A plan to replace a Dorchester Avenue funeral home’s parking lot with a 4-story, 22-unit building at the corner of Belfort Street in Savin Hill was the subject under review at a virtual public meeting organized by the city’s Planning Department on July 15.
The proposal, which is being advanced by the family that owns the James A. Murphy & Son Funeral Home, also includes ground-level retail space, according to John Pulgini, an attorney who spoke on behalf of the Murphys.
“Our proposal is to construct a four-story, mixed-use building with ground floor commercial space and residential units on the upper levels,” Pulgini said. “There will be 22 residential units: 6 studios, 8 one beds, 6 two beds, and 2 three beds.”
Of these units, four will be affordable to meet the city’s inclusionary zoning guidelines. The lot in question “is comprised of five narrow parcels which will be combined and measure approximately 10,544 square feet,” said Pulgini. “The current parking lot of the Murphy Funeral Home takes up most of that.”
A rendering of the proposed development at 1028-1032 Dorchester Ave.
Owen Thomas Architecture image
Pulgini also noted that the new building would include below-grade parking for 12 vehicles, a trash and utility room, a storage room, and mechanical space.
Some residents who spoke up during the virtual call expressed concern that 12 spots are not enough for 22 planned units, but project architect Owen Thomas pointed his reply at nearby public transportation.
“The site is very nicely located directly on Dorchester Avenue and is in close proximity to several types of public transportation, including buses, the Savin Hill and JFK T, and the JFK and Uphams Corner Commuter Rail,” said Thomas.
While some in attendance liked the project because it encourages the use of public transportation, others worried it would complicate congestion and competition for on-street parking spots on Belfort Street.
Thomas said the plan also calls for widening the sidewalk along Dorchester Avenue to 11 feet “to create a more welcoming pedestrian avenue.” He also said there were plans for planting beds with street trees and two bike co-ops along the avenue.
Side and rear spaces along the building will offer patio/seating areas for residents and bike parking, he noted, adding that there will also be a bike room on the ground level connected to the residential lobby, with the rest of the first floor used as retail space occupied by a tenant, Designer Draperies of Boston.
The second and third levels each would include a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units for a total of 8 dwelling units on each floor. The fourth floor, which has been set back to reduce the massing of the structure, would feature six units as well as a common room and roof deck space.
The current plan for the building’s exterior, Thomas said, is a brick masonry facade complemented with masonry and metal panels on the street-level storefront.
One resident attendee remarked that the building reminded him of “jail cells” and described it as looking “intimidating” and “cold.”
After hearing this criticism and reading other views expressed in the Zoom chat, the project team agreed to extend the Small Project Review Application comment period an extra week, to Fri., July 25.
“This is our first public meeting with this. There will be several more going forward,” said Thomas. “The design process is a fluid process, and we’ll keep listening to everyone’s input and incorporate what we feel is important.”
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