🔨 6 Story Building Proposed for Union Ave
Council Resumes Debate on MBTA Communities Act
Happy Thanksgiving Week, Framingham.
As we gather around our Thanksgiving tables this week, I'm filled with gratitude for you - for reading, sharing, commenting and supporting. The strength of Framingham lies in how we come together, support one another, and work as one to build a better city.
A special thank you to all of our volunteers on boards and commissions. You don’t receive enough recognition, so I want to take a moment to share my appreciation for how you show up to meetings, share your thoughts, and put your heart and skills to work for the place we call home.
You are an important piece to Framingham. Thank you for serving.
6 Story Building Proposed for Union Ave
A six story apartment has been proposed for the site of the former Boyles Funeral Home on Union Avenue. The Planning Board heard about the proposal in the Thursday, November 21 meeting.
Details of the project: The complex will feature 46 units (4 studios, 27 one bedrooms, 14 two bedrooms, 1 three bedroom) on six stories. The site will have 61 parking spaces behind and beneath the building. To give you a sense about parking, there are 39 spots at the current location.
The building will include a roof deck with seating and entertainment space, a clubroom, lounge, and work from home space.
Comparing to what is there: The current funeral home is 27 feet, two stories. The proposed building is 69.9 feet at 6 stories.
Historical building?: Because the house was built in 1900, thus making it more than 75 years old, the developer must go in front of the Historical Commission to determine if there is any historical significance. The Historical Commission gave this project a demolition approval.
Who is the developer?: The project is proposed by Raymond Boghos, the current owner of the Chicken Bone property. During the meeting, Sarkis Sarkisian publicly requested Boghos tear down the Chicken Bone building for it is an eye store and it has been two years with nothing happening at the site.
What the Planning Board said: The Planning Board gave the project mixed reviews, with a majority remarking that the project “overwhelms” the current neighborhood and that it doesn’t fit into the location. Chair Kristina Johnson remarked that she’d like to see a better blend of the building into the neighborhood. Vice Chair Joe Norton commented this parcel is more dense than any of the possible projects under the MBTA Communities Act.
Next steps: The Planning Board voted to continue the public hearing about this project to their next meeting at 7:00pm on Thursday, December 5.
Council Tackles MBTA Zoning…Again…Tonight
Another round of discussion: A special Council meeting will be held tonight, Monday November 25th, to continue the heated and passionate debate about the MBTA Communities Act.
Resident petition submitted: Earlier today residents submitted a petition with 402 signatures collected over the weekend. The petition makes several suggestions, including a major change in Nobscot. Instead of agreeing to adding the Edmands Road parcel to the zoning, it recommends including the B4 zone (the center of Nobscot where Edmands, Water and Edgell meet and where the newly constructed units are going up.)
The petition says:
“This alternative plan changes the Mayor’s October 23, 2024 plan as follows:
Reduces total number of units by 596 units;
Acknowledge City’s ongoing efforts to provide housing;
Replaces Saxonville Lumber site with Pinefield site;
Replaces current Nobscot site with area covered by current B4 Nobscot Village District; and,
Prohibits City from giving developers waivers from requirements and requires Mayor to study and plan for impacts.”
The petition also removes the cinema site at Shoppers World, and adds the 1.5-acre parcel at One Henry Street (old Town Yard) for 30 affordable condos, for sale by City and remove 196 Franklin Street, owned by Tenet, who own Framingham Union;
Meanwhile on Edmands: The lawyer for J&Co, the developers for Edmands, submitted a proposal Memorandum of Agreement with the City.
J&Co proposes to incorporate the following restrictions and commitments into a Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) with the City of Framingham to take effect if and when the City adopts the 11/14 MBTA Zoning or a revised version that includes MOD-4 as defined and regulated in the 11/14/24 MBTA Zoning.
Highlights of the MOA:
Ownership Units: Minimum 50% of all multifamily units to be ownership
Density: 20 units/acre (to be established by the MBTA Zoning)
Townhouses: 2-6 units per building
Apartment and Condominium Buildings: At least 85% of units in apartment or condo buildings to consist of 1-2 bedrooms; remainder being studio or 3-bedroom units.
Military veteran and municipal employee preference for 5% of ownership units (to the extent allowed by Federal and State housing laws)
Potential Senior Living or Assisted Living facility consisting of up to 150 units on a dedicated 2-3 acre area
Dedicated Right Turn Lane: J&Co shall construct a right turn lane from Edgell Road to Water Street with a cost cap of $1,000,000 within 18 months of project commencement if requested by the City’s traffic consultants and engineers.
Provide an on-site location up to 1-acre to allow for construction of a 10,000 SF municipal first responder facility or other community use, as provided in the 11/14 MBTA Zoning.
You can read the MOA by clicking here.
Also in background: Councilor Long also submitted a zoning plan that moves Nobscot to B4, but includes the Valentine & Dinsmore Properties with 39.2 acres at 30 units/acre = 1176, but wetlands on property may affect that number. Councilor Noval Alexander also submitted a plan changing the number of units at certain parcels: reducing Nobscot to 15 units per acre, increasing units to 20 an acre at Shoppers World, and increasing units at 9/90 to 20 units an acre.
Meeting beings: Tonight at 7:00pm in the Blumer Room in the Memorial Building
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, November 25
7:00pm: Council Agenda
Tuesday, November 26
In Closing…
From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
Traffic is a horror show and we're adding a six story building????
Thx