Developer wants to change proposed complex off Baker Street in West Roxbury from condos to apartments

The owner of a commercial parcel between VFW Parkway, the Needham Line train tracks and Baker Street has asked the BPDA to let him build a 60-unit complex on three acres of the land as apartments rather than the condos the BPDA approved in 2017.

Through a letter from his attorney, Richard Olstein says nothing else would change in the complex at 270 Baker St., including the design of the buildings, the 90 parking spaces, most in an underground garage, and the main access through VFW Parkway and Simbroco Street. Also, eight units would be rented to people making no more than 70% of the Boston area median income.

The zoning board also approved the proposal, in 2018.

Attorney Dennis Quilty wrote that the change request is "the result of financing and construction cost limitations which have changed drastically in the years that the proponent has been advancing the project through the approvals process."

270 Baker St. notice of project change (315k PDF).
270 Baker St. approved board memo (what the BPDA board approved, 30M PDF).