114 Austin Street

At a glance

• What: Definitive Site Plan (PB-2026-074) for a five-unit townhouse-style development at 114 Austin Street (RG-5 zone, about 9,200 SF lot, Crown Hill local historic district).
• Where it stands: resolved. Re-approved 3-0 by the Planning Board on 2026-09-16, subject to staff conditions as modified.
• Next: Historical Commission COA-26-29 (mechanical scope) was approved 2026-09-17.

Background

• The plan was approved by the Planning Board in 2024 and amended after a fire destroyed the historic carriage house; one unit is to replicate the carriage house.
• That approval lapsed and the current owner, 114 Austin Street LLC (previous owner reportedly Polar Views), refiled the same project.
• Applicant's attorney: Joshua Lee Smith. Architect: Jesse Hildenberg (Dixon Salo Architects).
• A Historical Commission certificate of appropriateness meeting was set for 2026-09-17.

Decision and conditions

• Approved 3-0 on 2026-09-16 subject to staff conditions as modified.
• Condition 9 (no driveway parking) now covers HOA or lease agreements, since the owner has not decided between condos and rentals.

Status and next steps

• Historical Commission COA-26-29 (mechanical scope) approved 2026-09-17.

Discussion time

About 16 minutes across 2 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Log

• 2026-09-17 - Historical Commission — Certificate of Appropriateness COA-26-29 approved (roll call captioned as unanimous) for the added heat pumps, electric meters (side of the carriage house, viewed from Quincy Street) and white exhaust vents facing the parking lot. Joshua Lee Smith recounted the 2024 and 2025 approvals and the owner change; Michelle H. Johnstone clarified that COAs do not expire, so only the mechanical scope needed review.
• 2026-09-16 - Planning Board - Item 8: re-approval of the lapsed plan, 3-0 (motion Brandon King). Michelle M. Smith noted minor HVAC changes only and one carried-over condition; no public comment.