What's in store for the South Shore? Developments to watch in 2024
Dozens of major projects are on the horizon in 2024, from repurposing historical properties in Quincy to redeveloping blighted and long-ignored sites in Braintree to a major redevelopment of Jackson Square in Weymouth.
Some major proposals might face important decisions by municipal boards. Other projects are set to break ground or open for business in the new year.
This isn’t a definitive list of every development happening in the region. Instead, we'll delve into some of the highlights – ones that involve more apartments and homes that might help ease the state's housing crisis and could revitalize or reinvent parts of the South Shore.
Projects that are reshaping Quincy
FoxRock Properties has its hand in a number of projects in Quincy.
At 1170 Hancock St., the developer restored the three-story, 1926 Masonic Temple, which was damaged in a fire 10 years ago. FoxRock plans to build a restaurant inside the building, which is set to open next fall.
Just behind the building is a new six-story structure with 66 studio and one-bedroom apartments that are expected to open in January.
At the nearby former Citizens Bank building, FoxRock plans to construct another six-story building that will have 135 apartments, a private pool deck and nearly 4,000 square feet of retail space.
More: Could South Shore Health be held liable in sex abuse case against pediatrician?
Less than a mile to the southeast, FoxRock is set to start preleasing apartments at the third of four planned residential buildings at Ashlar Park, at 100 Whitwell St., the site of the former Quincy Medical Center. The latest building, called Woodlands, has 145 apartments that are expected to be ready for occupancy by February.
FoxRock has already opened 200 apartments in two buildings on the 15-acre property, as well as the amenities complex at the former hospital administration building. Quarry, a fourth building with 123 units, is expected to open by April.
After FoxRock scuttled plans for apartments, a hotel, a restaurant and an office building at the former Ross parking garage at 55 General McConville Way, it signed a lease agreement with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for the construction of a multispecialty ambulatory center on the property. The center could offer primary care, cardiology, OB-GYN, cancer care, orthopedics and more, pending approval by the city.
Construction could start in 2025, but we’ll be keeping an eye on how the plans shape up over the year.
Across the street, plans by Atlantic Development are underway for a mixed-use project at the site of the IHOP restaurant at 115 Parkingway. The developer is looking to build a six-story building with 300 apartments and retail space on the ground floor, with construction possibly starting before summer.
A “specialty grocer” – rumored to be Trader Joe’s – may emerge at this site, with an opening as early as spring 2025. The developer is also planning an eight-story parking garage with 800 spaces – 300 of them dedicated to residents.
Making the old new again in Braintree
What do a former Dunkin' training center, a former motel, a church and an electricity plant have in common? They are some of the locations where redevelopment is occurring in Braintree.
At the former St. Thomas More Church property at 7 Hawthorn Road, developer George Clements wants to build an age-restricted condominium complex. The church, which closed in November 2022, would be razed along with the school to make way for 48 units: 15 detached houses, 13 townhouses and 10 duplexes for people ages 55 and older. Alternatively, Clements proposed 26 five-bedroom homes on the property, but that would include development on the 6 acres of woods.
Nearly a yearlong review process led the town’s planning board to approve a Chick-fil-A restaurant and a Brookline Bank branch at 125 Union St., where a former Motel 6 has sat vacant for five years. Property owner Torrington Properties said the building would be razed in February or March and the two businesses might open in the spring of 2025. Torrington will also install traffic signals at Union and Ivory streets and pay for police details to deal with traffic during the first weeks after opening.
The former “Dunkin’ Donuts University” at 589 Granite St. is set to become a restaurant and function hall. Restaurateur Leo Keka, owner of the Alba restaurants in Quincy and Hanover, aims to open his 93-seat restaurant and 210-seat function hall this spring.
What will happen in Weymouth?
A major redevelopment proposed for Jackson Square is slowly working its way through Weymouth’s approval processes. Will 2024 be the year it gets the green light?
Restaurateur Eric Papachristos, who owns The Venetian and other eateries, is looking to raze nine properties he bought on Broad and Commercial streets and build 200 apartments and 11,000 square feet of commercial space in their place.
One of those buildings is the “historically significant” former Rice Tavern from the late 1700s, which then became Peck Funeral Home. The tavern was a place for travelers between Boston and Plymouth to rest and get a meal.
In October, the town’s historical commission deemed the property significant enough to request that any demolition permit be delayed by six months to allow time to relocate the building. But, after that six months is up, the town is allowed to grant a demolition permit. Papachristos has said he would try to help preserve the building.
Other projects that could see some traction in the new year include a Chipotle, a Starbucks and a to-be-determined third commercial entity on the northwest corner of Route 18 and Pond Street, where the Factory Paint and Decorating store once sat. Neighbors expressed concern about traffic, and the proposal is scheduled to go before the board of zoning appeals again in January.
Plans are still in motion for a mixed-use development at the site of Union Brewhouse at 550 Washington St., which would include restaurant space below 28 apartments, three of which would be designated as affordable. The existing Union Brewhouse and a single-family home on the property would be demolished and the bar would reopen in the new structure.
Time will tell if 2024 will bring any resolution of McDonald Keohane Funeral Home’s wishes to expand at 809 Main St. The funeral home wanted to add 5,500 square feet to double its footprint, including a hall to hold up to 200 people for funerals or celebrations of life.
But after failing to receive enough votes needed for a special permit from the board of zoning appeals in November 2022, the funeral home appealed to the state Land Court. Following a mediation, a proposed agreement was presented to the board in September and again didn't get enough support.
The funeral home now has two open Land Court cases. The next conference with a judge is scheduled for January.
Elsewhere on the South Shore
Out from the proverbial ashes of the Hanover Mall in 2020 rose Hanover Crossing, a shopping center at 1775 Washington St. where you can get your groceries, shop the latest trends, catch a movie, get in a workout and more. Nearby is Hanover Crossing Residences with nearly 300 apartments.
Stores such as Old Navy, L.L. Bean and J. Crew have already opened. Trader Joe’s moved a few feet into a larger space. But the shopping center is still attracting new tenants. More than a half dozen businesses are set to open soon, including the salon Blo Dry Bar; Playa Bowls, which serves acai bowls, smoothies and juices; Club Pilates; Diva Nails; Skin MD, which offers cosmetic and laser treatments; The Vitamin Shoppe; Hanover Nails; and T-Mobile.
In Hull, the owners of land that was once part of beloved amusement park Paragon Park for almost 80 years are again proposing a multiuse project with 132 market-rate apartments and nearly 7,000 square feet of retail space. The project, known as Paragon Dunes, is proposed between Nantasket Avenue and George Washington Boulevard.
The proposal would keep the 1928 carousel and adjoining museum inside the clocktower. Residents and some planning board members weren’t fond of the design and felt there needed to be more public open space and a better parking layout. The proposal returns to the town’s planning board in January.
Scituate has approved more than 60 units in three different projects along New Driftway. A project at 7 New Driftway calls for 19 condominiums – including five deemed affordable – to be provided offsite. At 33 Driftway and 7 MacDonald Terrace, there are plans for 20 units, including four deemed affordable, and 3,600 square feet of retail and office space. Finally, at 61 New Driftway is a proposal for 22 units, with five designated as affordable, and 6,450 square feet of commercial space.
All of these properties are within a half-mile of the Greenbush commuter rail station.
The town is also planning a new drinking water treatment plant at a 15.3-acre lot at 453 Chief Justice Cushing Highway.
Another South Shore town is also planning a new municipal headquarters but took a different approach. Norwell sought a new town hall because its 73-year-old building at 345 Main St. is in disrepair. The town considered making renovations or constructing a new building entirely, but that could have cost between $15 million and $25 million, according to a presentation at May's special town meeting.
Residents had voiced opposition at town meeting in January to allowing the town to spend up to $5 million for the 19,900-square-foot, two-story office building at 93 Longwater Circle, but the request passed at a May special town meeting. Norwell bought the building for $4.4 million in June and will move town hall operations there.
Kingston is considering two Chapter 40B proposals that could create more than 200 residential units. Chapter 40B projects are allowed to avoid some local restrictions if they include enough units deemed affordable.
The first is a 162-unit project on 11 acres of land at Marion and Cushman drives. The project is proposed by Coneco Building, a development company based in Bridgewater.
The other proposal is a 60-unit, age-restricted development on 14 acres at 113 and 117 Wapping Road. The project comes from a limited liability company associated with Kingston general contractor Glenn Priolo.
In Pembroke, officials are considering a proposal that would bring single-family homes to Pembroke Country Club. The town is holding public hearings for a site plan and a special permit for an age-restricted project, known as Weathervane at Pembroke Country Club, that would include 163 single-family homes, the renovation of two existing homes and a multifamily building with seven units at the golf course at 94 West Elm St. The 18-hole course would be reconfigured.
Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Want to know more about a project going on in your community? Contact her at hmorse@patriotledger.com.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: South Shore apartments, restaurants and developments to watch in 2024
