September Chinatown Neighborhood Council Meeting

September 18, 2007 by Chinatown Blogger.

Quick post here: Attended the Chinatown Neighborhood Council meeting tonight. The CNC meets on the third Monday of each month at 90 Tyler St. On the agenda were Tufts Dental School to give an update on their expansion of the One Kneeland Street building.

Second item was from Hudson Group/Ori Ron. Ori Ron is the developer for 120 Kingston Street. Ori said that, “Based on comments from the City and community we made some changes.” Some of those changes were: dropping the building from 29 stories to 27 stories, or 345 feet to 310 feet including 20 feet of mechanicals. They also redesigned the side of the building that will face the Chinatown Park, tearing down an existing 15 feet wall. With this new design, there will be glass and lights to illuminate the area. Here is a picture of a model showing how the Chinatown Park will connect with 120 Kingston development.

To complete the Mayor’s requirement for 15% housing units to be affordable (for developments that require special permitting - 120 Kingston is 310 feet for an area zoned for 100 feet), 120 Kingston will give money from the project to a Chinatown non-profit, Chinese Economic Development Council, to build affordable units on nearby Oxford Street. Oxford Street project will have 48 affordable units, with 1/4th being Section 8  housing, 1/4th targeting households making 30% of the median income (median income = $59-60k/yr) and 1/2th targeting households making 60% of the median income. Dennis Lui, project manager for CEDC said, “For example, a 1 bedroom unit in the 30% median income will be $427 a month.”

120 Kingston still file a Draft Environmental Impact Report (DPIR) later this year. The DPRI will show impact of shadows, sunlight and other concerns that were raised in the meeting. Several of the council members expressed support for the project. Gilbert Ho, a council member and also a Crime Watch member, said that with the addition of this building it will increase visibility at night and make the area safer.

After the 120 Kingston Street group, I made a presentation on the work of the Chinatown Gateway. I’ll put that report later on here in the blog.

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