Sprawling Apartment Development Planned for Wooded Lot in Hyde Park

A wooded lot in Hyde Park could soon undergo significant changes. In a letter of intent filed with the city of Boston and then withdrawn, Lincoln Property Company, a development company, outlined plans for a 270-unit apartment complex at 990 American Legion Parkway. The Boston Planning and Development Agency sent the LOI to the city, but then it turned around and said that it had done so prematurely. The formal LOI should be issued in the next few weeks; first, the developer is holding community meetings with Hyde Park neighbors for their input.

The 14.1-acre site is situated along American Legion Parkway just east of Hyde Park Avenue. Currently, the parcel is owned by Jubilee Christian Church International, and the lot is primarily wooded. Because the parcel is so large, the developer has stated that zoning relief won’t be necessary, which should help speed the project along. A timeline for the project has not been released yet and probably won’t be until after the proposal is accepted and approved by the BPDA and the city. Without having to worry about zoning relief, however, construction should be able to start sooner than usual.

The planned apartment complex has not been named yet, so the project is being called 990 American Legion Parkway for now. The developer’s proposal calls for the construction of nine buildings standing two to three stories tall. 270 apartment units will be spread across the nine buildings, and they will be made up of one- and two-bedroom units. One-unit apartments will likely have one bathroom, but some two-bedroom units could have two; until the proposal is issued, additional details won’t be available. These will likely be classified as luxury apartments, and they will include the usual luxury features and amenities.

In its since-withdrawn letter of intent, the developer stated that the apartment development would also include various community amenities. Not surprisingly, the property will include a swimming pool and a clubhouse – standard amenities found in new apartment developments throughout the city. Plans also call for the development of a dog park, so the complex will apparently be pet-friendly. Unspecified “additional amenities” will be included in the development, and those should be outlined in greater detail as the process moves along.

To adhere to local laws and regulations, the developer is also earmarking 35 units for income-restricted housing. More than likely, the rest of the units will be leased out at market prices, which continue to climb even in the midst of the pandemic. The short height of the nine buildings will help the complex fit in well with the surrounding area, and 455 parking spaces will be included for residents and guests. In a few weeks, after the formal letter of intent is filed with the city, we will know a lot more about the planned apartment development and how it will impact housing in Hyde Park, so stay tuned to Boston City Properties for more information.