The BRA will hold a meeting to discuss a condo proposal for 1501 Commonwealth Avenue, Brighton on Thursday, March 7. The property came into the city’s hands when the Provident Nursing home failed to pay its property taxes. Located on the service road just past Warren Street as you head outbound, the site has been the focus of an on-again, off-again process since 2007. The current plan is for 55 units with an equal number of parking spaces in a four-story building. The development team is listed as the Brighton Partnership for Community Reinvestment. Stop by the R.E. Hawes Medical Building, Brighton Marine Health Center, 77 Warren St., 3rd Floor, Conference Room #1 , Brighton between 5:30 and 7:30PM.
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March 2, 2012
Defunct nursing home site may get housing
March 1, 2012
Barry’s Corner update
Harvard will include two members of the Harvard-Allston Task Force in the committee that will compile a short-list of potential developers for Barry’s Corner, according to the Harvard Crimson. Harry Mattison has more thoughts, and a nifty outline of the property, in his blog.
March 1, 2012
Stadium seating
New Balance has big plans for its property along Guest Street, adjacent to the Massachusetts Turnpike. A track and field facility and a hockey arena are part of the project, along with other fitness-related activities and a hotel. On the other side of the Pike, the Skating Club of Boston intends to relocate to a new, three-rink complex on Lincoln Street, one of them a two thousand seat performance venue. Boston University is adding a playing field on Gardner Street, Allston that will have room for one thousand spectators.
So how is everyone going to get there? The New Balance/Skating Club area is poorly served by public transit, essentially buses that get stuck in the stop and go traffic along Western Avenue. There will soon be 242 new apartments next to the Shaw’s. BU’s playing field in a bit farther away, but will still add to traffic. Harvard Stadium is right around the corner, and you have to throw BC’s football field into the mix.
We need a commuter rail station. The MBTA does not want to talk about this. At all. Understandably, given they are are having major budget problems. But the neighborhood needs to bring this up, again and again. Demand they start studying it. Where will a station be built, how it will connect to buses, will it have parking. These proposals represent major economic growth that should be debated, encouraged, and supported. But not unless there is a comprehensive approach.
Since the Turnpike was built, public transit in Allston Brighton has deteriorated. We lost the three rail stations (Allston, Brighton and Faneuil) to accommodate suburban commuters on the highway, then lost our last direct connection to downtown, the A-line trolley. The state is going to get a lot of revenue from this development. Some of it needs be used to build a better transit system, here.
February 28, 2012
Former McNamara Funeral Home, Black & Decker development plans
The Brighton Allston Improvement Association will hear presentations on proposals for both sites at their meeting this Thursday, March 1 at 7 PM at the Elks Lodge, 326 Washington Street, Brighton Center. These and other issues will be considered.
February 2, 2012
Fourteen acres of healthy people
New Balance presented its vision for a “Health & Wellness District” for the 14 acres it owns along Guest Street, Brighton in a letter to the BRA today. It will include a new world headquarters, hockey and track and field facilities, and a boutique hotel, as reported on Boston.com. Presumably this will be the largest “no smoking” area in the world. (photo courtesy of Coolcaesar)
January 26, 2012
Penniman for your thoughts
The Penniman on the Park proposal won approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority back in December 2011. The next step, a hearing for a number of zoning variances, will be held on Tuesday, February 14. Penniman Road runs off Hano Street, behind the Walgreen’s in Union Square, Allston. If approved, which looks all but certain, the building will be five stories high with 36 condos and 17 parking spaces. (Image courtesy of the BRA website.)