter)
May 8, 2012
Dash or stay
February 16, 2012
When it takes more than a genius
January 27, 2012
Naked Pizza Leaving
Naked Pizza, a Brighton Center landmark for all of twelve months, will be closing next week. What will this guy do?