Zoning Board of Appeal - 2025-12-09
Meeting Intelligence Preview
Meeting Summary
The Boston Zoning Board of Appeal approved multiple residential development projects including a basement-to-studio conversion at 5 West Hill Place, a four-unit development at 562 East 5th Street preserving a historic structure, and a two-family dwelling at 58 Mallet Street on a vacant lot. The board also approved the conversion of 38 Fenway from a long-vacant single-family to a five-unit multifamily building with conditions addressing short-term rental concerns.
Key Decisions (18)
Basement conversion to studio at 5 West Hill Place
Approved conversion of existing basement space in a three-unit condominium to a studio apartment for owner's family use. Relief granted for off-street parking (none provided) and FAR of 2.1 (2.0 allowed). No exterior changes proposed.
Four-unit development at 562 East 5th Street
Approved preservation and renovation of existing historic structure with new three-story addition containing four units total with four parking spaces. Developer: Alex Gibson. Relief for roof structure restriction, rear yard extension over 1,000 sq ft, parking insufficiency (4 spaces provided vs 6 required), and screening/buffering.
Roof deck at 110 West Concord Street
Deferred proposal for roof deck atop rear living room structure. Applicant Marcus Springer of Springer Architects. Direct abutter at 112 West Concord Street opposed citing privacy, noise, fire escape concerns, and property value impacts.
Three-to-four family conversion at 47 Dell Avenue
Approved comprehensive renovation of existing three-family building to legal four-family, including rear porches, side porch, head house with roof decks. Relief for rear yard setback, lot area per unit, parking, and head house. Existing height 36'2", proposed 47'.
Three-family development at 69 R Parent Street
Deferred proposal for new three-family dwelling on 6,040 sq ft lot. Developer: Tim Wongden. Access from Burton Ave (private way). Community opposition regarding density, traffic, parking. Board requested additional outreach to Burton Ave and Copeland Ave residents.
Single-family house at 53 Brown Avenue
Approved new single-family house on existing undersized 4,200 sq ft lot (6,000 required). Four bedrooms, four baths, 3,294 gross sq ft. Developer: Fred (builder). Relief for lot area, width, side yards, and frontage. Requires removal of 24-inch sugar maple tree.
New single-family at 1 Hartland Road (157 Baker Street)
Approved demolition of vacant dilapidated structure and construction of new three-story single-family with attached garage. Developer: Antonio Ferrara. Four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2,157 sq ft. Relief for FAR (4.46 vs 4.0), lot area, frontage, front yard (18' vs 20'), rear yard (12' vs 30').
Second-floor addition at 106 Eastwood Circuit
Approved expansion of existing 1,600 sq ft single-family to second floor and attic. No footprint changes. Relief for FAR and third story. Owner expanding for multigenerational family living.
Two three-family buildings at 25 Royal Street and 1 Empire Street
Approved two companion cases for triple-decker style three-family buildings on adjacent lots. Developer: Aki and Ali Olia (father and son). Each building approximately 1,000 sq ft units with three bedrooms. Relief for use (three-family in two-family zone), setbacks, FAR, lot size, height (stories), and parking.
Five-unit multifamily at 38 Fenway
Approved redevelopment of long-vacant building to five-unit multifamily with elevator. Developer: Mark Erman and Cheek Wan. Unit mix: one studio (492 sf), three 2-bed units (1,492-1,646 sf), one owner's duplex (3,288 sf). Three parking spaces. Relief for basement use, FAR (4.25 vs 4.0), rear yard (15' vs 20').
Two-family dwelling at 58 Mallet Street
Approved new two-and-a-half story two-family on vacant lot. Developer: Liz and Dave Siggers. Two 2-bedroom units at approximately 1,100 sq ft each. Shared driveway with adjacent 56 Mallet (also owned by applicants). Relief for lot size (3,120 vs 5,000 sf), lot width, open space, FAR (0.7 vs 0.5), front yard (6' vs 15'), side yard (6' vs 10').
Basement recreation space at 69 Highland Street
Approved addition of basement to first-floor living space as recreation area (not bedroom). Previous owner had illegally built two bedrooms in basement which have been removed. Gas meters to be relocated to common area or outside.
Two-to-three family conversion at 72-74 Mapleton Street
Approved change of use from two-family to three-family to legalize existing third-floor unit. No additional construction proposed.
Rear addition at 101 P Street
Approved 12'10" rear addition on existing single-family home, expanding first and second floors. No changes to front of building. Relief for rear yard setback.
Vertical addition at 170 Poplar Street
Approved elimination of interior staircase, addition of exterior staircase over garage, and raising roof with box addition to increase second-floor living area into third floor. Existing third-floor apartment was illegal.
GCOD compliance at 146-150 Mill Street (75 Central Street)
Approved Groundwater Conservation Overlay District compliance for office-to-residential conversion project. Part of downtown office to residential conversion program. 18 multifamily units with 3 affordable units. Rainwater infiltration system to be installed.
Decision correction for 23 Nottingham Street
Board final opportunity case to correct decision from February 25 approval. Decision referenced combination of three lots but should reference four lots totaling 12,496 sq ft for MOH-led 12 affordable unit project.
Two buildings at 3430-3436 Washington Street
Deferred companion case for new building on Washington Street. Only one of two companion cases was advertised. Attorney Mark Lacasse representing applicant.
Zoning Changes (5)
562 East 5th Street, South Boston
Alex Gibson
25 Royal Street, Allston
Aki and Ali Olia
1 Empire Street, Allston
Aki and Ali Olia
72-74 Mapleton Street, Brighton
Adi D'Souza (contractor)
58 Mallet Street, Dorchester
Liz and Dave Siggers
Development Activity (10)
562 East 5th Street Historic Renovation
Four units total in preserved historic structure with new three-story addition. Four parking spaces in rear. Unit 1: 1,435 sf 3-bed in existing structure. Units 2-4 in addition: 1,980 sf 2-bed, 1,340 sf 2-bed, 1,325 sf 2-bed.
47 Dell Avenue Renovation
Comprehensive renovation converting three-family to four-family. Includes rear porches, side porch, head house with roof decks. Height increase from 36'2" to 47'. Similar to completed project at 55 Dell Avenue.
53 Brown Avenue Single-Family
New single-family house on 35-foot wide lot. 3,294 gross sq ft, four bedrooms, four baths. Two garage spaces under deck with 50-foot driveway. Requires removal of 24-inch sugar maple tree.
1 Hartland Road Single-Family
New three-story single-family replacing vacant dilapidated structure. 2,157 sq ft living space, four bedrooms, 2.5 baths. One attached garage plus one additional parking space.
25 Royal Street Three-Family
Triple-decker style three-family building. Three units at approximately 1,000 sf each, three bedrooms per unit. Three parking spaces accessed via existing curb cut ramping under building. Height 31 feet.
1 Empire Street Three-Family
Companion project to 25 Royal Street. Triple-decker style three-family building with similar unit configuration. Part of master plan including 57 Hooker Street (existing two-family).
38 Fenway Multifamily Redevelopment
Redevelopment of decades-vacant building to five-unit multifamily with elevator. Unit 1: 492 sf studio. Units 2-4: 1,492-1,646 sf 2-beds. Unit 5: 3,288 sf 1-bed owner's duplex on 5th/6th floors. Three parking spaces. ADA accessible.
58 Mallet Street Two-Family
New two-and-a-half story two-family on vacant lot. Two 2-bedroom units at approximately 1,100 sf each with rear decks. Shared driveway with adjacent 56 Mallet providing two parking spaces each. All-electric building, stretch energy code compliant.
146-150 Mill Street (75 Central Street) Office Conversion
Office to residential conversion under planning department's downtown conversion program. 18 multifamily units including 3 affordable units. Ground floor commercial use retained. Small project review completed November 2025.
23 Nottingham Street Affordable Housing
Three-story multifamily residential building with 12 affordable units and 8 off-street parking spaces on combined vacant lots totaling 12,496 sq ft (four parcels).
Market Signals (5)
Housing Demand
Multiple projects cited accommodating multigenerational family living arrangements, with owners converting properties to house adult children and elderly parents together.
Housing Demand
Downtown office-to-residential conversion program actively processing projects, with 146-150 Mill Street converting to 18 units including 3 affordable units.
Sentiment
Community concerns about short-term rentals and student-oriented leasing were raised at 38 Fenway, with Fenway Forward requesting good neighbor agreements prohibiting these rental categories.
Housing Demand
Allston resident testified parking has gotten decidedly worse over five years since The Link at 525 Lincoln Street opened, potentially driving families to relocate.
Infrastructure
Boston Groundwater Trust actively reviewing projects in Groundwater Conservation Overlay District, requiring rainwater infiltration systems for substantial rehabilitations.