Re: 392-398 Cambridge Street Notice of Project Alteration filed on May 13 2024

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Hello Everyone,

There is no better way to start off discussing this request, then to provide you with some history with an email thread dating back to 2020 (below).

Councilor Breadon from her first day in office and I have been all over this and we are as frustrated as many of you who I have talked to since the announcement of the project change notification.

Some additional information since the email thread:

The PERIDOT Condominium Master Deed was not recorded until May 10, 2022 and to this day I cannot find one unit transaction that was recorded at the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds.

On May 10, 2022, the original proponent (Babak Veyssi) then sold the building for $11,200,000.00 to 392 Cambridge Street LLC (535 Boylston St, Brookline, MA) whose registered agent is John Severini (425 Washington St, Brighton, MA).

Whoever the individuals are who are making this request, it is time for them to face the community and answer all the questions I and the councilor have as well as I'm sure you have.

From day one, it appears the community interest was subverted in favor of the developer's self-interest.

It is time to change that equation.

Tony

Anthony D’Isidoro, President

Allston Civic Association

P.O Box 822

Allston, MA 02134

617-417-3716 (Mobile)

www.allstoncivicassociation.org

adis...@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/AllstonCivicAssociation

(Please like and follow our page)

392-398 Cambridge St, Allston 

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From: Jonathan Greeley
Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2020 4:34 PM
To: Anthony D'Isidoro
Cc: Brian Golden; Lance Campbell; Liz Breadon; Lee Nave Jr.; Michael Christopher; Lizzie Torres
Subject: Re: 392-398 Cambridge St Misrepresentation

 

Tony,

I hope all is well. If the proponent is planning a change from condos to rental units, an NPC would be required, as would an amendment to the Affordable Housing Agreement. 

Lance, can you reach out to the developer to set up a conversation? I'd like to get better handle on this issue. Thanks.

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On Wed, Jun 10, 2020 at 8:04 PM Anthony D'Isidoro wrote:

Hi Jonathan,

Reading today's Globe article regarding Winthrop Center tower.

I believe public meetings and a possible revisit to the BPDA Board of Directors is in order here as well.

Tony

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From: Jonathan Greeley
Sent: Thursday, May 28, 2020 10:59 PM
To: Anthony D'Isidoro
Cc: Brian Golden; Lance Campbell; Liz Breadon; Lee Nave Jr.; Michael Christopher; Lizzie Torres
Subject: Re: 392-398 Cambridge St Misrepresentation

 

Tony,

Thanks for flagging this issue. We're happy to dig into this ASAP. Please note that the proponent has a signed Affordable Housing Agreement (available here), which defines his IDP obligations. We will circle back on this important issue next week once we learn more. 

I hope you and your family are safe and healthy during this challenging time.

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On Thu, May 28, 2020 at 10:39 PM Anthony D'Isidoro wrote:

Hello Everyone,

A few months ago, I noticed a banner attached to the construction fence at 392-398 Cambridge St in Allston which appeared to be marketing rental apartments.

I contacted Lance Campbell, the BPDA project manager who confirmed for me that the project was approved as condominiums.

If you refer to the BPDA project website, all documents reference condominiums.

http://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/392-398-cambridge-street

Today I drove by and noticed that the banner was missing.

I have been suspicious of the proponent Babak Veyssi from day one, because every time he was asked a direct question in public whether this was going to be a condominium project, he was very evasive and never gave a definitive answer.  I asked him on numerous occasions and got a similar result. 

You presented the project to the BPDA BOD on February 11, 2016.

https://www.cityofboston.gov/cable/video_library.asp?id=16428

Slide time bar to 2:36:30

Although the Chair references condominiums, the proponent never utters the word. 

The project was presented to the ZBA on April 26, 2016.

https://www.cityofboston.gov/cable/video_library.asp?id=16540

Slide time bar to 2:08:50

The proponent when asked if this is going to be condominiums, his answer leaves a lot of perplexed looks on Board members. 

Unfortunately, nobody asked for a clarification. 

The final confirmation that he is proceeding as rental apartments, I pulled this off of Apartments.com:

INTRODUCING, THE PERIDOT | Allston's newest boutique style residence located moments from Harvard and BU Campuses. Reservations will be opening soon, please send in your inquiry and we will be in touch to schedule a hardhat showing and showroom tour. Expected completion July 2020. First move in's anticipated for August through September 2020. These spacious apartments will feature high end finishes, w/d in unit, central air, open kitchens with breakfast bars, oversized windows, ELFA Container Store closets in the master closets and hardwood floors throughout.

The Peridot has rental units ranging from 764-1100 sq ft starting at $2800.

This project has been misrepresented to the Allston Brighton community and to the City of Boston.

Mark Ciommo told me early on that if Babak was changing the approved use he would need to go through the community review process again.

Construction on the project resumed this past Tuesday.

By the way, construction was delayed for a number of years due to what I understand was litigation.

Tony

P.S. I am aware that 40 Rugg Rd, 30 Penniman Rd, 70 Leo M Birmingham Pkwy and 386-388 Market St were sold after approval and before construction began.  From a reliable source, I understand 40 Mount Hood Rd is now for sale.  Same situation.  In all these cases the BPDA should arrange for a community meeting to introduce the new proponent(s), to review all pertinent project documents and ensure that the new proponent(s) revisit community sentiments regarding the respective project.

--

Jonathan Greeley, AICP

Director of Development Review

Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA)

One City Hall Square | Boston, MA 02201

bostonplans.org

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From: Boston Planning & Development Agency
Sent: Wednesday, May 15, 2024 11:56 AM
To: Anthony D'Isidoro
Subject: 392-398 Cambridge Street Notice of Project Alteration filed on May 13 2024

 

New project filing with the BPDA View this email in your browser 392-398 Cambridge Street Notice of Project Alteration Linked below for your review is an electronic copy of the Notice of Project Alteration for the proposed 392-398 Cambridge Street project located in Allston, received by the Boston Planning & Development Agency on May 13 2024. The following project description has been provided by the development team: The proposed project consists of a new five-story mixed-use building with 32 condominium units, a unit mix of 28 two-bedroom units and 4 one-bedroom units, 5,100 square feet of retail at the street level and off-street parking for 58 vehicles. On May 13, 2024, the proponent submitted a Notice of Project Alteration that includes a request to change the 392-398 Cambridge Street building from a residential homeownership project to a rental project. 392-398 Cambridge Street Notice of Project Alteration A public meeting will be offered upon request from a public official only. Please reach out to the project manager below with any questions or to request a public meeting. Contact Scott Greenhalgh scott.gr...@boston.gov Share this Email  Share Tweet Forward Twitter Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Copyright © 2024 Boston Planning & Development Agency, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square Boston, MA 02201 Add us to your address book

[Paul Creighton]

Anthony:

Regarding this Project Alteration "minor" change from Condos to rentals, the BPDA/BRA memo  on 392-398 Cambridge St. referenced above states that a public meeting will only be held upon request of a public official.

According to your thread above this shows  years of razzle dazzle.  The correspondence above is bureaucratic slippin and slidin.  

The parties mentioned in the corporate ownership maneuvering are unchanging. 

Did former City Councilor Ciommo ever do anything about the Vessi project?  Did any public official do anything?  

Has the ACA asked Councilor Breadon to request  the BPDA  to hold a public meeting about this "minor" change

Did Mr. Vessi make good on his linkage and/or community benefits commitments?  

If you read  the correspondence to BPDA from Vessi's attorney, Mr Schofield , you would think that Mr. Vessi is held, by our community, in very high regard. By whom ? For what?  They have pulled the wool over your eyes for four or five years.  

I think that  Attorney Schofield was involved when the Allston Brighton HealthCenter acquired the Washington Allston site for around $50,000. ( for the sole purpose of building a Health Center for the neighborhood)   The Health Center then sold the site to Mr. Vessi for over a million dollars.

If you think this saga is hinky, wait until  Mr. Vessi  moves on the property that they hold on the former Minihane the Florist at Washington and Parsons St in Brighton Center.

These real estate machinations are often par for the course .   As long as development approvals are finessed and contract compliance is toothless it's all systems go for wheeling and dealing

If City tax revenues shrink  it can only get more problematic.   

Has the Mayor's Committee reviewed this type of real estate jockeying?

Paul

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[David Strati]

Sure looks like a lot of shenanigans

Sent from my iPhone

On May 19, 2024, at 1:53 PM, Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com> wrote:



<392-398 Cambridge Street.jpg>

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/allstonbrighton2006/CABFi4WHikHr%3Da7VjFaD9ES3Zr9bkUBtvUjtvpL8fFQ_XeO5O4w%40mail.gmail.com.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Hello Everyone,

Givers help people because they enjoy doing so. These are the altruists of the world. The volunteers, the charity workers, people who always give their time, money, or advice.

Givers don’t think about themselves; instead, they put others first. Givers don’t expect anything in return. Their priority is other people. 

Takers are the complete opposite. They are out for themselves and don’t give anything back. These people are selfish, conniving, and manipulative. They will exploit others for their own gain.

Their focus is entirely on themselves; what they can get from a situation or person. They give as little as they can for maximum benefit. They see no point in giving back once they have benefitted.

There are also ‘matchers’. These are the ‘tit-for-tat’ people that will help you and expect a favor in return. ‘You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours’ kind of thing.

A few minutes ago, Councilor Breadon informed me that after meeting with attorneys from the Boston Planning Department, all options to keep the developer to honor his original commitment to the community have been exhausted and that the Notice of Project Change would go through.

This developer never intended to honor the original commitment and only used it to garner support and get the building built.

I will explore with the Boston Planning Department ways the community can better hold developers accountable.

I want to thank everyone who has taken this long journey with me and for your ongoing support.

People like this want us to walk away and get out of the way.

For me personally, it only reignites the passion I have to lend my voice to advocate for what is right and a community that works for everyone.

Tony   

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From: Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com>
Sent: Friday, May 17, 2024 9:43 AM
To: Anthony D’Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com>
Cc: scott.gr...@boston.gov <scott.gr...@boston.gov>; Kevin L'Herrou <kevin....@boston.gov>; Elizabeth Breadon <Liz.B...@Boston.Gov>
Subject: Re: 392-398 Cambridge Street Notice of Project Alteration filed on May 13 2024