Developers seek MR5/MR6 rezoning for 363 Highland Avenue, propose hundreds of units near Davis Square

Attorney Adam Dash, representing Altitude Properties LLC, and architect Peter Quinn presented a zoning map amendment petition to rezone 363 Highland Avenue from Mid-Rise 4 (MR4) to a combination of Mid-Rise 5 and Mid-Rise 6 (MR5/MR6), and to rezone 110 Willow Avenue (an adjacent Eversource/Boston Edison facility) to MR6 as an optional parcel. The applicant said the change is intended to unlock a transit-oriented redevelopment near the Davis Square Red Line station and to replace an underutilized one-story building with a larger mixed-use project.

Peter Quinn (Peter Quinn Architects) presented massing and shadow studies showing a paired 5- and 6-story scenario with a lower 5-story building fronting Highland Avenue and a taller 6-story building toward the community path; the team said the topography makes the two buildings appear similar in height. The applicants materials included an illustrative maximum-box massing that could yield as many as ~250 units under the proposed zoning and net-zero density ratios, though both the architect and the attorney said a practical project would likely yield fewer units. Dash said that if the full yield were achieved, "thered be... almost 50 affordable units," noting inclusionary zoning and financing would factor into final counts.

Dash emphasized the sites current underutilization and said the rezoning would not compel Eversource/Boston Edison to redevelop but would provide an incentive to do so. He noted the project would still require planning board site-plan review and special permits if the zoning map change were adopted. The applicant described outreach to the Davis Square Neighborhood Council (DSNC) and said the DSNC recently voted overwhelmingly to support the petition.

Public comment included testimony from DSNC treasurer Peter Kim Santos and resident Scott Nokoski urging approval, citing housing need and neighborhood engagement. The public comment period was left open until Nov. 21. Planning staff did not issue a recommendation at the meeting and the item remained in committee for further review and public comment.