Plainfield development likely to restart soon

Following two years of work and a stop-work order from the City, the development at 22-26 Plainfield St. is likely to get the green light to resume construction soon.

Following neighborhood concerns about the plans for a new three-unit, three-story townhouse, the city’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) issued a stop-work order pending review and re-approval of the project. The project received approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) on March 24.

The re-approval will require a signed memorandum of agreement (MOU) with the Stonybrook Neighborhood Association (SNA), SNA co-chair Jennifer Uhrhane told the Gazette, as well as re-approval from the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC).

The project was approved by the JPNC Zoning Committee, subject to the MOU that had already been reached and signed with the SNA, on March 18, JPNC Zoning Committee chair David Baron said.

The original plans for three stories with garages had front and rear setback code violations, the foundation was poured even closer to the street than the plans specified, and due to the placement of the building the garages created a visual safety problem, Uhrhane explained.

The revised design replaces the garages with living space, removing the visibility issue, and is a shorter, 2.5-story building. The project now has off-street surface parking for three cars instead of a garage. And the style of the building is “now also more in harmony with the existing housing in the neighborhood,” she said.

Owner and developer Svetlana Mogilevsky told the Gazette that she has been working with the neighborhood since last year to reach a compromise.

She specifically mentioned how helpful the SNA has been “very, very good” in helping her develop the new plans.

Updated plans for 22-26 Plainfield St. include lowering the building’s height to 2.5 stories and replacing garages with off-street parking. (Courtesy Illustration)

Updated plans for 22-26 Plainfield St. include lowering the building’s height to 2.5 stories and replacing garages with off-street parking. (Courtesy Illustration)

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