Boston PIC Clears Street Work for Grove Hall Community Center, Affordable Housing Projects

BOSTON -- June 26, 2025, Boston's Public Improvement Commission unanimously approved 10 infrastructure petitions at its June 26 meeting, clearing the way for street work tied to the city's first ground-up community center in decades and 22 new affordable housing units. Chair Yasha Franklin Hodge led the hearing, which centered on five approvals for the Grove Hall Community Center at 40 to 54 Geneva Avenue, a Boston Center for Youth and Families project designed by UTIL, covering right-of-way widening on Geneva Avenue, Normandy Street, and Oldfields Road, and comprehensive specific repairs including green stormwater infrastructure and raised crosswalks, approved "subject to the execution of an LMI" after Hodge pressed Public Facilities project manager Robertson Pastor for a firm commitment on long-term maintenance of permeable pavers. Harvard Standish LLC received approval for pedestrian easements and sidewalk repairs supporting 22 affordable units at 114 Harvard Street and 18 to 24 Standard Street, with civil engineer Joseph Olivera of Sherwood Consulting noting the Harvard Street plans were revised to add three reciprocal pedestrian ramps following disabilities commission feedback. Two new items, a sheet pile earth retention system in Charlestown for Bunker Hill Land Co. LLC and updated raised-crosswalk plans for the Babson-Delhi-Crossman intersection sought by the West Selden Neighborhood Association, are set for public hearings July 17.