The Planning Board rendered a split decision Tuesday night on a 38-unit affordable housing initiative at the former Midas location on Broadway.
Approving the site plan for the second time in under a year, the board endorsed the development, which represents a collaboration between the Traggorth Companies and The Neighborhood Developers (TND).
The Zoning Board of Appeals had narrowly rejected a 42-unit mixed affordable and market-rate residential project at 1001 Broadway late last year. Following that controversial denial, Suffolk County Land Court returned the matter to the ZBA with a revised proposal in hand.
Yet despite Planning Board support, the project fell short of securing the necessary votes for a formal recommendation to the Zoning Board of Appeals regarding special permits for parking and lot coverage relief.
The ZBA will consider the project at its April 9 meeting, though advancement would occur absent the Planning Board’s official endorsement if approved.
Six board members voted Monday night, with four supporting the special permits recommendation to the ZBA. This fell short of the two-thirds majority required from the full nine-member board for official approval.
Planning Board members Shuvam Bhaumik and Todd Taylor opposed the recommendation, primarily citing concerns about parking availability and the project’s wider economic implications for the municipality.
Monday’s two-hour public hearing revisited familiar arguments for city residents and officials who have monitored this proposal throughout the past year.
Project advocates highlighted The Neighborhood Developers’ track record in delivering affordable housing locally and emphasized the ongoing shortage of affordable units citywide.
Skeptics or concerned parties raised issues regarding traffic patterns, parking constraints, and the developers’ focus on rental affordability without advancing homeownership options.
The Traggorth Companies and TND representatives walked through their modifications, mirroring the presentation made to the ZBA earlier this month.
The revised $15 million initiative includes substantial changes: reducing units from 42 to 38, ensuring all units remain affordable, and removing the proposed fifth story on the Broadway-facing section.
Ground-floor commercial space from the initial concept has been replaced with a community room.
“The goal of the project has not changed
since we have begun,” said Tanya Hahnel of the Traggorth Companies. “Our number
one goal is to provide affordable housing and increase public access to Mill
Creek.”
The ZBA’s rejected original proposal contained 42 units with nine at market rate. The revision eliminates four units and reduces the Broadway-facing building height from five to four stories.
All units will be distributed through a housing lottery: 30 units at 60 percent of Average Median Income (AMI) for the area (roughly $64,000 for a four-person household) and eight at 30 percent AMI (approximately $32,000 for a four-person household), according to TND Project Manager Steve Laferriere. Chelsea residents will receive maximum preference allowable under state law for these units, Laferriere noted.
The development will feature 42 parking spaces serving 38 units, predominantly two-bedroom apartments. State law governing public waterway access dictates that 31 parking spaces will be available to the public between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., facilitating Mill Creek access for residents.
Traffic and parking persistently emerge as major obstacles to Chelsea development approval, consistent with pattern in the city.
City Councillor Joe Perlatonda, representing District 3 where construction will occur, contended that the Broadway and Clinton Street intersection project would intensify existing traffic and parking nightmares.
While acknowledging the city’s affordable housing deficit, Perlatonda asserted the neighborhood’s already overcrowded conditions cannot absorb additional strain.
“How are we going to get in and out of
there?” he asked. “I think the board really needs to think this through.”
City Council President Damali Vidot took contrasting stance, prioritizing the affordable housing shortage over traffic concerns.
“Housing shouldn’t be something we argue
about,” said Vidot. “Affordable housing creation is absolutely needed.”
Despite rarely endorsing development proposals, Vidot identified parking impact as her primary concern regarding the Traggorth/TND initiative.
The developers indicated willingness to establish an arrangement preventing project residents from obtaining city street parking permits, thereby mitigating neighborhood congestion, according to Hahnel.
At-Large Councillor Roy Avellaneda presented yet another perspective regarding affordable rentals.
While supporting Chelsea’s affordable housing efforts, Avellaneda criticized TND’s pattern of constructing affordable rental units while neglecting homeownership pathways.
“TND has a (real estate) portfolio but they
keep building apartments,” said the councillor. “Where is the home ownership?
Where is the balance?”
According to Avellaneda, Chelsea’s shortage of affordable ownership opportunities forces middle and working-income families seeking permanent residence to relocate.
Board member Taylor similarly raised homeownership concerns specific to Chelsea.
“I bet that by
2020, the new statistics will show that there is more affordable housing than
home ownership (in Chelsea),” he said. “That’s not a good place to be in, and
this is a problem that the city should really address.”