Charles Street Owner Reconsidering Capital One Bank Plan

The owner of 62-66 Charles Street is reconsidering a proposal to lease the space to Capital One Bank after the Beacon Hill Civic Association’s License and Zoning Committee voted against the plan. The owner, Linear Retail Properties, had asked for a variance to allow Capital One to occupy the space.

“Out of respect to the board, we’re going to seriously consider their objections and I don’t know what our next step is,” said Joel Kadis, leasing manager at Linear Retail Properties. Linear owns the building, which is currently occupied by Charles Street Market.

Linear and Capital One had requested the committee not vote against the measure before they appeared before the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals. Kadis said the strong feelings at the meeting has made Linear reconsider the proposal.

“We have a lot of respect for neighborhood associations. They’re all volunteers, wear their hearts on their sleeves and care about their neighborhoods,” said Kadis.

Strong resident presence at zoning meeting

More than 150 residents packed the zoning committee hearing Wednesday night as the members considered the bank’s request, according to Goudreau. Committee members asked for a show of hands from the crowd, which responded with a nearly universal response against the plan.

The next stop for Capital One and Linear is the full Beacon Hill Neighborhood Association Committee Monday night, which will also make a recommendation on the variance request. That recommendation is forwarded to the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals.

The bank needs a variance of the location’s current zoning, because part of the building is in the River Street residential zone. The committee’s vote is not binding, but the Board of Appeals gives neighborhood committee votes considerable weight when deliberating a zoning variance.

Charles Street Market currently occupies the space eyed by Capital One. Market owner Tracy Hollander declined to comment on the matter until next week.

Association: Residents have overwhelmingly opposed plan

The association has received nearly 130 emails about the proposed variance. In response, the organization has sent out an email asking those constituents who contacted them to outline reasons for their opposition. 

“Although BHCA will not take a formal position until its board meeting next Monday, January 9, our representatives have met with representatives from Linear Retail Properties, the building owners, to voice the objections expressed by neighbors regarding leasing the first floor of the building to a bank. Nevertheless, Linear decided to go ahead and apply for the conditional use change. (The BHCA zoning and licensing committee unanimously opposed the new conditional use of the building for the bank, this will be brought to the Board of Directors on Monday and then that decision will go onto the Board of Appeals as the BHCA’s recommendation),” wrote Association Executive Suzanne Besser in the email to constituents.