On Monday, June 22, the general public is invited to a attend a community meeting to discuss the pros and cons of the proposed DOT BLOCK mixed-use development complex in, if the name didn’t already give it away, Dorchester.
The proposal was submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority on June 2 and calls for eight four-story buildings each with eight living units apiece. In addition, it calls for a more sprawling five-story building with containing 50 units and “several 5-6 story” buildings housing 270 units on the ground floor of which will boast a combined 60,000-square feet of retail space.
And, as if that wasn’t enough, if DOT BLOCK LLC is able to acquire additional land parcels situated at the corner of Greenmount Street and Dorchester Avenue, the project could be privy to an additional 10,000-square feet of retail and 40 more living spaces.
In total, Dorchester could be home to at least 60,000-square feet worth of retail, 384 residential units and a 450-space central parking garage on 4.75 acres of land.
This proposal has slightly been modified from the original plans put forth by the developers. According to the Dorchester Reporter back in May, the project was poised to contain “420 units of housing and 68,000 square feet of retail space.”
As noted in the proposal, the developers state they’ll be cautious as not to disrupt the longstanding constitution of Boston’s largest neighborhood.
The development team realizes the importance of reflecting the existing residential fabric, but also recognizes the potential of this portion of Dorchester Avenue to sustain a more urban scale typified by the greater activity of mixed-use development. A mix of larger and smaller retailers will anchor the development as well as serve as the transformational impetus for the broader neighborhood – currently an underutilized light industrial area with an inconsistent mix of buildings and vacant sites of varying densities.
Currently existing on the proposed site are nine buildings in various states of decrepitude. Should the BRA grant permission to move forward with DOT BLOCK, the buildings will be demolished.
Perhaps one of the most significant draws to DOT BLOCK, whether it attracts new residents or shoppers, will be its proximity to public transportation. The site is an approximately 10-minute walk to Savin Hill Station on the MBTA Red Line and in the midst of various bus routes.
But also in the works could be the creation of a “pedestrian-only corridor” designed on the complete streets model to make the retail experience more engaging and accessible and provide a walkable connection to public transportation.
Generally, DOT BLOCK will create the kind of residential density Mayor Marty Walsh is calling for with the likes of his comprehensive housing plan, Boston 2030 and calls for similarly transit-oriented workforce housing.
Monday’s public meeting, though, could shed light on how current residents feel about the development. As Next City noted back in January, Dorchester (specifically mentioning a study conducted in Codman Square, a 10-minute drive from the proposed DOT BLOCK) is forebodingly susceptible to gentrification.
According to Next City, “transit improvements have led to increasing fears that longtime residents might soon become priced out of the historic area” of which a substantial portion of that population is “spending more than 30 percent of their incomes on housing costs, which makes them cost-burdened byHUD standards.”
But, as the Boston Herald wrote earlier this month, DOT BLOCK has gained favor with Dorchester’s representative in City Hall, Councilor Frank Baker.
“There’s a lot going on, and as long as it’s managed and as long as we get quality projects, I’m excited about the potential of it all coming here,” Baker told the Herald. “Hopefully the revitalization will add some amenities there and some good new housing and as long as we get quality units and quality construction, I think it can be a win for the neighborhood.”
For those interested in attending the community hearing, it’s slated to take place at the Paul R. McLaughlin Youth Center (1135 Dorchester Avenue) on Monday, June 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
