By Michael Coughlin Jr.
A project at 91-93 Orleans Street, which would reconstruct a building lost in a fire, was presented at the Gove Street Citizens Association’s (GSCA) monthly meeting last week.
As part of this proposal, a four-unit building would be reconstructed at the site where the previous building caught fire. According to Attorney Richard Lynds, who presented this project to the GSCA, before the fire, the previous building was four units.
Further, Lynds explained that due to the recent filing of the project, it will likely come under new zoning, which is being proposed through the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s (BPDA) neighborhood planning initiative PLAN: East Boston.
Under current zoning, the area is zoned as a 3F-2,000, so the use of four units would be considered non-conforming. However, under the new proposed zoning, according to Lynds, “We would be proposing to put back what will ultimately be a conforming use for this site.”
“Dimensionally, there may be some challenges with respect to the proposed new zoning, but I understand, based upon my conversations with the BPDA, a lot of the similar exceptions that we do have under our current zoning code for corner lot conditions will likely apply under new zoning as well,” he added.
In terms of the unit makeup, there are plans for all two-bedroom units about 850 square feet in size. Moreover, this proposed building is a bit taller than the one that stood previously in that it is now 43 feet and 10 inches tall. Lynds said the old building was around 37 feet.
Regarding parking, there does not seem to be plans for any spaces, which is consistent with what was at the building before it succumbed to a fire.
In part, Lynds said, “So, because the original building did not have parking, by replacing this in kind with four units, we feel that the impact is quite minimal.”
He also explained that the site is close to the Maverick and Airport MBTA stations, later adding, “The parking for this property would not make a lot of sense, and even if we could incorporate it into the site, it would be probably a difficult task to have the parking located at the grade level of this building.”
Lynds also went through some neighborhood context, and the project received some compliments for keeping a similar size and scope of surrounding buildings.
“I definitely want to say I like this overall and appreciate you keeping it in scale with what’s around it,” said one resident.
There were also a few comments from those in attendance in regard to the rendering shown at the meeting, which depicted the bottom of the building as gray. Some wanted the project team to come up with other options for colors.
Both Lynds and Project Architect Eric Zachrison indicated their flexibility with the color. “[I’m] always happy to hear comments and take that back and kind of rework the aesthetic a little bit,” said Zachrison.
Since this was the first presentation of the project to the GSCA, it will have to be presented to the association again in the future for a vote to be held. The GSCA is scheduled to meet again the Monday after Thanksgiving, November 27.