There are few transit-oriented sites available for development in Dorchester that will not cause direct displacement of existing residents or businesses. The site at 495 Geneva (Geneva @ Vinson) should be prime for the kind of dense development that can bring more middle-income housing. However, there have been misplaced concerns about density and parking that could leave us with exactly the kind of development that residents in Dorchester say they don't want.
More units in an underused parcel facing a loading dock will not have any noticeable impact on anyone’s quality of life. If the City is to meet its housing goal and make strides towards solving the affordability crisis, such short-sighted points of view cannot be allowed to outweigh the neighborhood’s interest.
I’d like to see the following from any development happening at 495 Geneva:
- A height of 4-5 stories, the site is across from a T station and along a major thoroughfare; there are 4 story buildings in close proximity
- I would like to see more units- ideally enough to allow them to serve 65-110% AMI. At a FAR of 4:1 there is room for up to 18 two-bedroom units.
- Less parking- the space should be used for to either enlarge the footprint or to have green space; the site is adjacent to T station with numerous key bus routes.
- A good faith effort to offer all of the units at rents or sale prices in the middle-income price range (see BPDA guidelines, 65-110% AMI)
If we want to keep Dorchester a mixed-income community, we need developers who are invested in the success of the neighborhood and its low-income and middle-income residents. I want the developer to be more flexible in terms of what he is proposing AND open to more than just making money. But by that, I mean aiming for more affordability and a more walkable, sustainable development, not catering to demands for more parking and concerns about parking or classist anti-renter sentiments.
I want to show the developer that there is support for dense affordable or middle-income housing on the lot. Please sign the petition to signal your support. If you want to create your own letter based on a template from above click here.
Thanks for reading!
Updates
December 3, 2018
The local opposition is still clinging to their ridiculous parking myths while our community continues to starve for actual housing options. I am currently finalizing a pile of documents to shove in front of the planning board because they cannot keep ignoring the reality that this site is perfect for middle-income residents. We are not letting them kill this project with their narrow-minded griping.
December 3, 2018
The momentum behind this petition is proving that our neighborhood is tired of the same tired excuses from those blocking progress at 495 Geneva. The city councilors and planning officials trying to stall this project need to realize that they are ignoring the actual needs of residents who want real housing solutions.
5 Comments
We simply can't let parcels like this go to waste if we're going to have suitable housing for everyone.
Build housing, please! Transition adjacent sites should be used for dense housing
Resident, Vinson St.
More housing for people, not cars!
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There are few transit-oriented sites available for development in Dorchester that will not cause direct displacement of existing residents or businesses. The site at 495 Geneva (Geneva @ Vinson) should be prime for the kind of dense development that can bring more middle-income housing. However, there have been misplaced concerns about density and parking that could leave us with exactly the kind of development that residents in Dorchester say they don't want.
More units in an underused parcel facing a loading dock will not have any noticeable impact on anyone’s quality of life. If the City is to meet its housing goal and make strides towards solving the affordability crisis, such short-sighted points of view cannot be allowed to outweigh the neighborhood’s interest.
I’d like to see the following from any development happening at 495 Geneva:
- A height of 4-5 stories, the site is across from a T station and along a major thoroughfare; there are 4 story buildings in close proximity
- I would like to see more units- ideally enough to allow them to serve 65-110% AMI. At a FAR of 4:1 there is room for up to 18 two-bedroom units.
- Less parking- the space should be used for to either enlarge the footprint or to have green space; the site is adjacent to T station with numerous key bus routes.
- A good faith effort to offer all of the units at rents or sale prices in the middle-income price range (see BPDA guidelines, 65-110% AMI)
If we want to keep Dorchester a mixed-income community, we need developers who are invested in the success of the neighborhood and its low-income and middle-income residents. I want the developer to be more flexible in terms of what he is proposing AND open to more than just making money. But by that, I mean aiming for more affordability and a more walkable, sustainable development, not catering to demands for more parking and concerns about parking or classist anti-renter sentiments.
I want to show the developer that there is support for dense affordable or middle-income housing on the lot. Please sign the petition to signal your support. If you want to create your own letter based on a template from above click here.
Thanks for reading!
Updates
December 3, 2018
The local opposition is still clinging to their ridiculous parking myths while our community continues to starve for actual housing options. I am currently finalizing a pile of documents to shove in front of the planning board because they cannot keep ignoring the reality that this site is perfect for middle-income residents. We are not letting them kill this project with their narrow-minded griping.
December 3, 2018
The momentum behind this petition is proving that our neighborhood is tired of the same tired excuses from those blocking progress at 495 Geneva. The city councilors and planning officials trying to stall this project need to realize that they are ignoring the actual needs of residents who want real housing solutions.
5 Comments
ThIs property has been underutilized for almost 20 years. It's time the site had a more productive use and housing would be a great start for the neighborhood.
We simply can't let parcels like this go to waste if we're going to have suitable housing for everyone.
Build housing, please! Transition adjacent sites should be used for dense housing
Resident, Vinson St.
More housing for people, not cars!
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ThIs property has been underutilized for almost 20 years. It's time the site had a more productive use and housing would be a great start for the neighborhood.