By Michael Coughlin Jr.
At the latest Harbor View Neighborhood Association (HVNA) meeting last week, plans for a project at 60-62 Byron Street that would bring new units to the site were presented to those in attendance.
Richard Lynds, the project attorney, explained at last week’s meeting that the plan is to demolish the existing building on the site to construct a new three-story building with six units and six parking spaces and roof decks exclusive to the top floor units.
“There’s no historical significance. We’ve already done an evaluation through the state database to determine whether or not there’s any historical characteristics or significance of this building,” Lynds said regarding the proposed demolition, adding that they will still go through the Article 85 process.
It should be noted that this proposal does require a variance for the lot width. Lynds indicated that to have six units on one lot in the East Boston Residential (EBR)-3 zoning subdistrict, the lot must have a width of 55 feet or more; the lot is only 50 feet in width.
However, Lynds explained that the proponents could proceed with an as-of-right project that would subdivide the lot and erect two three-unit buildings, but would not contain any parking, as the zoning code would not require it.
“I don’t want to speak for the neighborhood, but I think the neighborhood would be much more in favor of having off-street parking as opposed to five feet more width in the lot,” said Lynds.
As Lynds’ presentation continued, he outlined floor plans, renderings, and more. He also noted that this is intended to be a rental project.
Following the presentation, the floor was opened to attendees to comment and ask questions. The discussion primarily focused on parking.
One resident wondered if parking spaces would be included in the rent. However, Lynds indicated he did not have an answer for that, emphasizing that the zoning code deals with the required number of spaces a project has to provide on its site.
“The zoning code doesn’t say anything about if one apartment uses two spaces, but one apartment doesn’t want any parking — it doesn’t matter. You can have three spaces go to one unit, two spaces to one unit, and one space for the other unit — the zoning code doesn’t deal with that,” Lynds said.
The resident raised concerns that if the parking were separate from the rent, it might entice future tenants to forgo paying for the spots and register their car for street parking in the neighborhood.
Another resident asked if Lynds would go back to the proponent for more information on the abovementioned parking situation, to which he indicated he had no problem doing so.
The same resident also wondered if, hypothetically, parking could be proposed with the aforementioned as-of-right project, to which Lynds said yes, but with a variance for excessive parking.
Since this was the first presentation before the HVNA, no vote was held. The HVNA customarily votes on projects after a second presentation.
The next HVNA meeting is scheduled for September 8. For more information about the HVNA, visit its website at https://harborvieweastboston.com/ or its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/harborviewna/.