Representatives of the DotBlock team gave an update on the $150 million mixed-use project at a public meeting held Tuesday, February 23rd at the Dorchester Boys and Girls Club. A Second Supplemental Filing for DotBlock was submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority earlier this month on Wednesday, February 10th. Latest project renderings and plans from the filing were presented at Tuesday’s meeting. DotBlock’s design was approved earlier this month on Tuesday, February 2nd by the Boston Civic Design Commission.

DotBlock will contain 362 residential units and 37,000 square feet of retail space. Maximum building height at DotBlock will be six stories. A parking garage will be built on site containing 450 car spaces. 100 spaces will be designated for retailers; retail-resident parking balance is subject to change depending upon retail demand. Garage parking spaces will be made available to neighborhood residents in the event of a snowstorm or other emergency-related street parking ban.

DotBlock was originally proposed to occupy the entire block bounded by Dorchester Avenue, Hancock Street, Pleasant Street and Greenmount Street. The modified project excludes some parcels that were not acquired by the developer. Project size has accordingly been reduced by approximately 120 residential units and 40,000 square feet of retail. A gas station located at the corner of Dorchester Avenue and Hancock Street is currently under agreement for acquisition by the DotBlock team. The gas station parcel may be incorporated into a future phase of DotBlock.

DotBlock will be a middle-income urban housing development. According to Demetri Dasco, CEO of DotBlock developer Atlas Investment Group, market-rate rents at DotBlock will range from $2,100 per month for a one-bedroom unit to the “$2,600 per month to $2,700 per month range” for a two-bedroom unit. Rents have been reduced to “minimum amounts to meet lender requirements for [construction] financing.” 48 units at DotBlock (13%) will be designated affordable at 70% area median income (AMI).

The DotBlock team has consulted with Boston-area general contractor Lee Kennedy Company on DotBlock’s design for over two years. Given that DotBlock has not yet been approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority for construction, a general contracting deal has not yet been signed.

Overall urban planning of the DotBlock site has been completed. The DotBlock team is now working towards finalizing construction details including lighting, security and sidewalk pavement. Streetscape design will utilize the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s complete streets guidelines, which encourage walkability and accommodations for a variety of street users including pedestrians, cyclists and drivers. The DotBlock team will contribute $250,000 to a community fund; funds will be made available to community non-profit organizations.

The DotBlock team is also working to lease retail space at DotBlock. The Dartmouth Company is coordinating retail leasing. A 31,500 square foot retail space fronting Dorchester Avenue is being marketed towards a grocery store tenant. According to a Dartmouth Company representative, there are “two or three genuinely interested” grocery store partners. Other envisioned retail options include restaurants, coffee shops and a bank.

Retail will be built along Dorchester Avenue and Hancock Street. A public pedestrian-only corridor will be built through DotBlock’s center lined with several retail options. There will be an acre and a half of usable open space, including a playground, located on the DotBlock site. All public space will have 24-hour security monitoring. A representative of RODE Architects spoke for DotBlock’s mission to "knit together [surrounding Dorchester neighborhoods of] Meeting House Hill, Savin Hill and Jones Hill” through open pedestrian space usable by all.

Building massing:



Ground floor plan:



Site plan:



Full Second Supplemental Filing:

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