Newton's Austin Street Project Set To Break Ground In 2018

NEWTON, MA — The contentious Austin Street mixed use development project at the Star Market looks set to break ground next summer, according to a press release.

This comes two months after a Superior Court dismissed a second lawsuit against it.

Scott Oran and Austin Street Partners LLC, are planning to develop the 68-unit complex at 28 Austin St. (across from Star Market). The project will redevelop the municipal parking lot and will include 23 apartments deemed affordable units. It is also slated to include 5,000 square feet of commercial space, including office co-work space, a public plaza and a restaurant.

The developer's plan is to replace the parking lot in the heart of Newtonville with an energy-efficient mixed-use development with 68 mixed-income one- and two-bedroom apartment residences.

The developer also plans to line the roof with solar panels, and use GreenStaxx building technology. Community members complained about losing parking in the area, so the developer planned to rebuild 123 public spaces at ground level, along with 90 new underground resident and retail employee spaces.

The building was originally slated to be 54' feet tall but was reduced this year. And is slated to be 48’ feet tall, 20% lower than the allowed 60’ zoning height limit - three stories along Bram Way (37’ tall), and four stories along Austin Street (48’), according to the developer's website.

By way of comparison the Masonic Temple building is 71’ tall and the adjacent Swedenborgian Church is about 50’. The Star Market across the street is about 32’ tall, according to the developer.

Because of significant feedback from concerned community members, the plan has changed significantly since it was first proposed in 2013 with 80 residential units.

Follow the Newton Patch on Facebook.

RELATED:

Austin Street Project set to continue after lawsuits

Rendering of project courtesy.