Photo: Proponents for building a three-decker on this site at 42-44 Granger St. in Fields Corner were back in front of the civic association last week with revised plans that removed parking from the front yard. Seth Daniel photo
A plan to build a three-family house at 42-44 Granger St. in Fields Corner was the key item before the membership of the Fields Corner Civic Association (FCCA) on March 3. Architect Ethan Rittershaus was on hand to present revised plans on behalf of property owner Cindy Lam.
“Due to the controversial design elements in past proposals, I wanted to run these plans by the group before we file them again,” said Rittershaus, noting they were last there in October 2024. “The new designs are more in line with the character of the neighborhood,” he added.
The owner’s family lives next door to the location, which is currently vacant as “hole in the ground.” The proposal is to build a three-decker style home with three units.
Importantly, the proposed parking spaces have been moved to the rear of the building with a driveway on one side, and the building moved closer to the street. The front setback was at 15 feet to provide vehicle parking but is now at 4.5 feet.
The overall response was much better than in the past, and the project will return to FCCA after filing.
Passing the buck on sidewalks
Vivian Girard and several other neighbors noted a problem with the care of sidewalks under the MBTA bridges – a matter that was exposed recently with the lack of snow removal. The space is also an issue in warmer months with litter and graffiti.
“At Fields Corner we have five Red Line bridges – Dorchester Avenue, Geneva Avenue, Adams Street, Clayton Street, and Freeport Street,” Girard said. “There was no shoveling of the sidewalks at the bridge and T properties. I’ve watched it citywide – along the Fairmount Line at Geneva Avenue you couldn’t even walk to the station without going on the street as a pedestrian. I think it’s ridiculous.”
Added Annie Le: “It’s been an ongoing back and forth with the city and the T on that one because in warmer months there’s graffiti and litter issues. Those areas always feel neglected.”
State Sen. Nick Collins said it’s kind of a passing of the buck issue where no one can agree who is responsible, so nothing is done. “They have disputes about who is in charge of what,” he said.
Collins noted that the early lifting of the Snow Emergency prevented agencies from working across lines, which might have contributed to the bridge problems.
“If we had one more day of a state of emergency, those lines evaporate and there’s no state or city lines and they can act collaboratively,” he said.
Julie Ryan of Councillor John Fitzgerald’s office said they’ve gotten a lot of complaints about conditions under the bridges.
“We want it to be clear whose responsibility is where because underneath the bridge is technically a city sidewalk, but technically … it’s owned by the state,” she said. “It’s something we’re going to try to figure out for good.”
Fields Corner Notebook
•Boston Police Area C-11 Capt. Steve Sweeney said in the early going of 2026 trends have reversed and overall Part 1 crime is up by 6 percent. That number has been boosted by an increase in robberies, domestic aggravated assaults, residential burglaries, and car breaks…Police reported a non-fatal stabbing on Feb. 22 at 12:36 a.m. The victim showed up with stab wounds at the hospital, and indicated the crime happened at Carson Beach. Further investigation revealed it happened in Fields Corner in the 200th block of Adams Street. The victim was not cooperative with police.
•The Boston Little Saigon Cultural District will host a Beautification Day on March 21 from 10 a.m. to noon to clean up litter, erase graffiti and buff up the district. In addition, the long-awaited decorative lighting on the alley between Adams Street and Dorchester Avenue will be installed. Volunteers of all ages are welcome.
•Business leaders announced that Dorchester’s Samantha Rivas has signed a lease for the former Eblens store (138 Park St.) in Fields Corner and will open Modern Party Art in the location. That was confirmed by landlord Alan Issokson.
•The annual Boston Little Saigon Night Market is tentatively scheduled for Sat., July 11.
•LaToya Gayles, who lives in the St. Mark’s area, attended the FCCA meeting, where she announced that she is running for state senate in the 1st Suffolk District and launching her campaign this month.
