Zoning Board of Appeal - 2026-05-05

Approved construction of six homeownership condominiums in a mid-block parcel in the North End. Project reduced from 13 to 6 units per neighborhood request, eliminated all parking, and includes 8-foot rear yard setback on floors 1-5 and 12-foot setback on floor 6. Building height is 60 feet at front (matching adjacent cornice) and 50 feet at rear. FAR is 5.1 in a 3.0 FAR district. Applicant: Colin (developer), Mike Ross (attorney), James Christopher (architect). Vote: unanimous (7-0).

Approved renovation of existing single family structure with new roof deck accessed via hatch and rear deck aligned with abutters. Property in South End MFR subdistrict on 1,100 square foot lot. Relief granted for rear yard extension, GCOD compliance, and building code relief for hatch access. Applicant: Matt Eckle (attorney), Joseph Kennard (architect). Vote: unanimous.

Approved change of occupancy for 3rd floor tenant space to accommodate SkinFarm, a cosmetic dermatology and medical spa providing non-invasive treatments. Services are appointment-based. Vote: unanimous.

Approved tenant build-out for private fitness club (The Quinn) in the Vendome Building at corner of Dartmouth and Commonwealth. Existing medical office space on garden level and 1st floor to be converted to fitness center with treatment rooms, yoga/class rooms, fitness equipment, refreshment counter, and locker rooms. Conditional use in H365 subdistrict. Hours limited to 10PM per agreement with building trustees. Vote: unanimous.

Approved change of use from two-story commercial/residential building to five-story six-unit residential building via three-story addition. Lot size 1,520 square feet in H265 subdistrict on Beacon Hill. FAR increases from 2.0 to 4.0. No parking provided. Units include one studio (679 sf), two one-bedrooms, and two duplex two-bedrooms. Beacon Hill Civic Association opposed citing FAR increase. Applicant: Ryan Spitz (attorney), Tim Johnson (architect). Vote: unanimous.

Approved conversion of vacant office space (floors 2-4) to 24 residential units exclusively for CIEE BridgeUSA international exchange program participants. CIEE is relocating world headquarters to this location. Building completed in 2021 but remained largely vacant post-COVID. No changes to building height, footprint, or gross floor area. One unit reserved for live-in building manager. 17 parking spaces retained. In lieu of on-site IDP units, CIEE committed to approximately $1M contribution to city's inclusionary development fund. Applicant: George Marancy (attorney), CIEE (Council on International Educational Exchange). Vote: unanimous.

Approved construction of new 14-unit multifamily residential building on approximately 6,100 square foot lot in Mission Hill straddling 3F2000 and local industrial subdistricts. Includes two IDP units per Article 79. Seven off-street parking spaces provided. Units range from 760 to 1,800 square feet. Height 59 feet (40 feet allowed), FAR 2.98 (2.0 allowed). 10-foot rear setback. Applicant: Richard Lins (attorney), Nick Landry (architect), Carlos Arias (petitioner). Vote: unanimous.

Approved extension of existing curb cut for two off-street parking spaces and legalization of existing 3rd floor unit at 94-96 Saint Marks Road in Dorchester. Building has operated as two-unit but third floor unit existed prior to current owner's purchase. St. Mark's Area Civic Association voted 9-0 in support. Vote: unanimous.

Approved construction of four-unit townhouse on approximately 3,416 square foot lot created from subdivision. Each unit has four bedrooms, two and a half baths with rooftop decks. Ground floor parking with two-car tandem garages. Contemporary style building. Applicant: Joseph Noonan (architect), New Group Realty (developer). Vote: unanimous.

Approved demolition of existing structure and construction of new three-story, three-unit residential building on 6,100 square foot lot in Hyde Park. Mayor's office of housing RFP property awarded to Reggie Woods. Units include two two-bedrooms (1,391 and 1,414 sf) and one three-bedroom (1,414 sf). FAR 0.7 (0.5 allowed), height 39 feet/3 stories (35 feet/2.5 stories allowed). One parking space per unit. Applicant: Ryan Spitz (attorney), Jacob Levine (architect), Reggie Woods (applicant). Vote: unanimous.

Approved addition of one story to two existing eight-unit buildings at 1900-1904 River Street in Hyde Park, increasing total from 16 to 24 units. Four new one-bedroom units added to each building. Ten additional parking spaces created for 1:1 ratio. One affordable unit plus IDP fund contribution required. Owner Gabriel has owned building 26 years. Renovation to occur one building at a time to minimize tenant displacement. Hyde Park Neighborhood Association opposed citing parking and tenant displacement concerns. Applicant: John Fulgini (attorney), Lucio Trabuco (architect). Vote: unanimous.

Approved change of occupancy to include body art (permanent makeup services only, not tattooing) in existing hair salon in West Roxbury. West Roxbury Neighborhood Council supports. Vote: unanimous.

Approved development of currently underutilized construction yard into new five-story 42-unit residential building with on-site parking. Unit mix: 18 one-bedrooms, 22 two-bedrooms, 2 three-bedrooms. Seven units will be affordable under IDP. 19 garage spaces plus 1:1 bike parking. Building approximately 58 feet tall. Located adjacent to Readville commuter rail station. Lot size 11,251 square feet in local industrial zoning. BPDA board approved September 2025. Breedville Watch Civic opposed citing parking ratio concerns. Applicant: John Fulgini (attorney), John Garland (architect). Vote: 5-0 (two recusals).

Deferred interpretation case regarding whether property is a one-family, two-family, or three-family dwelling. ISD occupancy committee determined two-family; applicant seeks three-family determination based on pre-code use. Commissioner Joseph indicated new 1981 permit information received yesterday showing legalization as one-family, and may revoke two-family determination. Property is derelict, uninhabitable building acquired by Jim O'Donohue in November 2025. Applicant: Joe Hanley (attorney), Nick Zazula (attorney), Jim O'Donohue (owner). Deferred to May 19 for further discussion between parties.

Deferred due to ongoing discussions with Landmarks Commission regarding design components. Applicant: Justin Brains (attorney), Pulgeny and Norton. Deferred to July 28, 2026.

Board granted extension requests for 13 cases: 7 Cleveland Street, 15-17 Brackett Street, 29 South Lawn Road, 46-48 Leo M Birmingham Park, 353-359 Blueville Avenue, 391-395 Blueville Avenue, 16R Bathurst Street, 26 Le Ponton Avenue, 134-140 Smith Street, 192 Gladstone Street, 27-29 Sarapac Road, 19 Bennington Street, and 76 Day Street. Vote: unanimous.