Source: Boston Redevelopment Authority
This summer I wrote about a new residential project proposed by The Holland Companies that would convert the underutilized and decrepit 46 Wareham Street building into a residential space with The Society of Arts and Crafts (currently on Newbury Street) on the ground floor.
However the plan to redevelop this space has hit a snag according to Zack Huffman’s article in the most recent Boston Courant. The building is zoned for light industrial work (not residential). It is unclear if this means the original plans need to be scrapped or if a middle ground will be found, but the developers are now working on a new plan that would not violate the zoning restrictions. I have no idea what that means, but I do know that the building as it currently stands is an eye-sore and is not serving either the business community nor residents and this neighborhood needs more usable space for both small businesses and residents. I snapped a photo of how 46 Wareham currently looks; we can do better.
46 Wareham Street South End
BosGuy 
I’ve talked to a lot of the business people and artists that are opposing the project and the reality is that there are more than 200 small businesses on Wareham St, Plympton and Malden. They have over 600 employees and many of them are us. If 46 Wareham and then others go high end residential, it will force all of those companies and all of the jobs, to go elsewhere, including all of the artists who have their work space on those streets. The businesses and the artists won’t be able to afford to be there. I think everyone wants to see the streets and the buildings look better, and that is what the City is trying to do… to bring in good businesses that will provide jobs for everyone living around here and will renovate the properties. The answer is just not more high end housing. We can do better.
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This particular project has the stated support of the abutting residents, the neighborhood association in which it sits, and several area businesses. The city is blocking this because it does not want any more residential in this area. Its version of a compromise does not consider those who support residential and largely ignores the needs of those that already live on the block. If you support this project and an increased residential presence in the South End, I would express your support to the city (Office of Neighborhood Services) and to the BRA. The fact that the city is actively fighting the development of a building that would otherwise continue to be unproductive and underutilized is a travesty. I think it is time for some re-zoning.
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I thought for a moment that was the old Safari culb (not that I ever went there) but I looked it up and I was wrong. (The Safari Club (90 Wareham Street, Boston)-
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There you go – talking reason!!! You just stop that right now!!! Right now!
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