Developers outline North Canal redevelopment with '0 displacement' goal for existing tenants

At an informational session the board heard a presentation from New North Canal LLC and their design team on proposed redevelopment in the North Canal area.

Attorney Catherine Flood said the team has received variance approval from the zoning board and site plan approval from the planning board and requested the board’s input ahead of a public‑hearing filing. The proposal covers two properties: 463 Moody Street, to be converted into a four‑ to five‑story senior housing building with about 100 units, and 281 Moody Street, which the team proposes to redevelop into a five‑story building with about 60 family housing units and garage parking.

Michelle of Icon Architecture described the design strategy: break a long façade into three connected elements, keep the canal‑facing side plainer with regular punched openings, and create a lively, more articulated Moody Street frontage with projecting bays and a welcoming residential entry. The plan includes a small community building that opens to private southern‑facing open space and shared green areas near Moody Street.

Board members and staff asked detailed questions about tenant relocation. A relocation consultant said the team is working with a tenant council and aims for "100%, 0 displacement," explaining that as units become available tenants will be able to move into newly finished units and that temporary 'hoteling' units would be provided inside the parcel during transitions. The team cautioned that phasing and final unit layouts are still being finalized and that site‑specific engineering is ongoing.

Board feedback emphasized pedestrian connections, preservation of mature boulevard trees where possible, and further study of how the long building mass will affect mid‑block pedestrian permeability. The presenters said feedback on site breaks, ground‑plane treatment and courtyard access would inform later public‑hearing materials.