DotBlock

NPC Approved for Dot Block During Raucous BPDA Meeting

Although the updated plans for the Dot Block were not up for public debate at the BPDA meeting on April 11th, a group of disgruntled citizens were on hand to speak in opposition of the project. Chairman Timothy Burke's gavel got quite a workout as he tried to silence the crowd who claimed the $200M, project set to clean up a long-blighted industrial area, will displace Dorchester residents. Despite the interruptions, the NPC was approved, even receiving positive feedback from a Board member who is a neighbor to the project.

The newly approved plans call for an increase in residential units from 362 to 488, 66 of which will be IDP units. The increase in units allows for deeper levels of affordability than required and 33 of the IDP units are designated for Neighborhood Diversity Preference. Changes were also put in place to decrease the retail/restaurant square footage to 23,000. With smaller spaces the development team hopes to be able to welcome more local, small businesses to the project. The final major change to the plans was to the parking. The previous plan called for an above ground parking garage which has now been moved below grade allowing for significantly more green/open space, around 1.3 acres in total.

A spokesperson for Samuels and Associates, who joined the project team in December of 2018, told BLDUP via email:  "After many months of review and feedback, we are pleased to have earned BPDA approval to move forward with revised plans for the Dot Block project.  The current proposal improves upon the project originally approved by the BPDA in 2016, adding more housing opportunities, connecting neighborhoods together and providing more open space."

A construction start date is yet to be determined.

 

DotBlock Under Official Review

The proposed mixed-use development in Dorchester is under official review.

The development will transform a collection of vacant parcels located at the juncture of Dorchester's Savin Hill, Jones Hill, and Meeting House Hill neighborhoods. In total, approximately 487 residential units will be built at DotBlock, a mix of apartments and condos, across five mixed-use buildings.

DotBlock will include approximately 37,000 square feet of retail with underground parking for 360 cars. Among DotBlock's residential amenities will be a pool and fitness facility and around 15,000 square feet of green space.

DotBlock Construction to Start in 2018

Despite delays, this past winter on pre-construction demolition, the mixed-use Dot Block project should begin construction in 2018. The project will bring 362 units and 37,000 square feet of retail space to the 4-acre block of Glover’s Corner in Dorchester.

Catherine O'Neill of Atlas Investment Group said that they planned to pull a demolition permit at Inspectional Services Department and the buildings on the four parcels should be coming down “soon.”

Dorchester’s DotBlock obtains financial backing, could break ground this summer

Investment group Wintergold LLC is financially backing the approved 388,400 square foot DotBlock mixed-use development in Dorchester. Wintergold has acquired the approximately 4-acre DotBlock site at the corner of Hancock and Pleasant Streets for $19.1 million and also acquired an adjacent 1/4-acre parcel for $1.9 million. DotBlock developer Atlas Investment Group will remain involved with the project’s design and construction. The development team is reportedly in conversations with the owners of adjacent parcels to acquire the properties and expand DotBlock. The team hopes to start construction of DotBlock in Summer 2017.

DotBlock approved for construction

The Boston Redevelopment Authority approved DotBlock for construction at last night's board meeting. Located at the juncture of Dorchester's Meeting House Hill, Savin Hill and Jones Hill neighborhoods, DotBlock will contain approximately 362 residential units and 37,000 square feet of retail space across five new buildings. Construction of DotBlock could start this summer.

Renderings of DotBlock are posted above. More information about DotBlock is posted below.

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:

DotBlock's design has been unanimously approved by the Boston Civic Design Commission. The project team is now working towards approval by the Boston Redevelopment Authority board.

Dot Block received approval from Boston's Civic Design Commission! Learn more on our blog https://t.co/SHFmXsidVF pic.twitter.com/GxFEdDabm2

— RODE Architects (@RODE_Architects) February 3, 2016

DotBlock is moving ahead targeting a summer 2016 construction start. DotBlock went before the Boston Civic Design Commission earlier this month; a Boston Civic Design Commission board vote is scheduled for this coming Tuesday, February 2nd. Building permits could be acquired in March; DotBlock will likely go before the Zoning Board of Appeals in spring 2016. Developer Atlas Investment Group is also actively working with the Boston Transportation Department to finalize traffic flow plans.

The developer has received interest from a national grocery chain regarding opening a DotBlock location, according to a report by the Dorchester Reporter. The DotBlock project site totals nearly four acres. DotBlock is sure to be transformative, bringing new residents and retail options to a growing district and activating some long-vacant parcels. DotBlock project renderings are posted above.

DotBlock Site Plan:

The proposed Savin Hill development bordered by Pleasant Street, Hancock Street and Dorchester Avenue has an official name—DotBlock!