Developer Says Parents Don’t Want to Live Near Train Tracks, Wants to Decrease 3-BRs, Add More 1-BRs, 2-BRs

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A public meeting will be held on July 19th to discuss a developer's proposed plan to alter the approved project at 143-171 Hyde Park Ave. to decrease the number of three-bedroom units and add more one-bedroom and two-bedroom units.

The Boston Planning & Development Agency received a request by JP Parcel U LLC to change its already approved project on June 20th, 2018. The BPDA previously approved the project, located between Hyde Park Avenue and the train tracks by Forest Hills station south of Ukraine Way, in three phases in December 2014.

Both Phase A and B are approved for 24 units, including six two-bedroom units and 18 three-bedroom units. Phase A is nearing completion. The developer wants to change Phase B from six three-bedroom duplex units into six one-bedroom units and six two-bedroom units. The proposed change would bring Phase B up to 30 units: six one-bedroom units, 12 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units, according to a public notice published on the BPDA's website. The overall footprint would not change much, according to the developer.

Why does the developer want to alter the plans? Urbanica Design Development explained in a letter to the BPDA:

Based on our marketing experience, there is a very low demand for 3-bedroom units. One of the reasons is that the project is right next to train tracks, which may be a concern to families with small kids. Meanwhile, we have observed a high demand for smaller units with less bedrooms. Young families, working couples, and downsizing families are eagerly looking for 1-bedroom and 2- bedroom units, which are insufficient in the local market.

The public Impact Advisory Group (IAG) meeting is on July 19 at 6 pm at 6 Southbourne Road. The BPDA points out that IAG meetings are "different than that of a traditional community meeting." IAG members work with the BPDA "to identify the impacts of a project and recommend appropriate community benefits to offset those impacts." IAG meetings "prioritize discussion between the project proponent (i.e. the developer) and IAG members."

UniversalHub.com first reported on this topic.

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