The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) design review staff has signed off on the 14-16 McBride St. project, but is still looking at the 5 McBride St. project, which is the site of the of former James’s Gate bar, according to BPDA spokesperson Bonnie McGilpin.
Site work has already begun at 14-16 McBride St.
James’s Gate was a popular Irish pub that was sold last year to developer Stephen Ballas, who also acquired the bar’s parking lot across the street at 14-16 McBride St, for a total of $1.95 million. He plans to turn 14-16 McBride St. into residential townhouses, while 5 McBride St. will become a mixed-use development.
As part of an agreement with the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council’s Zoning Committee, Ballas submitted his plans to BPDA for review. McGilpin said that they are working on the height of the corner element on the 5 McBride St. design and aligning “certain things on the facade.”