Allston project’s revision a nod to artists
Revised $107 million plans for two new six-story residential buildings in Allston now include eight affordable living units for artists among the 265 apartments, and gallery/artist work spaces.
The changes follow community feedback to the Michaels Organization’s original plans for a 1.89-acre lot at 40 Rugg Road, near the MBTA’s Boston Landing commuter rail station.
The Marlton, N.J., company said it recognizes the “value and impact” artists have in the neighborhood. For many years, the site — which now has four industrial buildings — housed the Rugg Road artist and musician studios that were part of the Allston Arts District.
The artist apartments will have larger unit entrances, flexible floor plans and more modest finishes to make the space more applicable for artists’ use, according to plans filed with the Boston Planning & Development Agency.
The reserved units will be adjacent to each other on the second floor of one building, immediately above gallery/ artist workspace on the first floor, where each artist will be allotted 1,350 square feet.
Artists’ work also will be displayed in the building’s common areas, including another 1,500-square-foot gallery/work space, and outdoors. Michaels will work with Boston nonprofit Artists for Humanity to incorporate civically conscious public art components into the project, including a graphic “wrap” of the project’s 168-space automated parking garage.
The project would have 2,500 square feet of groundfloor retail.
In all, 34 apartments would be affordable, and Michaels would give $1.5 million for off-site affordable homeownership units.