Rendering by Zephyr Architects.
The Zoning Board of Appeal today unanimously approved plans by a developers to replace a triple decker and some vacant land with a nine-unit building at 175 F St. between West 3rd and Bolton streets.
The plans, by developers Evan and David Lank of Hyde Park, call for one studio unit and eight units ranging between one and three bedrooms. The project is small enough that it does not trigger the city requirement for affordable units.
The plans also call for six parking spaces and two roof decks for the owners of two units on the top floor.
Their attorney, Marc LaCasse, said the building's design, which includes three separate "masses," would help it blend into the area, that its "materiality reflects context of the surrounding neighborhood" through its use of wood and brick on the exterior.
Some Bolton Street residents opposed the proposal, saying it was too big and too tall, especially when compared to the one-family homes on their street, and would bring even more noise and disruption to the area because of the roof decks.
Through an aide, City Councilor Ed Flynn (South Boston, South End, Chinatown, Downtown) also opposed the proposal, in part out of his longstanding opposition to roof decks. The aide said residents "often have to call" police because of problems with nearby roof decks.
LaCasse, however, cited a support letter by a West 3rd St. resident who said pretty much every multi-family building in the area has a roof deck and he's not had any problems. LaCasse added that, with the elimination of an originally proposed half-story area on the roof, the building now met the maximum height of 40 feet called for in the block's zoning.