49-51 D Street Development Proposal

The Zoning Board of Appeal on 4/29/2025 rejected a proposed 70-unit apartment building on D Street, roughly midway between the Andrew Square and Broadway T stops, after residents and US Rep. Stephen Lynch and City Councilor Ed Flynn said the proposal would only exacerbate what they said was South Boston's parking and traffic crisis because it it doesn't have enough parking.After voting 5-2 to reject Sing Ming Chan's proposal for a nine-story building in what is now largely an industrial area in the Dorchester Avenue corridor - set to be re-done with far larger residential, office and lab buildings that have city approval - the board then voted unanimously to formally reject the plans without prejudice. That means Chan can return in less than a year with a significantly revised plan."Quote from Universal HubDuring the ZBA's hearing regarding 49-51 D Street on 4/29/2025 it was notable how the topic of vast neighborhood opposition was referred to by several ZBA members, including the office of City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana who basically based his letter of opposition on this. I guess the copious amounts of support for the project eluded these individuals.
Even to the point when City of Boston Deputy Director of Neighborhood Services - Conor Newman, gave statements relating to the Article 80 review process and the ensuing community feedback. Of note was: "We've also received over 150 letters in opposition, 320 petition, letters in support"Numbers don't lie! How did Representative Stephen F. Lynch, statement here Boston City Councilors Ed Flynn statement here & Henry Santana statement here not hear the overwhelming voices of their constinstituency!Decisions as this exacerbates Boston's housing crisis. Some politicians place higher care on catering to cars, than they do about solving the housing shortage problem.A benefit of living in a city where everything is close, and public transportation is easily, and readily accessible is that you don’t need a car.  This location is an eight minute walk to the MBTA Andrew Station, and about twenty minutes to Broadway Station. (according to Google)A building [as this] without parking will draw tenants that don’t depend on singular use auto transportation, and a lack of parking is not their main concern. Those looking to rent an apartment can decide if they need parking access or not.It makes perfect sense that if you want to ease traffic congestion, and parking problems in any particular area; build housing that accommodates people who don’t own vehicles. Simple math: more parking = more cars. Mandating that new multifamily construction include parking will decidedly exacerbate traffic & climate concerns, and overall quality of life.Mandatory parking in dense cities has many disadvantages. Walkable cities are far more sustainable, and environmentally friendly. In South Boston, between the MBTA / subway, bus, commuter rail, Amtrak, Uber, ZipCar, walking etc. there isn't anywhere a person can not get to.The City does look to be moving forward on this concern, as some members of the Boston City Council are calling for an order for a hearing to explore amending the Boston Zoning Code to remove parking minimum requirements for new residential development. This is a much needed movement as presently there are new housing construction proposals that have been / are derailed because of minimum parking percentages.

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COB Deputy Director ONS - "Madam Chair, members of the Board, Connor Newman with the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services. At this time the Mayor's Office [would like to] defer to the judgement of this board.As you heard from the project manager Tyler Ross, this went through a Boston Planning community run process involving multiple IAG meetings, and a public meeting as well.Our office has received opposition from the Andrew Square Civic Association, and the City Side Neighborhood Association. These are the two neighboring, Civic groups to this proposal.WE'VE ALSO RECEIVED OVER 150 LETTERS IN OPPOSITION, 320 PETITION, LETTERS, IN SUPPORT.Those in opposition, felt that... they're not opposed to density being added to the corner of Dorchester Ave but are very alarmed by the lack of parking attached to the proposal.There was skepticism expressed by residents regarding the long-term feasibility of various off-site parking agreements, as well as if blue bikes would be a viable option of transportation, for seniors, families and residents.Those in support of the project cited the projects walking distance to Andrew Square T-Station, and also brought up that it aligned with the City's green goals. With that information we'll defer to the board at this time. Thank you."

Congressman Stephen F. Lynch - "Yes good morning Madam Chair members of the Board, Nicholas Zaferakis, Congressman Stephen Lynch's office District Director, one Harbor Street, Boston Mass. I'm also a South Boston resident and I know the parking constraints that we have here.Congressman had to fly to D.C. and asked me if I could read his letter of opposition, if that's okay? For the record.""Dear Madam Chair and members of the board, I'm writing in strong opposition to the appeal by Sing Ming Ching, owner of 49-51 D Street Ward 7, who has filed an appeal to erect a nine story mixed unit use building with 70 residential parking units, residential units and ground level retail, 71 spaces for bicycles within the building and zero parking spaces.After several meetings with the developer, surrounding abutters, and Andrew Square Civic Association the neighborhoods, spoke loudly in opposition to this proposal and asked the development team to provide much needed parking, and to reduce the building height to no more than eight stories.As all our neighbors are fully aware, a very small percentage of new residents regularly use bicycles for travel. The vast majority of new residents own cars.For the City, and the ZBA to persist in this fantasy, that parking is not necessary is disingenuous. The homeowners voters and taxpayers feel that we are being treated with lack of respect by Mayor Wu and her administration.You all know there is a great need for parking in the dense neighborhood of South Boston. It appears you are following an abstract ideology, fueled by wishful thinking rather than acknowledging what is actually happening in the City and the challenges that residents face.As of last Friday Mr. Chan's development team indicated to me their negotiated and or executed a three year temporary parking memorandum of understanding with nearby property owners, to use 90 parking spaces on two nearby lots. These Lots have already been targeted for development projects in the near future making these spaces only temporary pending the development of these lots.While we have worked with Mr. Chan on numerous projects in the past, and although I do appreciate that these efforts have been undertaken in good faith by Mr. Chan's team, the temporary nature of these {spaces} leave me no alternative but to oppose this project, unless some reasonable amount of parking is provided.The proposal will set a dangerous precedent of future development in this dense neighborhood of South Boston, which is limited street parking and will lower the quality of life, and cause unreasonable hardships to the community.For these reasons I ask the ZBA to require the developer to add reasonable number of parking spaces to this proposal, and I respectfully requests to be recorded as being in strong opposition to this request as currently proposed. Sincerely Stephen F Lynch Congressman 8th District, Massachusetts. Thank you."

District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn - "Thank you Madam Chair members of the Board; my name is Sydney, I'm from Councilor Flynn's office. Please {know} Councilor Flynn would like to go on record in opposition, and sent a letter to the board yesterday. His opposition is primarily due to the project having zero parking spaces on site for 70 units, and exacerbating South Bostons existing parking crisis.Councilor Flynn also received feedback from neighbors and abutters, the nearby civic groups of Andrew Square Civic Association, and City Side Neighborhood Association. And our office received over 150 letters and signatures in opposition, primarily due to worsening the existing parking conditions in the neighborhood.Councilor Flynn continues to stress that although higher parking ratios have been approved for article 80 projects across the city, South Boston is seemingly held to a different standard with parking ratios below zoning for the area, and in this case, no parking at all.Neighbors continue to express concerns regarding both the City's inconsistency and authority to restrict parking permits for new article 80 developments, and that cars from new residents will invariably wind up on the street, and that visitors bring vehicles on the weekends, and the vast majority of South Boston lacks any resident parking policy for three nights per week, and enforcement from the city is scaled back.With more out-of-state plates, and cars without a parking sticker on the weekends, we not only worsen the existing parking situation but there are more public safety and quality of life issues to address with the legal parking and less enforcement.That is another reason why Councilor plan continues to advocate for overnight parking residential parking throughout South Boston. Thank you."

City Councilor At-Large Henry Santana - "Good morning Madam Chair and members of the Board, my name is Indus Johnson from At-Large City Councilor Henry Santana's office, and the Councilor has received various strong opposition from neighbors and abutters on this proposal. Councilor Santana would like to echo other stakeholders as well as residents concerns, and be on record in opposition to this proposal. Thank you."