(Image Courtesy JPNDC) A sketch of the 75 Amory Ave. project.
The Jackson Square redevelopment recently took another step as the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) filed plans for a low-income apartment project at 75 Amory Ave. with the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA).
The project, which was part of the first phase of the Jackson Square redevelopment master plan that was approved by the BRA in 2007, was planned at that time to be a six-floor building with 36 affordable rental units and 19 affordable condos. The new plan filed with the BRA is for a four-floor building with 37 affordable rental units, but it will also have 1,015 square feet for office and resident program use.
In the project filing, JPNDC cited lack of City and state funding and a depressed market as two reasons for the smaller building. JPNDC also said the reduced size allows it to build a wood-framed structure, which is less expensive than steel-framed alternative.
The new plan also switches the parking from a garage that was to be built near 75 Amory Ave. to a surface parking lot behind the site and reduces the amount of parking spaces by one to 39 spaces.
The new plan was filed with the BRA on Jan. 2. When the Gazette tried to obtain a copy, the JPNDC and the BRA said that the submission was only a “rough draft” and would not release it.
But the JPNDC called later to say that the BRA was considering the submission a “final draft” and sent the Gazette a copy. The BRA then said the draft was not “official” yet and that it would not schedule a community meeting until it received an “official” draft from JPNDC.
JPNDC, a nonprofit community development corporation, is part of Jackson Square Partners, a coalition of companies redeveloping about 11 acres of land in the area in a coordinated plan.