Boston Zoning Board Approves 117-Unit Fenway Cathedral Housing Project

BOSTON -- October 29, 2024, Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal unanimously approved a 117-unit mixed-income development behind Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral in the Fenway neighborhood at its October 29 hearing. The project, brought by attorney Paula Devereaux on behalf of the Cathedral and development partner THR Acquisitions, will replace a surface parking lot at 165 Park Drive with a seven-story building containing 48 affordable for-sale condominiums and 69 market-rate rental units, roughly 41 percent affordability, funded in part through off-site contributions from a previously approved development at 1400 Boylston Street. A parish representative told the board the Cathedral "respectfully asks for your support" and will remain fully operational during construction. The board also unanimously corrected an omission from a June approval at 358 Chestnut Hill Avenue, granting a height variance that attorney George Morancy acknowledged had been "quite an obvious missing violation" from the original refusal letter for the six-story, 67.5-foot building. A contested Roslindale single-family subdivision at 103 Burke Street and 99 Albano Street drew 66 letters of support, 16 in opposition, and a 42-signature petition against the project, with abutters citing parking strain and emergency-vehicle access on the Albano-Birch corner; the board had not voted before the transcript ended.