Condo plan closer to reality as city works with developers

Plans for a six-story building with 57 new units of mixed-income housing on Commonwealth Avenue took another step toward becoming reality late last month, when city officials initiated a yearlong period for working with the developer to finalize its design and financial aspects of the project.

The $18 million proposal is for one-, two-, and three-bedroom condos, including 19 affordable units, on four floors, with two underground floors for parking, according to a statement from the Department of Neighborhood Development, which recommended the project to the Public Facilities Commission.

The proposal is led by the Brighton Partnership for Community Reinvestment, a joint venture of Diamond/Sinacori Real Estate Development and Hart Development Associates.

A vacant three-story building now occupies the spot near Brighton Marine Health Center and a wooded city park. The site, at 1501 Commonwealth Ave., was favored in May by the Brighton Allston Improvement Association board over three other proposals, which had fewer total condos but more subsidized units for low-income buyers.

Once home to the Provident Skilled Nursing Center, the property was acquired by the city through foreclosure in 2005. The proposal, which was unveiled to Allston-Brighton residents earlier this year, drew mixed reactions from some neighbors who had differing opinions about whether the plan included enough affordable housing.

If the proposal clears the designation process, the Public Facilities Commission could vote to convey the property to the developer within the year, at which point the Department of Neighborhood Development could move to close the sale of the property, clearing the way for the developer to begin construction.

RICHARD THOMPSON