The controversial luxury apartment project proposed for 161 S. Huntington Ave. is no longer up for an approval vote at the Thurs., Sept. 13 Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) board meeting.
The BRA announced that the project would be on the agenda last week.
“The developer needs to do more work on it,” BRA spokesperson Melina Schuler told the Gazette today.
The developer, Boston Residential Group, plans to create 196 units consisting of studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom units in a four- to five-story building on the current site of the Home for Little Wanderers.
Many Jamaica Plain residents have raised numerous concerns about the project, including expected high rental prices; the small size of the proposed units; its “ugly” facade; the number of units; expected low percentage of affordable units; the proposed removal of 53 mature trees; and failure to restore or adapt the historic 1914 building.
The plans were submitted to the BRA in March and have already undergone one round of alterations, following strong community opposition.
Projects submitted to the BRA board for a vote have a high likelihood of being approved, as BRA staff only submits projects to the board when it considers the plans ready for approval.