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Greystar previews 189-unit, transit-oriented plan for 100 West Street in Needham Heights
Summary
Greystar and owner Welltower presented an as‑of‑right, three‑story, 189‑unit apartment proposal for the 100 West Street site to the Needham Planning Board; developers plan to file next month and to pursue sustainability measures while traffic and design details are refined through the site‑plan process.
Needham Planning Board members heard a preliminary presentation July 22 from Greystar and project attorneys about a proposed, as‑of‑right multifamily project at 100 West Street in Needham Heights. Tim Sullivan, attorney with Goulston & Storrs, told the board the site is owned by Welltower and that Greystar is performing due diligence and expects to file a site‑plan application next month.
The plan as presented calls for a three‑story, wood‑frame building with 189 apartment units (15% studios, 40% one‑bedrooms, 35% two‑bedrooms, 10% three‑bedrooms) and 189 surface parking spaces (a one‑to‑one parking ratio). Ryan Soule, Senior Director of Development for Greystar, said the team is pursuing “direct unit entry” on Highland Avenue and West Street to activate the streetscape and plans two courtyard areas: a narrow, public‑facing courtyard on Highland and a larger, resident‑facing courtyard in the rear.
Why it matters: the site sits inside the MBTA Communities‑zoning area around Needham Heights station and has been identified in regional planning as a location for transit‑oriented housing. Board members and the applicant emphasized walkability and compatibility with nearby single‑family neighborhoods, and Greystar said the design will respect a 110‑foot residential setback to the south.
Key details presented - Ownership and team: Welltower (owner); Greystar (developer/operator); Tim Sullivan (attorney, Goulston & Storrs); Tim Bernard (Greystar director); Will Harned (Greystar associate); Ryan Soule (Greystar Boston development lead). - Units/parking: 189 units; 189 parking spaces (surface parking, 1:1 ratio). - Building: three stories, wood‑frame construction, massing broken into two visual volumes to reduce the long façade. - Streetscape and access: existing curb cuts on Highland and West would be maintained and modified; direct‑entry units proposed to animate the street. - Open space/amenities: a public‑facing courtyard on Highland, a rear residential courtyard, and a green buffer within the 110‑foot single‑family setback; possible small playground and dog area were discussed. - Sustainability: Greystar said it is examining compliance with Needham’s stretch/“specialized” energy code pathways (including Passive House or an alternate performance path) and planning to be “solar ready”; the team said cost, resident affordability and evolving technology will shape final measures. - Timeline: Greystar said it hopes to submit a formal site‑plan application next month and to move through review in September–November with a January construction start as an objective.
Outstanding issues and next steps Board members asked about traffic, curb‑cut circulation and coordination with MBTA zone‑of‑influence rules; Greystar said a traffic study and site‑circulation analysis are in progress and will be submitted with the site‑plan application. The MBTA setback was flagged; the team said most of the existing structure lies outside the MBTA zone and that they do not expect extensive MBTA approval hurdles but will coordinate as the design advances.
No formal approvals were requested or taken at the July 22 meeting. Greystar told the board it will return with detailed plans, traffic and sustainability documentation and community‑outreach events as the application proceeds.
