A Chinese developer that faced rejection in 2015 when proposing towers exceeding 20 stories for the Forbes site is returning to the Zoning Board of Appeals next month with a scaled-back yet still substantial proposal.
On Sept. 11, YIHE will submit its plan for the 18-acre Forbes property to the ZBA. The Summer Court project envisions 630 residential units spanning roughly 700,000 sq. ft., along with 44,230 sq. ft. of non-residential space featuring resident amenities, retail, dining, and co-working facilities. The residential breakdown includes 80 studios, 330 one-bedrooms, and 220 two-bedrooms, with ownership comprising 60 percent of units and rentals making up the remaining 40 percent. Enhanced public open space and Chelsea Creek access are also part of the proposal.
“fblikebutton_button” “The development will step down in height towards the waterfront, with the tallest buildings proposed along the eastern portion of the site to mitigate impact on the adjacent neighborhood and shorter, smaller buildings closer to the entrance,” read the report. “Parking will be provided in a single-story parking garage located beneath the plaza and a parking garage adjacent to the railroad tracks.”
The scheme preserves three existing buildings while removing others from the site. Parking will total 949 spaces in garages, though zoning requires 1,268 spaces. A central plaza anchors the middle parcel with immediate proximity to retail and dining options. The Chelsea Creek frontage features a distinctive stepped boardwalk designed for flood retention, incorporating a plaza with green space and water access.
“The waterfront plaza will offer opportunities for the public to enjoy the site’s magnificent views of the Boston skyline when using walking and jogging paths or resting on benches,” read the filing.
A significant challenge involves site access: the single entry point crosses an MBTA railroad bridge, requiring traffic to pass a large school complex and traverse low-density residential neighborhoods on Crescent Avenue.
“The project includes the relocation of the western bridge to just east of the eastern bridge,” read the filing. “Both bridges will be placed into service in order to provide redundant access in the event of an emergency. The entrance road will ramp down from the elevated road over the tracks toward the waterfront plaza.”
YIHE acquired the property in 2014 for redevelopment purposes.
The ZBA will also consider a Sept. 13 proposal from South Boston-based OPC Development to convert a single-family home at 208 Spencer Street into a nine-unit, four-story residential building. The development includes nine parking spaces (four compact) on the ground floor. All units are two-bedroom designs averaging 1,134 sq. ft., featuring private balconies and/or roof decks on floors two through four.
That same Sept. 13 meeting agenda includes a proposal from Traggorth and The Neighborhood Developers (TND) for a 42-unit, four-story building at 1001 Broadway, currently a vacant lot formerly occupied by Midas.