Boston Zoning Board Approves 95-Unit Mission Hill Tower Despite Community Opposition

BOSTON — April 30, 2024 — Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal unanimously approved a 95-unit, six-story mixed-use building at 100 St. Alphonsus Street in Mission Hill at its April 30 meeting, despite unanimous opposition from the Community Alliance of Mission Hill and unresolved questions about a mid-process address change from 1558 Tremont Street that community members said suppressed public attendance. Attorney John Pagini presented the Article 80 project, which includes 3,228 square feet of ground-floor retail, 53 parking spaces — only nine reserved for building residents — and 16 affordable units split between 70 and 60 percent of area median income, along with a $49,000-plus bike-share station and a $15,000 parks donation. Martin Byenborn of the Community Alliance called the project "too high, too dense" with "too little parking," warning that 59 studios would drive undergraduate transiency. BPDA project manager Dan Polanco acknowledged the agency was unaware of the address change and could not explain it. The board also deferred two companion cases for 86 Astoria Street in Mattapan to June 4, directing the applicant to complete required community meetings with two neighborhood councils before returning.