Developer hopes to break ground this spring on Roslindale Square apartment building

Arx Urban is on track to begin work this spring on a mostly affordable 31-unit apartment building at Washington and Basile streets in Roslindale Square, Benjamin Moll, one of the company's principals, says.

The Zoning Board of Appeal approved the building last year, with plans that call for at least 19 of the units to be rented to people making no more than 70% of the Boston area median income - which works out to 61% of the total units, compared to the 13% of units required then.

Arx Urban had offered space in the new building to the four businesses in the building it will replace The Rozzie Square Theater and Delicious Yogurt plan return to the building, with below-market rents, while Dragon Chef and Bob's Pita would get subsidies to move to new locations elsewhere. Arx Urban says it will work with the theater and yogurt place to find and help pay for alternate spaces during roughly 18 months of construction.

The Boston Licensing Board recently granted a new restaurant a food-serving license for the space recently vacated by Dragon Chef. Roslindale Market Kitchen says it will offer healthy snacks and simple take-out - and cooking classes - focusing on local ingredients and suppliers.

"This is a temporary space where Roslindale Market Kitchen can experiment with recipes and build their team as we look for a permanent home," Moll said, adding he's hoping it can move into ground-floor space in the new apartment building.