Aerial photo of Mirak property in Arlington Heights, showing outline of proposed apartments.
UPDATED, July 1: The largest housing proposal since Town Meeting adopted town’s master plan in 2015 was unveiled to the general public at the Monday, June 29, Select Board meeting.
Backed by the Mirak family, supporting the town’s largest business and one with a history of giving back to Arlington, the proposal offers as many as 140 apartments, one-fourth of them described as affordable, behind the Heights car dealerships, amid town history and near the Minuteman Bikeway.
“This is an exciting project for the Mirak family and for Arlington,” said Mary Winstanley O’Connor, an attorney representing the project, who said the Miraks will become the sole owners, similar to the Legacy apartments in the Center.
“This is very different than Mugar,” she said, referring to Thorndike Place, the condo project slated for wetlands near Thorndike Field in East Arlington and stalled by town opposition since 2015.
She said it has been designed with master plan in mind and includes access to a variety of transportation modes. Cyclists would reach the bikeway via new access connecting to Ryder Street.
The developers, Spaulding & Slye of Boston, asked the Select Board for a letter of support to be sent to MassHousing, which the board plans to do within 30 days.
Family’s generosity
Julia Mirak Kew, vice president at Mirak Properties, cited the family’s history of generosity. Her grandfather John, after establishing automobile businesses in town in the 1930s, later helped move to the Center the Jefferson Cutter House, now home to the Dallin Art Museum and Chamber of Commerce.
Architect David Gamble, of Gamble Associates, touted how the plan manages open space and aims to fulfill the intent of the master plan. “This is a patient partnership with an experienced developer,” he said, adding, “Density is not a four-letter word.”
Architect Joel Bargmann, of Bargmann Hendrie + Archetype, described the project in detail, calling it “unlike any project we have ever worked on.” See the presentation here >> The description does not include the number of rooms in the apartments.
Daniel Sinclair, managing director of Spaulding & Slye, said he is “extremely excited to partner” on this project. He said the transportation plan shows a “very minor increase in traffic.” Current numbers, he said are 102 vehicle trips per day entering and 97 exiting. The projected numbers after project completion are 117 entering and 111 exiting. He called total traffic about 10 percent more.
About 45 neighbors of the extensive Mirak properties at 1165R Mass. Ave. had a first look at the plans on June 24.
Town consultant to review
In response to the June 29 presentation, Select Board Chair John Hurd said the town would hire a consultant to review the plan.
Member Diane Mahon raised the issues of choice and affordability. She asked the developers to consider other options for considering what is affordable and trying to give residents ways to have a first or second choice on the apartments.
Member Len Diggins, noting that “you’re not going to please everyone,” asked about bicycle storage and parking. He was told that plans are for storage for 50 to 100 and that parking is projected at a little under one space per unit.
“I like the way it opens up Mill Brook to the public,” Diggins said.
Town Counsel Doug Heim said the board has 30 days to provide comments for the project eligibility letter. Member Steve DeCourcey was told that the application for project eligibility had been submitted that day.
In response to June 30 query, Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine wrote: “We haven’t started the process of selecting a consultant for this yet. Once we receive a project eligibility letter from Mass Housing, we will start the official review and comment process.”
The board voted, 5-0, to accept the plan.
The spring 2015 Town Meeting adopted the current master plan. Thorndike Woods, a 219-unit project on the 17-acre Mugar site, was announced in March 2015.
During citizen open forum, six people spoke about the project, three in support and others expressing development-related views. A separate summary about all of these comments will be published.
ACMi video of presentation included in Select Board broadcast (at 2 hours and 55 minutes)
April 19, 2015: Mirak family rose from ashes of genocide
This news summary was published Tuesday, June 30, 2020, and updated the same day, as well as July 1, to add video link.
