Boston ZBA Denies Zero-Parking South Boston Tower, Approves Dorchester Affordable Units

BOSTON — April 29, 2025 — Boston ZBA rejects a zero-parking, 70-unit South Boston proposal while clearing a 47-unit affordable Dorchester project on a June deadline. The Zoning Board of Appeal voted unanimously to deny without prejudice a nine-story mixed-use building at 49-51 D Street after a five-member majority rejected a prior motion of approval 5-2, with opponents including Congressman Stephen Lynch's district director, Councillor Michael Flaherty Flynn's office, and the Andrew Square and Cityside civic associations, all citing the project's complete lack of on-site parking in one of the city's most parking-constrained neighborhoods. Attorney George Morancy argued that soil conditions and a high water table made a garage cost-prohibitive at more than $5 million for only 14 spaces, and pointed to signed memoranda of understanding for 95 off-site spaces, but board members Panato, Turner, Collins, Stenbridge, and the chair voted no. Earlier, the board unanimously approved minor design refinements to a 47-unit, 100 percent affordable apartment building at 247-251 Hancock Street in Dorchester, with attorney Johanna Schneider warning that ZBA approval was "part of the critical path to closing by the end of June."