Developer In West Newton Dunstan East Project Proposes More Units

NEWTON, MA — A developer that got approval last summer to build 234 apartments at the corner of Washington and Dunstan streets —despite pushback from neighbors— is asking for permission to add 64 apartments to his project.

The ask comes four months after Robert Korff, of Mark Development, bought the neighboring property at 1157 Washington St. for some $5 million.

The Dunstan East project developer is now back before the Zoning Board of Appeals to amend the project. The new plan would move one of the buildings closer to Washington Street and make it larger, and increase both the number of housing units to 302 (76 permanently affordable) and the number of parking spaces would go up to 338 from 294, according to Mayor Ruthanne Fuller.

Although residents pushed back, and even filed a lawsuit against the project, the developer invoked Massachusetts Chapter 40B, which allows developers to circumvent most local zoning rules if they promise to reserve between 20 and 25 percent of the apartment units as affordable units, according to area median income.

In the latest proposed version, 68 apartments would be for people earning 80 percent or below the area median income, which works out to $81,000 for a family of three, and 8 would be for those earning at or below half the area median income, or $51,000 for a family of three.

The project came before the zoning board of appeals, on April 28.

Previously: Neighbors File Lawsuit Against Dunstan East 40B ...

• RightSize Newton Supports Lawsuit Against Dunstan East ...

Read more about the project: Dunstan East

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