ZBA Hosts Meeting on Walley Street Project

The Boston Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on Tuesday voted unanimously to approve zoning relief for developer MG2’s project at 11-19 Walley St.

The project, which was scaled down from its original proposal in 2016, received Orient Heights Neighborhood  Association approval last year and Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) approval this year.

After a series of community meetings the developer decided to reduce the height of the building from five to four stories and reduce the number of units from 48 units to 38 units.

According to the developer’s attorney, Richard Lynds, the reduction in height and number of units has resulted in the creation of a top floor common space with balconies that can be used by residents to host parties or other gatherings.

The proposed project consists of the redevelopment of a 14,993 square-foot industrial site situated at 11-19 Walley St. near the Suffolk Downs MBTA station.

The project will consist of the 38 market rate rental units with 25 off-street parking spaces located in a garage under the building that will accessed from Walley Street.

Due to the size of the proposal the project also includes five affordable units under the City of Boston Inclusionary Development Policy. Lynds said community benefits would include removing an industrial site and creating not only the residential building but also landscape buffering and associated streetscape improvements. MG2 also agreed to adopt the small triangular park between Walley Street and Orient Avenue. Lynds said MG2 plans to rehab the park, improve pedestrian access around the part and pay for the yearly maintenance of the park.

Lynds told the ZBA that MG2 is currently working with the MBTA to iron out methods of construction as to not disrupt or interfere with MBTA operations due to the project’s close proximity to the Suffolk Downs Blue Line station.

John Ellison of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services as well as Judy Evers from City Councilor Lydia Edwards’s Office spoke in favor of the project.

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