Why not talk to Hyde Park and find out what the people there think about using the Readville rail yard, which sits roughly half in Dedham and half in Boston’s Hyde Park section?
So Dedham Selectman James MacDonald has reached out to Boston City Councilor Robert Consalvo, who represents Hyde Park.
MacDonald asked that the two officials from the two municipalities hold some joint meetings and talk about what will become of these 40 acres of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority property.
Dedham’s piece was multi-housing. Boston’s was being held for some sort of business use. The developer, Baran Cos. never did say what it planned there.
Baran Cos. first proposed 570 units on 20 acres, then finally worked itself down to 83 units. Ultimately, Baran Cos. lost the bid when it failed to clean up the mess of arsenic and lead at the site. The MBTA is doing that now.
Dedham toyed with the idea of buying its half of the land. But the town has other, more urgent cash needs. It needs a new Avery Elementary School and a senior center for the Council on Aging. Totals will come soon. But together, they will strain the town’s ability to pay.
Which makes purchase of half the Readville rail yard seem unlikely.
Besides, the Dedham selectmen have just put on the next Town Meeting a rezoning provision that will change the designation so only single homes can be built there.
But now a whole new proposal must be made. It will be different from the early versions because – presuming Dedham passes the rezoning – it will have to be a single-home development.
In the end, of course, Boston Mayor Thomas Menino will make any final government decisions.
He has just been re-appointed as a Neighborhood Housing Trust member in Boston.
NHT helps affordable housing developments get constructed and gives a hand with concept and foresight. The NHT includes work with the state, Beacon Hill, housing programs, the city and the Neighborhood Development department, Consalvo said.
He was not talking about the Readville rail yard when he said that. But it does show where he stands on affordable housing.
Sitting down with Consalvo therefore becomes necessary; if he has no plans for the yard, Dedham needs to know; and if he would like to change zoning in the Boston acreage and put up housing, Dedham needs to know that, too.
Both Boston and Dedham also need also to meet with the MBTA and get everybody’s agendas understood.
Last time the Readville rail yard was handled, something went terribly wrong.
