Southie developers have upper hand
Protesting residents dig in vs. condo
As South Boston residents railed for a second night against plans to tear down a single-family home for a five-unit condo building, they learned they have little leverage — current zoning laws favor the developers, who tried to assuage the neighbors last night.
The home developers want to demolish is 202 M St., at the corner of M and Marine Road. It’s a craftsman style home that sits on a 4,500-square-foot lot, with a lawn, driveway and parking.
After a meeting with angry abutters Monday, developers again presented their plans to the community, this time at the City Point Neighborhood Association meeting last night at St. Brigid’s Church on East Broadway.
The building plans unveiled Monday were met with scorn and called an “architectural atrocity” by neighbors. Last night Patrick Mahoney, a lawyer for the developers, attempted to allay concerns by saying they only used the proposed design as a template, and wanted to hear from the community what the building should look like.
“We are trying to work with the community,” Mahoney said. “We understand people are upset about the zoning. What we’re really here for is to try to design a building that makes sense and meets the zoning requirements.”
Mahoney described the proposed condos as “market rate luxury units.” The building as planned would include a 1,030-squarefoot one bedroom, three 1,300-square-foot two bedroom units and one 2,060-square-foot three bedroom unit. He said the square footage and layouts could change depending on the input developers get from neighbors.
Joanne McDevitt, chairwoman of the neighborhood association, told abutters last night, “The problem is the zoning is there. The only thing that will affect this now, is what the building will look like, and under the green belt regulations, they do have to work with us on the architectural design.”
Stephen Prentis, who has a home opposite the site, said he will lose his water views and is concerned about the people who live next door who will have a 40-foot building erected just a few feet from their property line.
“Have you taken into consideration the neighbors next door? ... How would you feel if your mother owned that house and she sat on her back porch every night with a nice sea breeze coming and all of a sudden, this big monstrosity is dropped off?” he said. “You’re not taking into consideration the neighborhood. You guys are coming in and putting in a box and leaving and we’re going to get stuck with it.”
Ed Flynn, who is running for city councilor and previously lived on Marine Road, said he is urging the city to take emergency action to halt the project.
Edward McGuire, chief of staff at the Office of Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s Neighborhood Services, said they are looking at ways to help residents, but could only assure folks at the meeting that they were gather information.