South Boston developers launch review of 1.8 million-square-foot housing project
Developers have begun Boston’s formal review process for a proposed 1.8 million-square-foot mixed-use project that could add about 1,945 homes to South Boston.
The proposal covers roughly six acres at 314-420 Dorchester Ave., near Old Colony Avenue and between the Broadway and Andrew MBTA Red Line stations. J.T. Magen & Co., Extell Development and Boston-based HYM Investment Group are pursuing the project, according to reporting by the Boston Globe and Banker & Tradesman.
The plan is only a proposal. Boston has not approved the development, and construction has not begun.
Four buildings and possible grocery space
The development team is proposing approximately 1,945 housing units in four residential buildings, with heights of up to about 200 feet. The plan also includes roughly 45,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and underground parking.
The developers are exploring whether a grocery store could be included. That possibility is not a confirmed tenant or a commitment to open a store.
The existing property includes industrial, warehouse, self-storage, parking and vacant uses. A drive-through Dunkin’ at 75 Old Colony Ave. is expected to remain for as long as possible under the developers’ current plans, according to a representative quoted by the Boston Globe.
Zoning is a central hurdle
The parcels remain in a manufacturing industrial zoning district. The development team expects to seek approvals through a Planned Development Area master plan, according to the notification letter described by Banker & Tradesman.
Banker & Tradesman reported that the project’s proposed floor-area ratio is 7.1 and that additional details are expected in a forthcoming project notification form.
The current announcement is therefore the start of a review process rather than a final development filing or construction schedule. The city review will address issues including zoning, density, height, design, transportation, parking, open space and other project impacts as the proposal advances.
How the project fits the Dorchester Avenue plan
The site is within the area covered by the city’s PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue framework. The adopted plan establishes a planning vision for denser development, transportation connections, open space and links to surrounding parts of South Boston.
The Boston Planning and Development Agency says the plan’s recommendations remain a guidepost for city reviewers considering proposed projects in the area. The planning framework does not, by itself, approve this development or replace the city’s zoning and development-review requirements.
That distinction matters because the plan’s recommendations were not incorporated into a rezoning of these parcels. The project must still move through the required approval process.
What residents and commuters should watch
If approved and built, the project could eventually bring nearly 2,000 additional homes and substantial new retail to a largely industrial and low-rise section of Dorchester Avenue near two Red Line stations. It could also prompt detailed public discussion about streets, transit access, parking, design, open space and construction effects.
None of those outcomes is settled. The next significant milestone is the formal project notification and the subsequent Boston review, followed by public opportunities to examine and comment on the proposal. A reported developer goal of obtaining permits by early 2027 is an aspiration, not a city deadline or an approval.
Sources
- Boston Globe project report
- Banker & Tradesman development report
- PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue
Look for updates to this story
Discover more from Interactive News
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.