Sign Letter of Support for Roslindale Substation Project

The following was sent out to Roslindale Village Main Street members.

As you probably know, we helped organize a meeting at the Knights of Columbus Hall on January 30th where the plans for the Substation Project were displayed and discussed. The comment period during which the public can write the Boston Redevelopment Authority about the project has been extended at our request through Friday, March 1, 2013.

We have developed a letter of support that we would encourage you to read and "sign" your name to electronically. We will forward the letter along with the names of people who signed it to the BRA on Friday afternoon. See attached Youtube videos to see the designs, and watch footage of the Substation meeting.

The letter is as follows:

Roslindale Village Main Street and Historic Boston, Inc. are two non-profits that have been working together for over a decade to redevelop the former MBTA Roslindale Substation in a way that preserves its historic character and keeps the main floor intact, maintains public access to the building, activates the Washington Street/Cummins Highway intersection with pedestrian activity during the day and night and is financially feasible and sustainable. Toward that end, the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the current owner of the Substation, granted the two organizations a joint Tentative Designation for the redevelopment of the Substation. RVMS and HBI's diligence has confirmed the extremely difficult practical and financial challenges of redeveloping the Substation.

RVMS and HBI were given the unique opportunity to enter into a purchase and sale agreement for the adjacent property, currently the Higgins Funeral Home, the development of which -- in tandem with the Substation - offered for the first time the potential to make the Substation redevelopment successful.  RVMS and HBI undertook a process to identify a partner developer capable to developing both parcels in a manner consistent with goals of RVMS and HBI and the goals of the 2008 Roslindale Master Plan that emphasized pedestrian and public transit orientation, reinforces the "street wall" of similar heights along Washington Street and revitalizes Roslindale Square with new mixed-use residential and commercial development.  

RVMS and HBI identified the Peregrine Group, LLC because of its extensive experience and vision for this joint redevelopment. Peregrine will develop and own the redevelopment of the Higgins parcel and RVMS, HBI and Peregrine will jointly work to redevelop the Substation building.  Peregrine has submitted to the BRA for Article 80 Small Project Review its plan for a 41 unit residential rental building on the Higgins parcels.  The plans of this project are viewable at [Link].  The plan for the Substation is a joint restaurant, café and local foods market use.  Together they will reactivate a significant portion of Roslindale Village.  

RVMS has conducted extensive outreach to the community through public announcements, four open office hours sessions and by co-hosting the public meeting in January, which was attended by over 300 people.  

We the undersigned are in support of this project because it promises to reactivate a significant portion of Roslindale Village, facilitates the redevelopment of the Substation while preserving its historical character and signals a major economic boost for the Village

Thank you for your involvement in this project and for your commitment to making Roslindale a better place to live, work, and play.

Click here to sign the letter of support.

Sincerely,

Steve Gag, President, Board of Directors

Roslindale Village Main Street

617-327-4065