Boston Board of Appeal Approves Three East Boston Projects, Denies Frankfurt Street Development

Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip9103 · Meeting of July 22, 2026

Boston's Board of Appeal denied one East Boston residential project and approved three others plus a South Boston conversion at its July 22 hearing. The board denied without prejudice a proposal at 437 Frankfurt Street after abutters including Joni DeMarzo, a 27-year resident at 435 Frankfurt Street, testified that a reduction from nine units to four had been achieved by merging units rather than reducing square footage, calling the change "fabricated." The board then approved a revised seven-unit building at 159-165 Everett Street — on rediscussion after a prior request for an updated parking diagram — with eight tandem spaces and a 24-foot curb cut, over opposition from neighbor Christopher Thornton, who cited density and inadequate outreach. At 655 Saratoga Street, the board approved a four-unit condominium addition above the retained Saratoga Convenience Store, with attorney Matt Echolt of Drago and Toscano noting the store's preservation was the community's top demand.

The board also approved a seven-unit, three-story condominium building at 243 Princeton Street, reduced from nine units and four stories through community process, and closed with approval of a South Boston conversion at 14 West Broadway, where attorney George Maranci argued that leaving the second-floor commercial space vacant was less favorable than adding four residential units steps from the MBTA Broadway Red Line station.

In the full story:

• 437 Frankfurt Street — Denial Without Prejudice
• 159-165 Everett Street — Seven-Unit Building with Eight Tandem Parking Spaces
• 655 Saratoga Street — Convenience Store Preserved, Four Condominiums Added
• 243 Princeton Street — Nine Units Reduced to Seven, Roof Decks Removed
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report — 3,100 words

Source: the Uncategorized 2026-07-22 clip9103 meeting of July 22, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.