Boston Zoning Board Approves Mini Golf Venue, Brighton Condos, Dorchester Housing Project

BOSTON -- May 7, 2024, Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal approved more than a dozen projects at its May 7 meeting, headlined by a mini golf and restaurant venue for the former Crate and Barrel space at 761-793 Boylston Street and a 76-unit condominium building at 2-10 Hitchborn Street in Brighton. The Back Bay approval grants Tavistock Development a conditional use permit for Swingers, a London-based mini golf operator with 350 seats and timed reservations, alongside a ground-floor restaurant; the Back Bay Association and Councilor Durkin's office both supported the project. The Brighton building, proposed by MB Development and previously cleared by the BPDA in December under Article 80, includes 13 affordable units at 17 percent of total units, commits $25,000 to the city parks fund for McKinney Park, and $49,000 to BTD for a Bluebikes station. The most contested vote was the unanimous approval of a nine-unit expansion at 16 High Street in Dorchester's Meeting House Hill, where the civic association voted to oppose, 32 letters of opposition were received, and Councilor Brown and Worrell's office went on record against the project; the board attached provisos requiring BPDA design review and a deed-restricted affordable unit at no higher than 70 percent AMI.