Deadline extended! Please Help Stop the Subdivision of One Benton Road

[lslapiko.livejournal.com]

MLM Realty Trust was denied permission to subdivide the land at One Benton Road by the Somerville Office of Strategic Development and Planning Board. They are appealing this decision to the Somerville Zoning Board of Appeals without having addressed any of the concerns that caused the initial decision.

One Benton Road was built in the mid-19th century and contained a number of unique architectural details, most notably the large stained glass window in the back of the house, all of which were dismantled and sold by MLM during their renovation of the house. Additionally, the lot was the site of the last significant area of green space in the neighborhood, characterized by a rolling grassy hill with a pink blooming cherry tree in the spring. That landscape feature was completely eradicated when MLM put in a driveway.

One Benton Road is a single lot, and based on MLM's approach to renovating the original structure, without regard to the wishes of Somerville residents and Aldermen, and without cooperation with the Historic Preservation Society, there is no reason to expect that further subdivision and construction on the land will be an improvement.

For almost a year and despite significantly dropping the price, MLM has not been able to sell the third unit in the existing structure. There is no reason to expect that further building in a space designed for one home will be attractive to prospective buyers.

Read more and sign at:
http://www.change.org/petitions/please-help-stop-the-subdivision-of-one-benton-road

Please note, this is a new link. Previously collected signatures will be counted, but feel free to sign the new one if you prefer, and I will remove the double entry from the first one. Sorry for any confusion, but the original petition hosting site is not adequate for our needs.

Comments

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

Can you just summarize and tell me who the underdog is in this situation and who I should be harassing?

[smammy]

So wait, the "unique architectural details" and "landscape features" are already gone? Green space is great and all, but Somerville sure does have a housing shortage... Fetishizing old buildings doesn't get you very far in a living city.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

What do you mean Somerville has a housing shortage? It's the most densely populated city around. And these developments aren't going to help the homeless.

[smammy]

I can't actually back that up... I've just always heard that there aren't enough housing units in Somerville. Sure, upscale developments aren't going to help the homeless directly, but won't they help to the extent that they reduce demand for other housing? They could reduce the number of rental units that get condo-ized or otherwise upgraded to be less affordable, right?

[ron_newman]

I have to say that when I went to a reception at one of the new condos last week (to meet the chairwoman of the New Israel Fund), the place looked gorgeous.

[tt02144.livejournal.com]

I would say that Somerville certainly has a shortage right now of affordable housing rental units, especially given the trend to turn rental units into condos. There is also a huge need for housing for the homeless, of which there is virtually none, especially for single men.
Anyway, most developments in Somerville recently are driven by the developer and not by the residents. You must be extremely vigilant to be able to effectively impact this development. And that extends to when the actual development begins to take shape. There are developers working within this city who have no problem building something that does not conform to the approved plan. ISD does not routinely check on the building phase, so it is up to residents to keep a wary eye. Also, Planning Board and ZBA seem to grant variances whenever a developer requests them. Good luck with this, it is one more horrible development which is changing the city from one of character to one of McMansions.

[ward2.livejournal.com]

Actually, the Planning Board denied this special permit, which is why MLM is appealing. The Planning Board denied the special permit at Job Lot. Unfortunately, they do grant too many special permits and variances, but this is a welcome exception.

[smoterh.livejournal.com]

Somerville has about 10% "subsidized" housing. That's more than enough.