The City’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) granted variances for City Realty’s 3193 Washington St. development proposal, according to Inspectional Services Department (ISD) spokesperson Lisa Timberlake. ISD oversees the ZBA.
The ZBA granted the variances despite the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council recommending that the project be denied. Dave Baron, chair of JPNC’s Zoning Committee, wrote a letter to the ZBA urging denial, citing that the project does not conform to the guidelines in the Plan: JP/Rox study and community opposition.
City Realty’s proposal, which has changed and is smaller in scale than what was originally proposed, includes building a 42,170-square-foot development with 40 units (3 studios; 8 one-bedrooms; 17 two-bedrooms; 3 two-bedrooms and den; and 9 three-bedrooms). Seven of the units will be affordable. There will also be 2,560 square feet of retail divide into three spaces.
Clifford Kensington, manager of acquisitions for City Realty, released a statement through a spokesperson that said, “We’re obviously thrilled at the zoning board’s decision. We worked hard to engage with the community and incorporate their feedback throughout this process, from holding dozens of neighborhood meetings to creating the CityPOP-Egleston community art space to making design changes in response to neighbor’s concerns all the way up until last night. We’re excited to bring these wonderful homeownership opportunities to the Jamaica Plain community.”