re: 3326 Washington St.

Dear All,

      At the June 17 meeting of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council Housing & Development  Committee (JPNC H&D), neighbors from the working group convened by former H&D Chair Danielle Kieta-Sommer presented an update regarding the proposed affordability plan for 3326 Washington St.  Developer Marc Kaplan was unable to attend due to previously scheduled travel.

      The working group presented what it believes is a financially feasible proposal that meets Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) and Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) requirements while providing the minimum level of affordability needed to help residents remain in Jamaica Plain.  The proposal includes:

      2 units at 30% AMI

      4 units at 50% AMI

      2 units at 70% AMI

      1 Voucher Set-Aside

      This would provide approximately 17% affordable square footage at an average of 50% AMI and 19.5% affordable square footage when the voucher set-aside is included. 

      The JPNC supports this thoughtful and reasonable proposal and respectfully requests that:

      The BPDA extend Article 80 Small Project Change comment period from June 19 to July 17.

      The Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) and the Boston Planning Department meet with the JPNC before any BPDA Board vote is scheduled.

      MOH conducts a thorough review of the developer’s financials (using standard assumptions about equity, like the developer’s previous financial model) to determine whether the community proposal is financially achievable.

      MOH reject the developer’s current proposal of six smaller onsite affordable units totalling only 10.9% affordable square footage, which falls below IDP and IZ standards.

      MOH support the working group’s proposal for eight onsite affordable units and one voucher set-aside.

      MOH and BPDA require the developer to continue the community process at the next JPNC H&D Committee meeting on July 21, 2026.

      These requests stem from ongoing community concerns regarding changes to the affordability plan first presented to the JPNC in December 2025.  Following that presentation, the JPNC unanimously voted to oppose the proposed reduction in affordability and expressed concerns about substituting onsite affordable units with voucher set-asides and the need for a more robust community process.

      Since then, members of the working group have met regularly with the developer in an effort to reach a reasonable compromise.  Community members have worked in good faith, suggesting design modifications that could reduce costs while allowing affordable units to better match the size and quality of market-rate units.  While the developer’s current proposal represents an improvement over the original plan, the working group believes additional affordability is achievable.

      Based on discussions with the developer, a review of financial information provided, and updated rental assumptions, the working group believes the project can support the proposed affordability levels while remaining financially viable.  We therefore urge MOH and BPDA to carefully review the project’s financials and provide sufficient time for both agency and community due diligence before any final decision is made. 

      Thank you for your time and consideration.

      Sincerely,

              JPNC Executive Committee