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Modern Living Rentals moves entrance, adds crosswalk and in‑building trash to reduce street impacts at 201 Oak Ave
Summary
The developer of 201 Oak Avenue told the committee it moved the primary building entrance, added a Summit Street crosswalk and enclosed trash service to improve pedestrian access and reduce curbside clutter; the board asked for material samples, pedestrian circulation maps, and a broader neighborhood elevation context before the public hearing.
Representatives for Modern Living Rentals presented design refinements for the proposed multiunit building at 201 Oak Avenue to the Planning and Development Board Project Review Committee on May 9, describing a relocated entrance, a new crosswalk across Summit Street, interiorized trash handling, and adjustments to unit layouts intended to reduce the visual mass of the façade.
The changes are intended to improve pedestrian access and reduce the number of visible service elements on the street. Project representatives said they moved the building entrance north one bay to increase visibility from the new crosswalk across Summit Street and added a pull‑off area outside the fire lane to accommodate deliveries and ride‑share pick‑ups.
“We've added a crosswalk across Summit Street from the opposite corner to our building entrance,” the project presenter said, adding that the entrance shift brings the lobby and trash room closer to an elevator and to the building's main common areas. The applicant also reported reducing a basement corner unit from four to two bedrooms, which removed two deep window wells and added common-area space.
Board members praised the efforts to remove curbside trash and to break the building massing while pressing the applicant for additional context at the next submission. Chair Emily Petrina asked the team to bring material samples and elevations that show the project relative to adjacent properties; she also urged the applicant to include a neighborhood context slide with surrounding multifamily and single‑family buildings so board members can better judge the new massing.
Staff and board members requested clearer pedestrian circulation and context maps. One member noted there is limited sidewalk continuity on Summit Street south of the site and asked the applicant to show how pedestrians and bikes will move between Oak Avenue, Summit Street and the site. The applicant responded that they will provide a broader plan showing the existing sidewalk gaps and how the new crosswalk ties into nearby sidewalks and crosswalks.
Bicycle storage dimensions and coverage were discussed. The applicant said the building needs 18 bike spaces and that 25 spaces must be covered by the project’s bicycle parking program; they described a scheme that places five spaces under the entry canopy and additional covered racks along the street to meet the total requirement and to provide short-term covered parking near the entrance.
No formal action was taken at the work session. The applicant will present materials at the upcoming public hearing and is expected to return with material selections, neighborhood elevations, a context map of the mailing radius for public notice, and a clearer pedestrian circulation diagram.
