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Developer signals shift toward senior-focused multifamily at Muzzy site; seeks zoning amendment and town review
Summary
Bullfinch updated the Planning Board on a possible shift from the previously approved office/life-science plan at 557 Highland Avenue to a multifamily, age-restricted (55+) development of roughly 500 units (about 600,000–650,000 sq ft) with retained trails, amenities and a small retail component; developer plans traffic and fiscal-impact studies with a target special town meeting in October.
Robert Schlagger, principal with developer Bullfinch, told the Planning Board on April 7 that market conditions and neighborhood feedback have led the team to assess moving the former Muzzy site (557 Highland Avenue) toward a multifamily scenario—potentially age-restricted housing for residents 55 and older—while preserving previously promised site amenities.
Schlagger said the developer is exploring a residential-first option that would keep roughly 10,000 sq ft of retail on the Highland/ Gulf Street intersection (intended to be neighborhood-serving), maintain jogging trails, pickleball courts and landscape features from the earlier scheme, and reduce overall parking demands to about 1,000 spaces (down roughly 40% from prior office-dominant proposals). The residential concept discussed would yield roughly 480–500 units and a total building area in the 600,000–650,000 sq ft range, depending on the final mix of unit sizes and any retained commercial space.
On affordable housing, the developer said their counsel anticipates aiming to meet a 12.5% affordability target consistent with common MBTA-community practice; the exact approach (senior-only affordable units, inclusionary zoning mechanics, or alternative offsets) remains to be worked out with town staff. Schlagger also said that a traffic impact analysis is underway (BHP; expected no later than Memorial Day) and that a revised fiscal-impact analysis will be prepared for town review.
Board members and the public asked questions about retail tenant mix (neighborhood-serving vs. destination retail), the practical ability to attract medical-office users, parking structure design (two-level above grade/under-building parking rather than a large standalone garage), and timeline. The developer said they hope to initiate zoning amendments in July and, if appropriate, to pursue a special town meeting in October; that schedule depends on completing the traffic and fiscal analyses and on neighborhood engagement.
What happens next: Bullfinch will deliver the traffic impact analysis and draft zoning materials to staff; the Planning Board expects to review zoning language and fiscal analysis in late spring so the town can decide whether to advance a special town meeting article.
