By Jenna Caldwell, The Boston Report
DORCHESTER — The developer of a proposed apartment building at 80 Christopher St. near Fields Corner has cut the plan from 108 units to 99, but kept it at seven stories, the Dorchester Reporter reported Oct. 27.
K&CG Properties LLC filed the revised plans with the Boston Planning Department on Oct. 7. The building would replace an auto repair business. A public comment period on the changes is open until Nov. 18.
Why the plan changed
The original proposal, filed last June, drew criticism from residents and city planners. In an August memo, planning officials pushed back on the building’s height, massing, awkward apartment layouts and vehicle access points, the Reporter said. The memo indicated the plan would need bigger changes before planners would recommend approval by the Boston Planning and Development Agency board.
Planners had recommended that the developer consider a six-story option. The revised plan keeps seven stories.
A new mix of apartments
The biggest change is the unit mix. The original plan had 48 studios, 36 one-bedrooms and 24 two-bedrooms. The new plan has 17 studios, 50 one-bedrooms and 32 two-bedrooms.
The building would still include 20 income-restricted apartments. Even with nine fewer units, its total floor area is larger than before.
Height and design
The revised roof height is about 77 feet, compared with 76 feet in the first filing. Current zoning allows 45 feet.
The new design moves the building closer to Christopher Street, with a more visible pedestrian entrance and a redesigned ground floor. It adds second-floor outdoor space facing Christopher Street. Extra setbacks on the seventh floor are meant to make the building look shorter and reduce shadows on homes along Park Street.
The developers dropped the ground-floor retail space. In its place, they propose an affordable artist live-work unit, which they say would reduce traffic and parking demand.
Parking and traffic
City officials had criticized the original design’s three curb cuts as too many. The new plan has two. Cars would enter from Christopher Street and exit onto Park Street through an automatic gate. The project keeps 22 off-street parking spaces.
The plan also includes four new street trees along Christopher Street, sidewalk improvements and a relocated Bluebikes station.
Housing in an industrial area
Some neighbors and business owners have questioned whether a large apartment building fits in an active industrial district with auto repair shops, construction companies and other businesses, the Reporter said.
In their filing, the developers acknowledge those concerns and say the area is already changing toward mixed use. They say future tenants would have to sign a written acknowledgment that industrial businesses operate nearby.
The team has met with the Fields Corner Civic Association, including a Sept. 8 presentation, and says the revisions reflect feedback from residents and city officials.
What approvals are still needed
The site is zoned Local Industrial, where multifamily housing is not allowed. The project needs zoning relief for that use, plus variances for height and density. It has not been approved by the BPDA board.
Residents can read the filing and submit comments through the Boston Planning Department’s project page until Nov. 18.
For more neighborhood news, see our report on the Dorchester Bay City project, the Boston City Hall decisions tracker and the Boston News hub.
Sources
- Dorchester Reporter, “Developer cuts unit count, keeps 7-story plan on Christopher St.,” Oct. 27, 2026
- Dorchester Reporter, “Developer plans changes to Christopher St. project after push back from city planners,” Sept. 1, 2026
Additional sources
- Boston Planning Department, development projects
- Banker & Tradesman, “108 Apartments Proposed for Dorchester Auto Body Site”
Read next in Boston
.jpg){kind=link}
Most read this week
- Boston Approves $31.5M in Tax Abatements to Restart 1,400 Homes
- Boston City Council Asks Congress to Restore Public Housing Funds
- Iran War Update Oct. 25: Trump Says U.S. ‘May Do Another Little Epic Fury’
- Keen Sword 27 Begins: U.S. and Japan Open Island Defense Drills Near Taiwan
- Strait of Hormuz Insurance Rates Explained: What War-Risk Cover Costs in 2026
Latest
- Lowell Flock Cameras Back With Limits; Public Demo Proposed
- Quincy Pauses City Broadband, Approves Solar on Garages
- Newton Council Opens Door to Overnight Parking on Angled Spots
- Somerville Plans $59M for Streets in New 5-Year Capital Plan
- Cape Cod Wins $248K Food Rescue Grant; Opioid Care Expands