Development at Cutter and Summer (next to Rosebud)

[hikermtnbiker.livejournal.com]

Are folks aware of the 4 story, mixed use development planned for the corner of Cutter and Summer next to the Rosebud? Many of the local residents only recently found out about it and are understandably upset.

The plan is to tear down the old gas station and the adjacent 2 family. The building will be 48 feet high (think One Davis) and will consist of 1st floor retail, 2nd floor office and  6 2-bedroom apartments on the 3rd and 4th floors. There will be an underground parking garage (as they will use the entire lot) that will exit onto Cutter. We are really appalled at the size of this building which will dwarf the adjacent  buildings on Summer / Cutter, not to mention the added traffic entering and exiting the garage. It is simply too big for this busy corner at the edge of a residential neighborhood.

The developer is asking for 2 special permits from the Zoning Board; one to provide 7 fewer parking spaces than is required by the zoning ordinance and the other to allow construction of a 6 unit dwelling. A group of local residents is urging the ZBA to deny the special permits with the hope that a suitably sized building that adheres to the parking regulations, and better suits the neighborhood, will be built.

If you are also concerned and wish to express your opinion and / or become more informed here is what you can do:

- Write or Fax the Zoning Board of Appeals and ask that they deny the special permits for 377 Summer St.
- Call or email Ward 6 Alderman Rebekah Gewirtz: Rebekah@rcn.com 617-718-0792
- Attend a neighborhood meeting hosted by Rebekah Gewirtz
          This Monday, June 1
          5:30 pm at Ciampa Manor 27 College Avenue
- Attend the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting
           This Wednesday, June 3, 6pm at City Hall in the Alderman's Chambers

To view the plans for the development and to read the Planning Board report, go to the city web site and planning board page and view info for 377 Summer St.

Thanks

Comments

Re: Interesting...

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Cars are like the perfect NIMBY device in that the ideal neighborhood is one that has no parking lots, cars, or even streets, but where parking is plentiful and always right in front of the place you're trying to go. People want to be able to drive everywhere, but almost every single development associated with cars (roads, garages, parking lots, gas stations, etc.) are things people would rather not have in their back yard.

It's hard to imagine anyone complaining so vocally about being near a bike rack or a subway station.

Re: Interesting...

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

IIRC, the last round of Red Line extension was supposed to go past Alewife, but people in Arlington complained vocally about being near a subway station. And right now part of the politics around the Green Line extension is people in Medford complaining vocally about being near a subway station.

Doesn't make any sense to me, except when people are talking about not wanting to live near a terminus (which can bring a ton of traffic -- does anyone really want to live next to the Alewife T? Apparently not). I personally very much hope they get around to the Green Line, because I would love to live that close to a subway stop. But there are lots of people who are, apparently, not me.

Re: Interesting...

[m00n.livejournal.com]

And yet property values are universally higher near the subway stations, and universally lower near highways and parking lots!

I think the reality in Arlington was that a handful of vocal residents opposed the extension while the majority of Arlington residents were overwhelmingly in favor of it. The same appears to be the case in Medford today. I believe the project was eventually abandoned as much for budgetary reasons as for political opposition, if not more.

Re: Interesting...

[ukelele.livejournal.com]

This would be among the reasons I am hoping for a new Green Line stop a few hundred feet from me, yes ;).

Anyway, *I* like subways. But you said it was hard to imagine people being vocally opposed to them, so I wanted to point out it doesn't need to be imagined, because it's a fact, however puzzling a fact.

Re: Interesting...

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I should have said that the market seems to like them. :-)