Regarding Mckay Place Project
To the Editor,
The board of the Gove Street Citizens Association is submitting the following comment regarding the 9 McKay Place Project:
On November 28, 2022, the development team for the 9 McKay Place Project presented to us an overview of their project that consists of a 41Xunit development with 36 parking spaces on 15,000 square feet of land.
Developers first presented their project in a community meeting held in February 2021. Limited parking, unit affordability, and safety for the school children and parents during the project’s construction and after its completion were some of the concerns raised at this meeting. More than a year later, the community continues to raise the same concerns and new ones.
Community members acknowledge that while developers have added some spots to the original 2021 proposal (now at 36 spaces), it remains insufficient compared to the number of proposed units (currently stands at 41). Increased housing development in the Gove Street neighborhood without proportionate investment in its transportation infrastructure has resulted in an influx of cars without the availability of places to park them, which the 9 McKay Place project would continue to exacerbate in its current proposal. Likewise, concerns over the affordability of the proposed apartments remain high. With just five units designated as affordable, the community would like to see deepened affordability by increasing the number of units designated as affordable and lowering the AMI.
Testimony from the principal and director of operations of McKay School, which directly abuts the proposed project, highlights safety concerns for school children, parents, and teachers. The school’s representatives expressed fears regarding the students’ and families’ commutes to and from school during the construction of 9 McKay Place project due to increased machinery and construction activity directly next to the school. The developers proposed parking entrance at 9 McKay Place is at one of the school’s entry points. The resulting increase in car traffic at one of the school’s entry points would continue to threaten students’ safety even after the development’s completion. Lastly, the school’s principal and director of operations expressed concerns about dust and pest management during the project’s construction. The school’s playground directly abuts the proposed development area, exposing school children to construction debris and other materials that may be harmful to their health.
Additional concerns regard the width of the sidewalk, the trees lining on Maverick Street, safety issues of the proposed fire pit on the roof, the building’s trash management, and the future of current tenants living in the buildings on the proposed site. Yet, the most vocal opposition came from owners of units also developed by Meggan Ayers, owner and developer of 9 McKay Place. Community members who have purchased units built by Meggan Ayers, such as those on 229 and 231 Maverick Street, report the developer’s history of incomplete and substandard work and lack of accountability. Examples include leaking gas stove, a fire place that was not fire-proofed, water leaks, and mail boxes not being set up to receive mail months after purchase. Another example of the developer’s unreliable process is a roof deck built without permits on 229 Maverick Street that recently came before the GSCA for approval. Based on these experiences, the community strongly questioned Meggan Ayers’ ability to build 9 McKay Place up to basic health and safety standards for the project’s future residents.
Community members were thrilled to hear about the collaboration with Eastie Farm. The use of space on the roof and ground floor may provide the nonprofit additional room for their programming and increase their capacity to achieve their mission. While the agreement between the developer and the nonprofit would offer great value to the area, the GSCA would like to see greater commitment to the community by increasing unit affordability, parking, and ensuring the safety of community members during and after the project’s completion.
The GSCA urges 9 McKay Place developers and the BPDA to continue engaging in a community process to ensure the finalized project serves the community’s needs.
If you need any additional information, please do not hesitate to reach out.
Carlos J. Muñoz-Cadilla
GSCA Board Member