Fwd: Comments on Parcel U/Forest Hills

[Nancy Shapero]

For all we are interested, Bill and I submitted the following comments to the planner, Tyler Norod of the Boston Redevelopment Authority concerning the proposed design for Parcel U, a 124 unit housing development  at the corner of Ukraine Way and Hyde Park Ave.  Comments are due by 5 p.m. today.  The details of the proposal can be seen at the following link:

http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/getattachment/fab5aa29-b5e7-445b-b8e0-eccefc9290dc

Thanks, Nancy

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Comments on Parcel U/Forest Hills
Date:	Fri, 10 Oct 2014 12:39:33 -0400
From:	Shapero/McIlroy Design <sha...@rcn.com>
To:	tyler...@boston.gov

Dear Tyler,

The following are our comments related to the Parcel U/Forest Hills development project.

We are concerned that there is not enough retail/community space in the project.  Parcel U is part of a larger vision for Forest Hills that will increase density around the transit station and provide the amenities necessary to promote pedestrian activities.  Potential users of the retail and community space will be the new residents of this development and future developments, the existing surrounding residents, and the thousands of commuters passing through Forest Hills Station daily. 

As the first residential project in the area, it needs to set a precedent for future residential projects.  It should be a mix of housing and other uses that provide amenities for all.  We are concerned that one 1760 S.F. retail space, and one community space of 1250 S.F. is not enough.  The gym shown in the ground floor plan (pg. 3-30 of the PNF) has no access from the street and we assume is for the use of the residents of the building only.  The 1190 S.F. three bedroom apartment adjacent to the vestibule on the ground floor could be an additional retail space or community oriented space such as a daycare accessed from the street.  Two retail spaces rather than one, would support one another. 

At the meeting on 9/29/14  it was stated that the three pocket parks would be privately owned and maintained but open for public use.  This seems in conflict with the PNF.  3.6 Landscape Design, p.3-4, states "the pocket parks are open to the residents and visually accessible to the public."   We hope that the parks will be open to the public.

We do not object to the size or height of the multi-family apartment building at the corner of Ukraine Way and Hyde Park Avenue.  However, the massing of the building as currently designed does not achieve the stated design objective stated in the PNF 3.2, Massing p. 3-1.  It reads as a large single block and appears undifferentiated in relation to the rest of the project and the surrounding urban fabric. The bay window on the corner needs to be a stronger element that reads as more of a lantern.  The storefront glass at the base does not have enough doorways into the public areas. 

We applaud the projects mix of affordable and market rate housing.  We think the balance between public and private amenities needs to be recalibrated with greater focus on the retail and community spaces.  The retail need not be an anchor tenant such as Walgreens that requires visible parking.  It could be a more pedestrian focused locally owned business or community space.

Throughout the public process of the Forest Hills Improvement Initiative, the community was promised civic and community improvements as a trade-off for increased density that would benefit everyone living, shopping and passing through Forest Hills

Sincerely,

Nancy Shapero and Bill McIlroy, Shapero/McIlroy Design
landscape architect and architect/urban designer and Woodbourne neighborhood residents