Charlesview: Residents want more Space

Wanted: more space for Charlesview
By Susan Haverson, Correspondent
Wed Mar 26, 2008, 02:45 PM EDT
Allston-Brighton TAB

Allston-Brighton - “Density and height are excessive for the Brighton Mills and Telford site” proposed for the new Charlesview housing complex, said A-B City Councilor Mark Ciommo. Although residents were reviewing a proposal to expand Charlesview from a 213-unit housing complex on 4.5 acres at 51 Stadium Way to a 400-unit mixed-income development on 6.9 acres at the new location, Ciommo pointed out that the current location is actually about 6.5 acres, when the parking lot and public ways are taken into account.

The net increase in acreage is approximately .4, rather than approximately 2.4, while the unit count would nearly double. Residents were already upset about the project’s density before this came to light.

Edward Kotomori, a neighbor, figured that Harvard University, which offered the new site being considered for Charlesview in exchange for the complex’s current site, would want the additional space at the old site. He wondered if the city, which owns that additional space, could give it to Harvard in return for more presently Harvard-owned land for Charlesview.

Another neighbor was concerned that people who could afford to buy housing units in the new complex would have more than one car apiece, and that there would not be enough parking spaces. “The neighborhood is too small,” he said, and “the street’s too small.”

“We’re bringing more people into the project, and adding no public transportation,” said resident David McNair, who is considering moving out of the area. He noted that the proposed site would not have access to one of the four bus routes, the 66, that services the current Charlesview location.

Willie Jones, project developer and Community Builders’ senior vice president, and Felicia Jacques, its director of development for the northeast region, said they need to move ahead with the project. “We have a clock we are now operating under,” that leads to occupancy within a few years, said Jones.

Jacques explained that time-limited legislation gave the Department of Housing and Urban Development the authority to transfer a Section 8 contract to a new location, which Charlesview needs to maintain the affordability of its units. HUD approved Charlesview’s proposal to maintain its current property, which has structural problems, while developing the new site in a certain time frame, so the present occupants can move to their new homes. Jacques said the tenants need good, safe housing, so Charlesview has to stick to the schedule that was approved.

“Our time frame is forever,” said Allston resident Karen Smith. “We’ll be living with it for a long, long time.”

Feedback wanted
The Project Notification Form is available on the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s Web site and at the neighborhood libraries. Comments can be sent to Jay Rourke, senior project manager, at the BRA, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201 or e-mailed to Jay.Rourke.BRA@cityofboston.gov. He can also be reached at 617-918-4317. The comment period for the project ends on March 31.

The BRA’s scope, a document prepared in response to the proposal that will reflect the comments received about it, will be issued on April 25.