Washington Place (formerly known as the Orr Block project) developer Robert Korff is considering making more units income-restricted at a threshold affordable to “middle income” renters, Jonathan Dame of the TAB reports.
Read the Planning Department memo about the project here.
And here’s a presentation from a group opposing the project.
Do you 40B supporters need any more evidence how bad that law is [was] for Newton? This city is now in a position to negotiate far better deals with these large scale developers, and create a lot more affordable housing. As a result, we should be raising the bar ourselves. Instead of the 10% city wide affordability called for under 40B, Newton’s goal should be 12.5% affordability. Getting 40B off our backs will enable us to get there.
Mike, I think you are a little quick here. They don’t say how many units are included, how many at 120% vs 80%, how big overall.
I’d also say that 40B is in the background here. The city knows the developer could go the 40B route, the developer knows the time involved in that route. Do you really think the city would get more affordable housing from large developers if 40B went away? I don’t. Remember also the price paid for Orr block by the developer makes a big difference as well.
I’ll reserve judgement on this one until something more concrete is proposed. Until then this is just the developer throwing proposals to see what sticks.
Also, I think there is a real disconnect between the price paid for the site and the desired uses described by the Neighbors for a Better Newtonville group. Not that I’m sympathetic to the developer for paying that much. Just realistic about what he would be willing to do based on acquisition price. If NFBN is pushing for a higher degree of affordability I’m on board with that, but the problem is that the developer has options as of right and via 40B. He is likely to make a ROI under both. You can’t push him to take peanuts when he has the option for steak… (sorry I’m hungry…)
I do think NFBN has a good point about affordable units already on site. The one nuance is that I’d hope the new units would be nicer and less run down that current units, but I have no knowledge of the current affordable stock. Also the new units would be rent restricted meaning that they would be preserved as affordable, while the exisitng units could be…bought up by a developer and made into luxury condos. Sort of what we have here. So there is a value to that. But I acknowledge the NFBN point. This is one of the reasons Austin Street was a better deal, because it was NEW units of affordability, not recycled units, and the current use was, to many of us, underused as a parking lot. I’m fine with the current use of Orr block, although I acknowledge it is run down.
Also, to provoke conversation, is it a bad thing for the city when entire blocks come up for redevelopment? Not necessarily. Lots of great projects in Boston stem from larger tracts coming online at once. I’d think there is a sweet spot here, where the developer makes a profit, the city gets affordability, and the village gets amenities. But my name is Figgy, not Solomon. I leave that to wiser heads than mine. But if this is the developer’s attempt to split the baby, I still say wait for the details before embracing.
Btw, 24 students feels really like for that many units. One thing to note is that the area isn’t zoned for Cabot, since it is above the Pike. So additional kids will have a different school than Austin Street kids. I don’t think that is a big deal, just stating a fact for the debate.
Ok, I’m done. Any new word on the storage facility on Newtonville Ave? Any new word on the village improvements that SHOULD be coming our way for putting up with all of this new development????
Did I read where there may be some requirement that 10% of the units must be 3 bedroom units? If so that will presumably affect the number of students to be covered.
@fig– Yes, I think the city WOULD get more affordable housing if 4oB went away. We got more at Austin Street. We’re getting more at Washington Place. And keep your eye on Wells Ave. I’m betting that developer comes back to the table with an offer of 25%.