Framingham apartment moratorium has ended. What's planned for Waverly Street?

Jesse Collings, MetroWest Daily News
·4 min read

FRAMINGHAM — A 176-unit apartment complex may become the first large-scale housing project built in the city since a moratorium on such activity expired last summer.

The proposed complex would be at 358 Waverly St. (Route 135) and stretch to the corner of South Street at the edge of downtown Framingham. The location was last home to the former El Mariachi Mexican Restaurant, and previously the Chicken Bone restaurant.

A rendering of the proposed building on the corner of Waverly Street and South Street in downtown Framingham.
A rendering of the proposed building on the corner of Waverly Street and South Street in downtown Framingham.

The company behind the proposed six-story complex is Boghos Properties, a Boston-based developer. The project would feature 176 units, with 18, or 10% of them designated as affordable housing. According to site plans, the project would also feature about 3,700 square feet of retail space, as well as a six-story parking garage.

The project is in the site plan review phase, which involves ongoing public hearings. The applicant would need a series of special permits to construct the apartment complex at the proposed site, due to its scale.

'Fits with newer buildings'

The 1.58-acre lot on which the proposal would be built is zoned as part of Framingham’s Central Business District. It's in close proximity to similar developments, including the Union House complex at 55 Concord St. and Modera Framingham at 266 Waverly St.

“You can see how the building fits in with the newer buildings, as well as the older mill buildings in the neighborhood," said Ray Boghos, of Boghos Properties, during a July 21 Planning Board meeting. "We think it scales into the neighborhood nicely.”

A rendering of the proposed building in downtown Framingham. The Boghos development is in the center on the corner of Waverly Street and South Street. The Union House development on Concord Street is at the bottom, across the railroad tracks. Modera Framingham is in the top left, further down Waverly Street.
A rendering of the proposed building in downtown Framingham. The Boghos development is in the center on the corner of Waverly Street and South Street. The Union House development on Concord Street is at the bottom, across the railroad tracks. Modera Framingham is in the top left, further down Waverly Street.

Sarkis Sarkisian, Framingham's director of planning and community development, said during the same meeting that the city will be issuing a peer review for the traffic study done by Boghos, and will consider a review of the architecture of the building, to ensure that the plans presented to the city by Boghos are accurate.

“When this first got brought to us, we wanted to make sure that this was thoroughly peer reviewed," Sarkisian said. "We already talked about the traffic study, but I think the architecture is excellent. I know there were some comments about wanting to get that reviewed. I have someone that can do that so we don’t slow the process down,”

Concerns were raised by a few members of the public, as well as the Planning Board, about parking and the potential for added traffic.

“Could somebody who is renting an apartment leave their car on the street overnight? Could they leave them continuously over weeks like they do in Back Bay?” asked Joe Simonelli, a Nixon Road resident.

Boghos presentation praised

Planning Board member Michael Norton called Boghos' presentation one of the best he has seen during his time on the board, adding that he thinks the proposal is much more architecturally pleasant than other projects built in the neighborhood.

“A couple of things that have bothered me about the other larger buildings that have been built over the years is that along the street, the building is just a monotonous block," he said. "You guys have addressed that very well with the break-up in the building along Waverly Street. The Modera building, which is all building and no landscaping along the street, that is another thing you guys have addressed with the little pocket parks.”

In September 2020, the City Council issued a moratorium on apartment construction after a petition from residents. The moratorium was set to last nine months, but was extended last spring by another three and wrapped up in September 2021.

The petition cited concerns about traffic, as well as overbuilding in and around downtown Framingham. It was signed by more than 300 residents.

A Google Maps image highlighting the proposed site of the apartment complex, at the intersection of Waverly Street and South Street in Framingham.
A Google Maps image highlighting the proposed site of the apartment complex, at the intersection of Waverly Street and South Street in Framingham.

Planning Board Chair Kristina Johnson said creating more housing is critical for the city and the region.

“Massachusetts ranks toward the bottom when it comes to housing production and we have been since 2011," she said. "We have not caught up with housing production and all that has done is lead to a housing shortage and the extreme rise in home costs and rent. This is really important for the sustainability of our regional economy. If we want Framingham to be competitive, housing is the missing piece."

The public hearing and review process is set to continue during the Planning Board's Aug. 18 meeting.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: With apartment moratorium ended, proposal emerges for Framingham