Stony Brook Cohousing, a local group formed in 2006 to create an “intentional community” in Jamaica Plain, has entered into a deal to take on the redevelopment of the long-vacant Blessed Sacrament Church. The group is planning to purchase the church from the JPNDC and New Atlantic, the original partnership that formed to redevelop the campus in 2006.
The schematic plans shown publicly at several neighborhood meetings show the church converted to 37 condos, significant interior common spaces for its residents, and retains a space open to the local community that will be entered from the front of the church.
The primary residential entrance to the complex will be on the “green core” of the campus complex where the western side of the church faces the relocated Rectory and new construction Creighton Street condos. Parking remains on the east side of the building in the existing parking lot.
The design calls for adding new green space to replace part of the present parking lot and moving 12 parking spaces into the basement level of the building. Each housing unit will be allocated one parking space.
For more information, visit the Stony Brook Cohousing web site.
May is Preservation Month! What are you doing to celebrate?
A couple of ideas..
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is encouraging folks to participate in This Place Matters, a photo and video collection of people at the places that are important in their lives. You can browse the collection so far or register and upload your own photo or video.
Don’t miss the start of the JP Historical Society’s neighborhood tours. The first Hyde Square tour doesn’t take place until June 7, but you can explore Sumner Hill on May 17 and Stony Brook on May 31. The tours are guided by JPHS members and are chock full of unexpected stories and facts that make them an interesting hour (or a little longer if there are lots of questions). And they’re free!
But you don’t need an organized event to celebrate Preservation Month — just get outside and enjoy the beautiful weather and the beautiful buildings in our neighborhood.
The JPNDC has requested a permit to tear down a multifamily on Centre Street that is one of the last prominent tenement buildings from the pre- Interstate 95-demolished neighborhood. The house at 266-270 Centre Street is a handsome mid-block wood frame structure with a mansard roof and decorative bracketing at its cornice.
> View the Google Map (opens in a new window)
The Boston Landmarks Commission will review the demolition request at its next hearing on Tuesday, June 26.
Meeting: Boston Landmarks Commission, Demolition Delay Hearing for 266-270 Centre Street (Application #07.1004D1227)
Date: Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Time: 6:05 PM (meeting starts at 5:30 PM)
Place: Boston City Hall, 9th Floor, Room 900
Demolition delay is a review process that allows the Boston Landmarks Commission to put a demolition permit on hold temporarily to encourage a property owner to consider alternatives before destroying or altering a historic property.
The developer intends to replace the building with a much larger multifamily that will stretch across the entire block from Lamartine Street to Wise Street with retail on the first floor and a parking lot behind.
The new building is a sad example of postmodern design that uses “playful” architect whimsy in an attempt to dress up cheap materials instead of sticking to the contextual architectural vocabulary of nearby buildings or the building it is replacing.
The end product is a building that does the job of filling in a gap on Centre Street but does it by destroying original historic fabric that can’t be replaced.
The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council’s Zoning Committee is holding a meeting next Thursday to discuss the latest on the Blessed Sacrament redevelopment project.
According to a flyer found on Wyman Street, the meeting will focus on the zoning variances requested by the developer. It specifically notes Boston Zoning Commission dockets 28106 (30 Sunnyside Street, the Cheverus School), 28183, 28184, and 28185 (353-365 Centre Street).
Meeting: JPNC Zoning Committee
Date: Thursday, April 5, 2007
Time: 7:00 PM (plans on display starting at 6 PM)
Place: Curtis Hall, 20 South Street, Jamaica Plain
Plans on display
The flyer also notes that plans for the Blessed Sacrament redevelopment project will be on display prior to the meeting at the following places and times:
Tuesday & Wednesday, April 3 & 4, 2007
Time: 6 AM to 10 PM
Place: JPNDC’s Brewery Small Business Complex, 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Time: 6 AM to 5 PM
Place: JPNDC’s Brewery Small Business Complex, 284 Amory Street, Jamaica Plain
See also:
Blessed Sacrament Project Notification Form
