Zoning Board of Appeal - 2026-03-10
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Boston Zoning Board of Appeal approved multiple residential development projects on March 10, 2026, including a 6-unit building at 60 Byron Street in East Boston (approved 7-0 with conditions), an 8-unit building at 26 Easton Street in Hyde Park (approved 7-0), and a 4-unit building at 25 Tina Avenue in Hyde Park (approved 7-0 with conditions). The board also approved conversions adding units at 10 Harold Park (3 to 5 units) and 566 Commonwealth Avenue (111 to 117 units), along with several smaller residential additions and roof deck projects.
Key Decisions (26)
6-Unit Residential Building at 60 Byron Street, East Boston
Demolition of existing 2-unit dwelling and construction of new 6-unit residential building with 6 parking spaces. Developer: petitioner represented by Richard Linns. Located in EDR-3 District. Approved with conditions for planning department review regarding parking count and open space improvements.
Addition at 62 Liverpool Street, East Boston
Addition to existing 6-unit multifamily dwelling to expand units from single bedroom to two bedroom. No change in unit count. Developer: Tracheco Development represented by Richard Linns. Located in EDR-4 District.
3-Story Addition at 12 Ludlow Street, Charlestown
168 square foot addition (56 sq ft per floor) to existing 890 sq ft single family home to accommodate growing family. Adds bathroom on each floor. Owner: Frank Moray. Architect: Tim Shinn.
Roof Decks at 241 Bunker Hill Street, Charlestown
Addition of small roof deck on top of 1st floor (10x15) and deck on top floor (18x21) for single family home, providing 546 sq ft combined open space. Architect: Beth McDougall.
Conversion from 3 to 5 Units at 10 Harold Park, Roxbury
Change occupancy from 3-family to 5-family dwelling through interior renovations and utilizing existing lower level and fourth story. No exterior changes from street. Developer represented by attorney Madakal, Fletcher Tilton. Architect: Jennifer Hoth, Q Architecture.
3-Unit Building at 25 Tina Avenue, Hyde Park
New 3-story residential building with 3 ownership units and 3 parking spaces on vacant 3,600 sq ft lot. Developer: represented by attorney Madakal, Fletcher Tilton. Architect: James Christopher from 686. Units include one 2-bedroom and two 3-bedroom units.
8-Unit Building at 26 Easton Street, Hyde Park
Demolition of existing 2-family structure and construction of new 4-story 8-unit residential building with 8 parking spaces. Developer: RAC Investments (Roccado Gene). Architect: Bonnie Tian, JCBT Architects. Units range 800-1,200 sq ft.
Roof Deck Addition at 254 Bremen Street, East Boston
Single story vertical addition and roof deck on existing triple decker to expand living space for 3rd floor unit. Owner: Jeff Thomas. Relief sought from 5-foot setback requirement on roof edges.
Legalization of 5-Unit Use at 9 Claiborne Street, Dorchester
Legalization of existing 5-family use that has been functioning for 15+ years but listed as 3-family. Owner: Ted Van Blake.
6 New Residential Units at 566 Commonwealth Avenue, Kenmore
Conversion of portion of 2nd floor office space to 6 new one-bedroom residential units at Kenmore Tower (existing 111 units to 117 units). Interior renovations only, no exterior changes. Developer represented by attorney Madakal, Fletcher Tilton. Architect: Eric Zacherson, Context.
Roof Deck at 555-567 East Broadway, South Boston
Addition of roof deck to existing townhouse condominium. Deck accessed via hatch from within unit, exclusive use for unit owner. Owner: Steven Collins represented by Francis Adams. Approved despite neighborhood opposition based on prior compromise agreement.
Parking Use at 165 Tudor Street, South Boston
Conditional use permit to make long-standing parking use zoning compliant on 819 sq ft parcel (15x52 feet). Part of larger parcel conveyed in 1995 under Abutters Lodge program with restriction for off-street parking use. Owner: 162 West Seventh Street LLC (Darren McGuire and Philip Keane).
3rd Floor Addition at 16 Chilcott Place, Jamaica Plain
20x20 3rd floor addition with new full bathroom and HVAC/plumbing to existing building. Owner: Jesus Martinez. Project Manager: Cole Chaparra, Kohn Construction.
4-Unit Building at 203 Claire Avenue, Hyde Park
New 4-story building with 4 units (3-bed, 2.5-bath each, approximately 1,800 sq ft) on 12,500 sq ft lot adjacent to former All Grace Harvest Church site. Developer represented by Kyle Smith, Staterra Law.
Basement Renovation at 41 Spoken Road, Jamaica Plain
Basement renovation adding HVAC system, bathroom and bar to existing space. No changes to exterior or footprint. Contractor: Tim Bailey, Bailey Deeball Studio Build.
Elevator Modernization at 857 Beacon Street
Enlargement of head house and addition of stair for elevator equipment as required by state elevator commission. Structure approximately 3 feet 6 inches taller. Developer: Inverness Condominium Association represented by Cameron Merrill.
Puzzle Room at 378-380 Washington Street, Brighton
Change of use from temp agency office to puzzle room (3,037 sq ft tenancy in 15,805 sq ft building). Developer: Jonah Safar and Brian Johnson. Architect: Derek Rubinoff.
4-Unit Building at 128 Bennington Street, East Boston
Demolition of existing 2-story building and construction of new 4-story building with 4 residential units and 3 parking spaces. Located in EDR-4 District. Developer represented by Richard Linns.
Conversion from 2 to 4 Units at 198 Marion Street, East Boston
Change occupancy from 2-family with storefronts to 4-unit building via interior renovations and vertical addition in rear. Units include studio, 1-bedroom, and two 3-bedroom units. Developer represented by Jeff Drago, Drago and Toscana. Architect: Eric Zacherson, Context.
Roof Deck at 110 West Concord Street, South End
Construction of staircase and roof deck over 2nd floor living room of owner's unit. Deck dimensions 9'7" x 24'6", pulled back 10 feet from roof edge. Owner: Cass Comstock. Architect: Marcus Springer. Approved despite abutter opposition citing privacy and light concerns.
8-Unit Development at 567-577 Adams Street, Dorchester
Renovation of existing 2-family to 3 units plus construction of 5 connecting townhouses (8 units total) on 11,754 sq ft double lot. Includes one affordable unit at 80% AMI. 9 parking spaces provided. Developers: Brian and Jason Chavez. Attorney: Mike Ross, Prince Lobel. Architect: Tim Sheehan.
Building Code Variance at 86 Pembroke Street, South End
Variance from building code to allow roof deck access via hatch instead of penthouse, consistent with South End zoning code and Landmarks Commission guidelines. Owner: Jameson Brown. Attorney: Mark Lacasse. Architect: Mark Van Brockman, Embark.
Groundwater Conservation Overlay District Case at 4 Haines Street
Deferral requested to March 24 to be heard with related board final arbiter case and new violations on same date. Developer represented by Dominic Coppola, Drago and Descono LLP.
Appeal at 119-127 North Washington Street
Deferral requested for two months for family business (Jake Realty Inc) to discuss internally. Appellant: Copperdoll North End represented by Jared Igerman, Nutter McClendon and Fish. Deferred to May 19.
Interpretation Case at 62-66 Condor Street
Deferral requested to April 28 to work with ISD on remaining violations after several were removed. Developer represented by Richard Linns.
168 Dana Avenue
Deferral to April 16 due to updated refusal letter requiring re-advertisement. Owner represented by Eileen Rose.
Zoning Changes (5)
60 Byron Street, East Boston
Petitioner (represented by Richard Linns)
10 Harold Park, Roxbury
Applicant (represented by attorney Madakal)
9 Claiborne Street, Dorchester
Ted Van Blake
566 Commonwealth Avenue, Kenmore Square
Applicant (represented by attorney Madakal)
378-380 Washington Street, Brighton
Jonah Safar and Brian Johnson
Development Activity (12)
60 Byron Street Development
6-unit residential building with 6 parking spaces, replacing existing 2-unit dwelling. Located in EDR-3 District.
62 Liverpool Street Addition
Addition to existing 6-unit multifamily to expand units from 1-bedroom to 2-bedroom. Approximately 300 sq ft added per unit. Located in EDR-4 District.
12 Ludlow Street Addition
168 sq ft addition (56 sq ft per floor) to 890 sq ft single family home, adding bathroom on each floor.
10 Harold Park Conversion
Conversion from 3-family to 5-family dwelling. New basement unit (3-bed, 2-bath) and 4th floor unit (2-bed, 1-bath) with roof deck. Lot size over 8,700 sq ft.
25 Tina Avenue Development
New 3-story building with 3 ownership units on 3,600 sq ft vacant lot. Unit 1: 878 sq ft, 2-bed/2-bath. Units 2-3: 1,265 sq ft, 3-bed/2-bath each. 3 parking spaces.
26 Easton Street Development
New 4-story 8-unit residential building with 8 parking spaces, replacing existing 2-family. Units range 800-1,200 sq ft. Ground floor includes open parking garage and one ADA accessible unit.
566 Commonwealth Avenue Conversion
Conversion of 2nd floor office space to 6 new one-bedroom residential units. Building increases from 111 to 117 units. Interior renovations only.
128 Bennington Street Development
New 4-story building with 4 residential units and 3 parking spaces, replacing existing 2-story building. Located in EDR-4 District. Building height under 40 feet.
198 Marion Street Conversion
Conversion from 2-family with storefronts to 4-unit building. Unit 1: studio, 1-bath. Unit 2: 1-bed, 2-bath, 690 sq ft. Units 3-4: 3-bed, 2-bath, 1,015-1,120 sq ft. Vertical addition in rear on levels 2-3.
203 Claire Avenue Development
New 4-story building with 4 units (3-bed, 2.5-bath each, approximately 1,800 sq ft) on 12,500 sq ft lot. Adjacent to former All Grace Harvest Church site. 4 parking spaces proposed.
567-577 Adams Street Development
8-unit development on 11,754 sq ft double lot. Renovation of existing structure to 3 units (3-bed, 2-bath, 1,375 sq ft each) plus 5 new townhouses (2-bed, 2-bath, 1,276 sq ft each). 9 parking spaces. One affordable unit at 80% AMI.
378-380 Washington Street Puzzle Room
Change of use from temp agency office to puzzle room. 3,037 sq ft tenancy in 15,805 sq ft building.
Market Signals (7)
Housing Demand
Multiple projects converting commercial or underutilized space to residential units indicate strong housing demand, with 566 Commonwealth Ave adding 6 units to existing 111-unit building and 198 Marion Street converting storefronts to 4 residential units.
Housing Demand
East Boston's amended Article 53 zoning allowing 4-story buildings up to 50 feet in EDR-4 districts is driving new multifamily development along Bennington Street and other main thoroughfares.
Sentiment
Parking remains a significant community concern in East Boston and Hyde Park, with neighborhood associations often conditioning support on inclusion of parking despite city trends toward reduced parking requirements.
Housing Demand
Family-sized homeownership units are in demand, with developers at 567-577 Adams Street and 25 Tina Avenue specifically designing 2-3 bedroom condominiums for sale rather than rental.
Infrastructure
Proximity to MBTA stations (Green Line, bus routes) is being cited as justification for reduced parking ratios in projects like 198 Marion Street near Airport T station.
Sentiment
Hyde Park Neighborhood Association expressed concerns about overdevelopment, voting against 26 Easton Street project citing too many violations, though project was ultimately approved by ZBA.
Housing Demand
Affordable housing requirements are being applied to larger projects, with 567-577 Adams Street required to include one unit at 80% AMI and execute housing agreement with Mayor's Office of Housing.