A development team filed new plans with the city last month that detail its latest proposal for a mixed-use building at 554-562 Columbia Rd. in Uphams Corner.

A new six-story building would be sited behind the existing four-story Fox Hall, which dates to the late 19th century. The older building will be renovated to upgrade units for the existing 15 occupants, who will get more spacious studio apartments.

According to a document filed on June 23 with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), Roxbury-based Cruz Construction has teamed with Hingham-based JLCD Development to advance the project, which will create 72 new units of housing on what is now a parking lot.

The new building will include roof-top amenities and on-site parking for 24 vehicles and bicycle storage in the garage level with “new pedestrian connections and public realm upgrades.”

The entire project consists of approximately 68,916 square feet of space.

All of the units in the new complex would be marketed to people making between 30 percent to 100 percent of the Boston area median income.
Current residents in Fox Hall will be able to stay in their existing units until the new building and their renovated units are ready.

The developer plans to renovate Fox Hall’s upper floors, while letting existing ground-floor commercial tenants stay in place.  The proposed breakdown of the residential units is 4 three-bedrooms, 30 two-bedrooms, 20 one-bedrooms, and 18 studio apartments. 

The team said it intends to “advance the housing creation goals  of the  City’s 2030 Housing Plan” by introducing “development without displacement,” including restoration of the existing mixed-use Fox Hall as well as the residential development on a vacant portion of the site behind it, according to filings.

In their plans, the project team also noted that the site is within walking range of public transit, including the Fairmount commuter rail line on Dudley Street.

The BPDA’s public comment period for this project is now open, but scheduled to end on July 29. Comments and feedback can be submitted online at bostonplans.org. There are currently no BPDA-hosted community meetings scheduled.