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Planning board debates sunken courtyards and frontage design for 215 College Ave; applicants urged to show sections and lighting studies
Summary
At the May 27 meeting the board reviewed revised designs for 215 College Avenue and spent significant time debating sunken area wells on the College Avenue frontage and Linden side. Board members split on whether sunken courtyards create useful amenity space or undesirable, dark private wells that set a precedent for the streetscape.
Designers for 215 College Avenue returned to the Planning and Development Board May 27 with revisions intended to reduce earlier requested variances; they removed a top story on the CR‑4 side but retained stepped entry terraces that create sunken courtyards on the College Avenue frontage and on Linden Avenue.
Why it matters: 215 College Ave sits on a prominent College Avenue approach to West Campus. How the building addresses the sidewalk—porch or sunken area well—will shape the streetscape character and visibility of an adjacent historic building the design team is trying to highlight.
What the board heard: The project team said they…
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