Developer proposes six-unit building near Quincy Adams MBTA; Planning Board continues hearing to Feb. 11

Attorney David Mahoney, representing the trustee of the 166 Independence Ave Realty Trust, presented a continued site-plan review Dec. 17 for a proposed three-story building with six residential units and eight parking spaces located across from the Quincy Adams MBTA station.

"Mister Hardiman is proposing, taking that building down, constructing 6 units, with 8 parking spaces," Mahoney told the board, stressing the site's proximity to the T and noting the owner has held the property for several years and resumed the project after earlier delays.

Philip Baker of Rockwood Design described the layout and massing: "So each floor has 2 units. Each unit is 2 beds, 1 bath, about just over 800 square feet." Baker said the proposed building would total about 6,067 sq ft and be under the 35-foot height limit at roughly 34 feet 8 inches, with private balconies for each unit and handicap-accessible entries.

Michael Joyce of Joyce Consulting Group presented site and drainage plans, including installation of 12 Caltech subsurface stormwater chambers beneath the parking area. Joyce said the system is sized to handle 2-, 10-, 25- and 100-year storms and that post-construction runoff rates would be reduced "in accordance with the Massachusetts Stormwater Handbook." He also said the site would pitch to a catch basin near Virchow Street and that large storm event overflow would be throttled through a weir at a drain manhole.

Board members pressed for details on lighting, trash-storage locations, snow-storage plans and the final heating/utility placement. Applicants agreed to provide a photometric lighting plan, a designated trash enclosure location and clearer snow-storage and utility siting before the next hearing. Councilor James Devine, who had helped organize a neighborhood meeting, told the board most residents warmed to the design after seeing the plans, though he acknowledged parking concerns from some nearby streets.

With outstanding engineering and site details pending, the board voted to continue the 166 Independence Ave hearing to Feb. 11, 2026 so reviewers and the applicant's engineers can provide required stormwater calculations and final plan details.