Planning Board Hears Update on Proposed Downtown Apartments

FRAMINGHAM - Members of the Framingham Planning Board addressed updates to a proposed project for a multi-use apartment building downtown during their meeting on Thursday, March 7.

The Worcester Business Journal reported last year that the property, located on the parcel of land along Howard Street next to the Armenian Church of the Holy Translators, was sold for $2.8 million to One Howard, LLC, a corporation under the umbrella of the Boston-based City Realty Group.

One Howard’s proposal shows that the site would feature over 130 units within walking distance of the local MBTA Commuter Rail station. It would have six floors as well as a parking garage with more than 100 spots thanks to stacking technology.

The developer is currently undergoing a review of the site, as they’ve requested multiple permits from the city. They include special permits for multi-family housing, land disturbance, and reduction in parking.

VP for Project Management at City Realty Group Jacob Simmons gave update on the project to the Planning Board on behalf of One Howard during Thursday night’s meeting, as the realty group is looking for feedback prior to the city’s peer review. Simmons said the team received comments as well as questions from officials and residents since their prior meeting in January regarding the density of the building, parking ratios and space, infrastructure, and more.

Notably, One Howard reduced the project by four units and 26 bedrooms since their previous meeting with the Planning Board. They added that they were seeking three car-share parking spaces be included within the 128 code-compliant spots already included in the pitch. Aisles for vehicles to park within the stacked garage would be increased from 22 to 24 feet, according to One Howard.

Simmons added that the group would continue work on researching stormwater management. One Howard’s proposal to Framingham officials featured an underground infiltration system.

Clerk for the Planning Board Thomas Buie explained that he is “remarkably concerned” about the entire project due to potential issues with that infiltration system, especially with Farm Pond being located adjacent to the land in question. He considered the possibility of the system not being able to drain water underground for whatever reason—especially if severe storms hit the area, which is at the neighborhood’s low point.

“I have other concerns about the project aside from this issue, but this issue alone is driving, to me, whether this is a buildable lot or not,” Buie said.

“I’m going to need some convincing to make a ‘Yes’ vote on this.”

One Howard officials said they’re working within the lines of local and state codes in order to ensure that all waterproofing measures are applied for the project.

Members of the public and the board brought up other potential issues during the meeting, such as street parking, traffic, and demographic changes. Board member Jeff Johnson elaborated on the latter point, as he hopes that people within the city like manual laborers also have a chance to live in units similar to the ones being proposed by One Howard.

“If these places could have somewhere to put work trucks—maybe that’s unreasonable, but it would at least have a glimmer of hope that somebody who has a blue collar job would have a chance to live in any of these buildings,” Johnson continued.

“Overall, I’m not too concerned about 100 units here and 100 units there if it works. But it should work for Framingham, and if it’s in the south side, I feel like it should work for the south side.”

The Planning Board reiterated that they would like to know about the status of the stormwater situation, as they have to ensure that the parcel is suitable to build on—nor that the project will cause other sites to be underwater—before other details can be put into focus. One Howard team members said they would continue their studies prior to the Planning Board meeting on April 18.