Boston Zoning Board Denies River Street Condo Project, Defers Flood-Zone Height Ruling

BOSTON — May 20, 2025 — Boston's Zoning Board of Appeal denied a 10-unit River Street condo project and deferred a pivotal coastal flood-zone height interpretation at its May 20 remote hearing. The board voted 4-2 to deny without prejudice the 55-57 River Street proposal in Mattapan, with the moving member citing lot coverage of roughly 52 percent against a 25-percent maximum and a rear yard setback of approximately four feet against a required 20 feet, calling six units "more doable" for the lot. Attorney Joseph Feaster of Dane Torpy represented the applicant; the River Street Civic Association offered conditional support while multiple abutters and the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services deferred to the board. In a separate action, the board unanimously approved the Animal Rescue League of Boston's plan to demolish and replace its 28,000-square-foot South End shelter at 10 Chandler Street with a new 31,000-square-foot, three-story facility, and approved a 36-unit office-to-residential conversion at 4 Liberty Square under the city's office conversion pilot program. The board deferred a coastal flood resiliency height measurement interpretation for 944 Saratoga Street in East Boston to June 3, pending legal counsel review and ISD staff appearance, with attorney Richard Lins arguing that at least four similar interpretation cases remain unresolved due to inconsistent ISD examiner rulings.