Designers say Hive workforce housing was moved out of floodway; board asks for stronger management and safety details

Architects for the Hive at 132 Cherry Street told the Project Review Committee on Feb. 13 that FEMA flood‑map revisions required shifting the two‑building, five‑story workforce‑housing project east and south to move structures out of the regulatory floodway. "This is a two building project that's five stories and it provides workforce housing," project designer Mariam Yakub said during the presentation.

Yakub said the project is pursuing HTR funding and is seeking amended site‑plan approval because of the flood‑map revisions. She told the committee the team obtained conditional variances at the BCA for a reduced front‑yard setback and for a loading zone; the loading area was increased from 409 square feet to 434 square feet to meet a condition the applicants said was about 425 square feet.

Jamie, a member of the design team, said the original bioretention swale and stormwater design remain applicable and that the redevelopment will reduce runoff compared with prior site conditions. On pedestrian circulation, the applicants said they prefer not to add a north‑side toe path because it would create a "blind alley;" they favor directing pedestrians past active frontage on Cherry Street and toward the trail head to activate the street edge.

The committee pressed the team for operational detail. Chris Durr, who spoke for building management and safety, described security measures the project plans to use: a gated courtyard accessed by a key fob, key‑fob floor access and full‑time on‑site management to help control access and direct resident flows. "We are going to have full‑time management ... a key fob system for entry into the building as well as a key fob system which will be utilized for each of the access to the floors by the residents," Durr said.

Board members said those operational details should be expanded for the full board. Andy Rolman asked for more specifics about supportive services and whether 24‑hour staffing would be considered; Emily Patrina asked that the toe path be added to final landscape sheets for clarity and suggested benches or other activation along the inlet; other members requested the courtyard fence height and security‑lighting details be included in the March packet. Chair Max Feffer said the planning board will consider preliminary and potential final site plan approval at its March meeting and that the BCA variance packet with conditions will be provided to board members.

What happens next

The committee asked the applicants to return to the full planning board with: detailed fencing and fence‑height specifications for the secure courtyard, expanded management and supportive‑services descriptions (including staffing plans and hours), a clear landscape plan that shows the toe path, and the BCA variance packet documenting conditions attached to the approvals. No formal vote was taken by the Project Review Committee at this meeting.

Proper names and authorities

Project team: CJS Architects; project referenced as "the Hive at 132 Cherry Street." The team reported conditional variances granted at the BCA (variance packet to be included in the planning board materials).