Neighbors in Wellesley lower falls earlier this month were notified about a condo development plan that’s in its very early stages.
The development would replace an automotive garage, junkyard, and multifamily residence on Washington Court, a dead-end street off of Washington Street/Rte. 16 east (a Gulf station is on the corner and St. John the Evangelist Parish is across the street).
Joe Hassell, a Wellesley-based developer who built a couple of homes on Pond Road at the opposite end of town, wrote in a letter distributed to nearby homes in which he offered to introduce himself and the planned residential project. The letter includes his phone number and a map of the project area, but no details of size or timing. In the letter, he invites neighbors to share questions and feedback before public meetings are held.
The location is not within the half mile radius of an MBTA station, so this wouldn’t appear to be a candidate for the new MBTA Communities plan that Wellesley is firming up.
The properties are split between Lower Falls Village Commercial District and Single Residence zoning, so this could be a case for Residential Incentive Overlay zoning.
A handful of Wellesley housing developments are in the works or about to accommodate tenants, with locations ranging from Linden Street to Rte. 9 to Cedar Street. The town this year will be working on a strategic housing plan that will take a broad look at Wellesley’s housing needs and how to meet them. This plan will serve as a follow-up to the town’s 5-plus-year-old housing production plan.
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Actually Marian the site mentioned in this article is nowhere near Cliff Rd or Wellesley Hills. This location is just off Washington St where McQuillian’s garage is located, so just a 2 minute walk to CVS in Lower Falls. My biggest concern is about the traffic on Washington St that’s a virtual gridlock for large parts of the morning and afternoon. There is a traffic light there where Glen Rd intersects Washington St. , but traffic on Glen Rd. backs up for 1/2 a mile during commute times! The distance to Wellesley Farms MBTA is closer to 0.6 mile but an easy 15 minute walk
A good plan should be given Strong consideration. And together, Wellesley and the Developer should be able to create an excellent plan.
It is a 1.2 mile walk to the Green Line at Woodland Station. There could easily be a minibus that serves this small development plus the Waterstone near the CVS to bring passengers to/from the Woodland Station and thus assist in meeting the MBTA mandate.
We, as a society, need to work together to alleviate the housing crisis across Eastern Massachusetts.
Simple and logical.
I agree, Tom. Washington Court is a good location for housing development. I believe the MetroWest Regional Transit Authority already has a bus line that connects Washington Street in Lower Falls to Woodland Station: https://www.mwrta.com/routes/fixed-routes/route-1
I do wish the developer gave more details on what the project will look like, but maybe he’s trying to let the neighbors have their say first?
A bit of Washington Court might indeed sit within a half mile of the Wellesley Farms MBTA station, especially as the crow flies. Glen is neither flat nor straight right there (part of its charm, IMHO). So a condo development on Washington Court might very well count towards the MBTA density target. Depends a little on who-measures-what: the Town’s GIS property card for 90 Croton St. (i.e., the Town-owned lot on which the landmark Richardson-designed building sits) begins slightly *less* than a half-mile away from the old garage’s front door, according to Google Maps. But the platform itself lies a few steps farther down the slope, probably a bit *more* than a half-mile.
Thanks for pointing this out Mark…
My grandma lived on Cliff road please leave Wellesley Hills alone