Delanson Realty Partners will get a public hearing about its planned 90-unit 40B development project at the next Wellesley Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, set for Dec. 21 at 7:30pm at Town Hall. Residents who have concerns about the Delanson Circle project are readying to have their say at the meeting, as they have at various town meetings about the slew of 40B projects proposed in Wellesley.
The proposed Wellesley Crossing project off of Linden Street gained public awareness over the summer and recently secured a key approval from the quasi-public Massachusetts Housing Partnership, which specified that “the site of the proposed Project is an appropriate location for residential development.” It says that the site is zoned for residential development, is within walking distance of assorted services (i.e., Linden Square shops), and is near public transportation. MHP found the developer’s revised plans, including one less story than originally proposed, to be acceptable. The project also appears to be a good bet to get financing, according to MHP.
Those opposed to the project, which would sit across from the Tailby parking lot for the Wellesley Square commuter rail station, say it will make traffic much worse and cause safety problems.
Nonna says
I lived in Wellesley and as a child I remember how happy I was to live a serene life. I have been following the story of Building an apartment complex on the Delanson land. What are you Thinking??? In my opinion you should
NOT even think about ruining this piece of land.
Who are these money grubber anyway ?? I am sure they could care less and that includes the
Town of Wellesley officials who like money too!
Since you don’t live on Linden/ Hollis Street you
Have the responsibility to say no- NO-No- no
To such an asinine proposal. I am sure you are aware of the noise, the traffic , the riff raft, and the garbage smell that the Town will have
Created. Of course not! From what I read and hear from all the loyal citizens of Wellesley,
Especially the hard working men and women who immigrated to the USA, please do not build an apartment complex on Linden/ Hollis Street.
Thanks to our ancestors and parents before us
They would much rather see a cemetery on the Delanson land. We wouldn’t complain about the
Silence, the beautiful smell of flowers, the peaceful atmosphere, the friendly families, and a
Prayer circle, Most of all Mrs skinner and her family who owned the Tailby lot would be a perfect place for the visitors to park their cars. Even better, the Town of Wellesley could put up a sign on both sides of the street saying” slow down, cemetery crossing. I still love my home town and I can’t visualize an apartment complex
Crowding Hollis Street. I apologize for my sarcasim. It is the only way I know to make the
Town of Wellesley hear our Voices.
Sarah F. says
Nonna, you are not being sarcastic. And not only are you not being sarcastic, but you raise some good points that I had not even thought of. My concern with a complex of this size was always the added traffic from residents. However, your point about the trash is eye opening. It had not yet occurred to me that not only will you have an additional 85 homes, with at least 85 cars, but you will have all the service provider traffic as well. Garbage trucks, cable guys, plumbers, electricians etc. AND THEN, on top of all that, the UPS, FedEx and Amazon trucks coming in and out 1,000 times a day to deliver packages to 90 different houses where currently there are 5!!! Oh my lord this is a horrifying thought. I just can’t see Linden Street supporting this additional traffic load. God bless the folks that live on Hollis St, Crest St, Linden St, Howe St, Weston Rd, Oak St. etc.
I don’t live in this neighborhood, but I live near it, and I drive on Weston Rd and Linden St weekly, so I have a personal interest in keeping these roadways open and traffic flowing. However, I will fight this on your behalf, because you need the support. I feel for you deeply. If this got built it would be a nightmare for the neighborhood residents and I would be saddened deeply if you lose this fight… If WE lose this fight. I stand with you.
Esther M Walker says
As it stands now without the development, Linden Street has become almost like Washington Street. When I go to visit my siblings at 134 Linden Street, it’s really hard trying to get into Hollis Street. And, if another car is coming down Hollis Street, it becomes a tight squeeze. Can you imagine with 90 units and at least one car per unit … how the blockage will be. Has anyone from the town sat on Hollis Street to see how bad it is between certain hours … and with the kids and students from the colleges walking back. Has a comprehensive traffic study been done and reviewed. Too many stories and the building does not keep the ‘residential look’ look of the neighborhood.
I can’t have a say as I don’t live in my family home. But I do know that it will truly change the whole neighborhood appeal … a neighborhood which was built by the backs of the Italians who made all the area streets up to and including Donazetti Street a neighborhood like no other.
Steve D says
Great points Esther. Linden Street has become a zoo. I remember when I was a kid growing up in town it was downright a quaint suburban road. There is no way this area can handle a 90 unit complex and the cars that come with it. The problem is this 40B law that the state politicians in Beacon Hill cooked up with their developer friends. We need to fight back. This project would have negative consequences that FAR outweigh the meager benefits. When you actually go look at Delanson Circle and that block between Oak and the three way intersection at Crest St, it is almost impossible to imagine how anyone other than the guy who is going to make a million dollars building it would think this project is a good idea. The whole 40B thing just screams crony capitalism. Can you imagine if the developer is able to push this through against the Wellesley Planning board with the help from his friends in Beacon Hill? The implications are almost unfathomable. It would be no better than Vladmir Putin handing over a state run monopoly to one of his buddies. If this thing gets built, a real crime will have been committed. Neighborhood residents, but also people from across the town that even drive on Linden street need to really raise their voices against this.
Jean W. says
Wellesley neighbors please join us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ouraffordablewellesley/
Developers are going around the town and residents with “hostile” 40B proposals when they should be working with the town and residents. There’s a place in Wellesley for “friendly” 40Bs – it’s time for developers, builders and consultants to take a “friendly” approach!
Sarah F. says
Jean, we have to sue the state. We have to get the 40B mandate for 10% eliminated or reduced. Do we have the resources to take this to the courts? How do we get them? When there is even a small possibility for a 90 unit housing complex in an area like Delanson Circle, we have to get serious. The negative consequences of this happening are almost unbearable to think of. I think we have a real case.
James says
This is outrageous! How on earth is replacing 5 families with 90 families in a space this small a good idea??? This is not New York City. This is Wellesley. People move here to NOT live next to huge apartment buildings. MHP is clearly a biased entity because their rationale could not WEAKER. And I quote:
1) The site is zoned residential.
2) Is within walking distance of shopping.
3) A good bet to get financing.
My rebuttal to these points:
1) Obviously! Not sure how 5 single family homes could have been built there already if it were zoned otherwise. WEAK POINT.
2) Who cares? What does this even mean? That somehow being within walking distance to shops means that the traffic situation will not be worsened if this is built? NOT BUYING IT.
3) Any commercial real estate project that is going to be profitable is obviously going to be attractive to a lender. And if this were not going to make some developer filthy rich, we would not even be having this conversation. SO DUH.
Really MHP? Really!? That’s the best you can do in defending a monstrosity like this? With rationale like that people are going to mistake you for Rhodes Scholars! Sorry, but you are going to have to do better than that. This is SO clearly not a good place for a massive housing complex. And if you truly think it is, then come up with some real reasons why. Do some real analysis. Because your current rationale is not going to cut it. the residents of Wellesley are already dealing with gridlock traffic on Linden St.
I will be at this meeting and ready to battle over this because this is a flat out assault on our lovely bedroom community by people looking to pocket huge profits for themselves and then leave the residents to live with the pain. I have said it before and I’ll say it again — the developer pitching this project should only get approval if he is forced to move his family into an adjacent single family home for 10-15 years after. Then let’s see how much he wants to build it.