Mr.

Jay Rourke October 13, 2009

Boston Redevelopment Authority
1 City Hall Plaza
Boston, MA
RE: Allston Brighton North Neighbors Forum (ABNNF) comment on the Charlesview relocation
Mr. Rourke,
The Charlesview relocation offers the City of Boston and Harvard University the exciting opportunity to begin the
revitalization that they promised in the 2005 North Allston Strategic Framework for Planning. Unfortunately, the current
proposal is deficient in too many important ways. It should not be approved in its current form.
We ask Mayor Menino to withhold his approval and require planners from the BRA, Harvard, and The Community
Builders to work with residents of Allston and Brighton to promptly resolve these issues. As you know, the ABNNF has
proposed development in the Holton Street Corridor and demonstrated that solutions for many of the problems with
the current Charlesview proposal are both possible and practical. A summary of this proposal is attached.
Many Allston/Brighton citizens have already commented on the following subjects. The ABNNF seconds their concerns
and agrees with our neighbors that they must be resolved. In summary, the Charlesview project should have:
1. Public disclosure of construction financing and ongoing budget to ensure that the new Charlesview is built
properly and well-maintained
2. More homeownership
3. More public parkland
4. More economic integration
5. More retail on Western Ave.
Additionally:
1. An independent inspection should be done immediately to assess the conditions at the current Charlesview. The
results of this report, and a plan by the Charlesview Board to resolve all urgent issues, should be published
before the relocation is approved.
2. Transportation impacts must be studied and commitments made for necessary improvements before the
proposed density is allowed. The proposed Telford Street building has a density of 472 bedrooms per acre (74
units totaling 118 bedrooms on ¼ acre). Setting this precedent for future development along all of Western Ave.,
without transportation improvements, would seriously damage the quality of life in Allston and Brighton.
3. New streets should be aligned to allow future connections with Raymond and Brentwood Streets (see image).
4. McDonald's should be incorporated into the ground floor a new, multi-story building, either in one of the
buildings proposed by Charlesview or a new building on the current McDonald’s site. The current draft of the
BRA’s Community Wide Plan proposes a multi-story building at the current McDonald’s site and the BRA should
not allow new construction inconsistent with the BRA’s own plan.
5. More family-sized units (3+ BR) are needed.
6. Homeownership units should require owner-occupancy.
7. The new Telford Street should include a 20 foot pedestrian promenade.
8. Detailed planning with specific timelines is needed for the relocation of Shaw’s to Western Ave and the creation
of the “major activity center” described in the CWP.
Many of the problems with the Charlesview proposal can be solved only if Harvard allows neighborhood-friendly activity
on all of its property beyond the boundaries of its 50-year plan. The residents of Allston and Brighton need Mayor
Menino’s support to convince Harvard to support reasonable uses now to benefit Harvard, our neighborhood, and the
City of Boston. The current situation weakens the community and should no longer be accepted by City Hall.
Sincerely,
Sara Helen Ayanian, Jason Benzaken, Jeff Bryan, Tom Lally, Harry Mattison, Tim McHale, David McNair, Karen Smith,
Brent Whelan
 Proposed new streets should be modified to allow the future extension of Raymond and Brentwood Streets
Red lines show extension of existing streets that should align with new east/west streets
Base image from Charlesview DPIR - Figure 2.1-3, page 45.
 The Allston Brighton North
Neighbors Forum (ABNNF)
believes development should
occur on 10 vacant and
underutilized acres owned by
Harvard in the Brighton Mills
Shopping Center area. This land is
in addition to the 8 acres in the
proposed Harvard-Charlesview
land swap.

These 10 acres are not included in

Harvard’s 2007 50-year plan and
would be used for the
construction of 120
homeownership units, a 3.5 acre
public park, and new roads to
connect the existing
ANTWERP ST

neighborhoods.

The extent of development

proposed in Charlesview’s Draft
Project Impact Report is shown in
Public Park yellow. This proposal includes a ½
3.5 acres acre of parkland for approximately
1000 residents. Allston/Brighton
has 5 acres of parkland per 1,000
residents and the Citywide
average is 7 acres per 1,000.

The new housing and public

parkland proposed by ABNNF is
outlined in red and would be
added:

• At the intersection of Western

Ave & Telford St

• At the intersection of Holton St

& Antwerp St

• South of Holton St
 ABNNF Proposal adds 120
Charlesview Proposal in
Income Level ownership units @ Brighton Mills and
DPIR
balances economic mix
Brighton Mills & Telford Street sites
Low 200 56% 200 42%
Moderate 41 11% 57 12%
Workforce 26 7% 70 15%
Market 93 26% 153 32%
Rental 260 72% 260 54%
Ownership 100 28% 220 46%
Total Units 360 480
Brighton Mills site
Low 200 70% 200 49%
Moderate 41 14% 57 14% +16
Workforce 26 9% 70 17% +44
Market 19 7% 79 19% +60
Rental 260 91% 260 64%
Ownership 26 9% 146 36% +120
Total Units 286 406
Charlesview DPIR ABNNF Proposed
Rental/Ownership @ Brighton Mills Rental/Ownership @ Brighton Mills

9%

36%
Rental Rental
Ownership Ownership
64%
91%

Charlesview DPIR ABNNF Proposed

Income Mix @ Brighton Mills Income Mix @ Brighton Mills

7%
9% Low 20% Low

14%
Moderate 49% Moderate
Workforce 17% Workforce
70%
Market Market
14%