Proposed development 479 Valley Street

I don't know if the predicted worsening of the rail commute will cool the local real estate market. It seems logical. There's tough times ahead with repairs to tracks and equipment damaged by Sandy. Work starts this summer at Penn Station.

If the Gateway project gets off the ground and is completed as projected I think there's a boom for those who are homeowners here for another 10 years or so. 

Like most of you, I'd rather see something developed on that site than just blight.  

We keep seeing apartments and condos being developed but I think one thing we're lacking are townhouses.  This site is probably too small for townhouses but I think on another more appropriate site, they'd be very popular with empty nesters, first time homebuyers, people who don't want to deal with maintenance but want more room than just a condo, etc. 

As to increased traffic, it's a problem.  I live off of Valley and it's jammed pack at certain hours of the day.  I don't know if that's due to the lights being poorly timed or what.  As a result, a lot of residential streets are getting an increased amount of traffic.  Not only that but people tend to be inconsiderate drivers around here.  I love the people I have met here and all that M/SO have to offer but there are times where I wonder if maybe we should move somewhere less congested and quieter.  

Last thoughts on renters and their impact.  We rented happily for a long time before taking the plunge and buying our house.  Out of approximately 30 apartments in our building there were only two children who lived in our building.  

I'm sorry, but you were either misinformed or haven't been on the BOE for a long time. There are six school-aged children living on my floor alone, and I know of many other families with children on other floors. 

JBennett said:

When I was on the BOE I asked how many students lived at the Maplewood Plaza and it was nowhere near 25-30.  The number is not even half of the lower range of this estimate. 

Maplewood Plaza had more children than most other apartments in SOMA, but there are several apartment buildings in SOMA that have 0-4 children living in them.

bets said:

Are there plans posted anywhere, Max?

As far as school-aged children, I would wager there are more than 25-30 living at Maplewood plaza condos.

max_weisenfeld said:

But there is no PILOT, so no justification is needed.

is there some legal reason that "Over-50" housing is never proposed around here?

Whatever the number of children in Maplewood Plaza, it has a lot more 2- and 3-bedroom units than the proposed building which is almost all 1-bedroom units, I believe.  I have a hard time imagining very many  children ending up in 1-bedroom apartments at the likely price points.

Actually, many of the units at The Avenue and the Gateway are 2-- and 3-bedroom apartments, and several options of 2-bedroom floor plans  are at 3rd and Valley.

http://www.thirdandvalleyapts....

sac said:

Whatever the number of children in Maplewood Plaza, it has a lot more 2- and 3-bedroom units than the proposed building which is almost all 1-bedroom units, I believe.  I have a hard time imagining very many  children ending up in 1-bedroom apartments at the likely price points.