Worcester developer adds parking spaces, bypasses zoning board
Monday, September 30, 2013
By Nick Kotsopoulos, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
nkotsopoulos@telegram.com
WORCESTER — The developer of a proposed 350-unit housing complex off Franklin Street, near Union Station, has bypassed the need to obtain a variance from the Zoning Board of Appeals by significantly increasing the number of off-street parking spaces for the project.
DOK Realty LLC, the developer, had petitioned the zoning board for variance because the off-street parking originally planned for the project was 278 spaces short of what is required under the city's zoning ordinance.
But the developer has since decided to add another level to the parking garage that will be built as part of the project, as well as add a 50-space surface parking lot on Arctic Street.
In total, the project now calls for 750 off-street parking spaces, which exceeds city zoning requirements. On-street parking would be available on Arctic and Plastics streets.
With the developer no longer needing relief from off-street parking requirements, the zoning board Monday night granted the developer's request to withdraw his petition for a variance and special permit.
As a result, the project will next go before the Planning Board for review.
The area to be redeveloped encompasses seven separate properties with a combined size of roughly 112,532 square feet. It is bounded by Franklin Street to the north, Plastics Street to the east and Arctic Street to the west.
All seven properties are owned by Ding On "Tony" Kwan of Framingham, under three separate limited liability corporations.
The site of the proposed eight-story building is within walking distance of Union Station, Washington Square and the Canal District. It is also adjacent to the elevated portion of Interstate 290 and next to part of the CSX freight terminal on Franklin Street and the Franklin Street fire station.
The upper six floors of the building will house 350 apartment units, while a three-level, 700-space parking garage will be below it. The garage will have a level below grade and two levels above.
The city's zoning ordinance requires two parking spaces per unit for new housing construction.
http://www.telegram.com/article/2013...S/309309604/0/
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Neighbors hail plan for new WRTA facility on Quinsigamond Avenue
Thursday, October 10, 2013
By Alli Knothe, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
WORCESTER — It's full steam ahead on the Worcester Regional Transit Authority's next big project.
The authority, which operates the local bus system, will use $60 million in federal and state funding to construct a new facility on Quinsigamond Avenue that will house operations for its fleet of buses and vans.
A handful of residents were among a group of about 20 people at an hourlong meeting Wednesday at the Green Island Neighborhood Center, which is just around the corner from the proposed site.
WRTA representatives responded to residents' concerns about how the facility would affect traffic and noise in the neighborhood, and the persistent flooding that has plagued the area for decades.
"I've been in agreement since 2010, since the negotiations started," said Kent Bailey of Sigel Street. A resident of the neighborhood for about 15 years, he said the facility would boost the neighborhood by providing additional jobs since workers will use local restaurants and shops.
While WRTA officials said they would take every measure to ensure that the facility does not add to the flooding, they are not responsible for solving that problem for the neighborhood.
However, District 4 City Councilor Sarai Rivera said she is hopeful the new facility would "make this more of a motivator" for the city to find a solution.
And as long as the flooding is dealt with and the facility doesn't add to traffic, Endicott Street resident Anne Reidy said, it would be a good thing.
Authority officials have chosen the new site for several reasons, WRTA Administrator Stephen F. O'Neil told the crowd. Those include that the landscape is flat and the site should require minimal demolition, and it is near the downtown bus hub.
The 11-acre plot sits between Crompton Park and the Providence & Worcester Railroad Co. property.
http://www.telegram.com/article/2013...S/310109822/0/
The new site is both closer to the new bus hub at Union Station, and bigger than the current bus depot on Grove street, which was originally used for street cars.
Background:
http://www.telegram.com/article/2013...69907/0/SEARCH
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First phase of Elm Park improvements complete
http://www.telegram.com/article/2013...S/309279578/0/
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Worcester Redevelopment Authority to draft urban renewal plan
http://www.telegram.com/article/2013...S/309239904/0/
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Zoning conversation begins for former three-decker lots
Sunday, September 22, 2013
By Nick Kotsopoulos, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
Many of Worcester's densely populated urban neighborhoods are zoned RG-5 (Residential, General); that means each lot must be at least 5,000 square feet in size and have at least 50 feet of frontage.
In fact, 11 percent of Worcester's land area is zoned RG-5, according to city planners.
But Mr. Mooradian points out that many of the lots where three-deckers once stood are smaller in size; they are typically 3,500- to 4,000-square feet with 30-35 feet of frontage. In other words, a single-family home or duplex cannot be built on those lots without some kind of zoning relief.
To address that problem, Mr. Mooradian last week petitioned the Planning Board, asking it amend the RG-5 zoning requirements so single-family homes could be built on lots that are 4,000 square feet in size.
http://www.telegram.com/article/2013...7/309229930/0/