JOHN RUCH
HYDE SQ.—The Blessed Sacrament Church redevelopment plan was approved Nov. 16 by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) board of directors.
The developers next must go before the city Zoning Commission to seek approval for a zoning map amendment, a change to the underlying zoning on the site that would make permitting easier. That hearing is scheduled for Dec. 6. [See JP Agenda.] The map amendment has been controversial in the neighborhood, but was ultimately approved by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council.
If the Zoning Commission vote goes in the developers’ favor, the construction permitting process could begin.
The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation and New Atlantic Development are proposing a mix of condos, rental units, commercial space, office space and a community room. The COMPASS School will remain on the site, and the Hyde Square Task Force plans to occupy part of the space. All of the existing historic buildings would be preserved.