The Quincy Planning Board on April 16 heard a detailed presentation for a proposed 21‑unit residential building at 506 South Street by South Street Assets LLC and continued the matter to the board’s June 25 meeting to allow the applicant to revise plans and respond to peer‑review comments.

The proposal calls for demolition of the existing three‑family structure and construction of a new four‑story, 21‑unit residential building with a mix of one‑ and two‑bedroom units and a total of 35 parking spaces provided partly under the building and partly on grade. The applicant also requested a parking‑waiver special permit as part of site plan review under Quincy’s zoning code.

Why it matters: The project sits at the edge of a transition zone in Quincy Point — between larger multifamily development on East Howard Street and smaller two‑ and three‑family homes on side streets. Neighbors and at‑large elected officials expressed concerns about density, lack of on‑site green space, parking spillover and the location and safety of an electrical transformer proposed near the site.

Applicant presentation and design changes: Attorney Edward Fleming introduced the application; Brian Donahue of Donahue Architects reviewed plans showing 21 units (initially presented as 14 two‑bedrooms and seven one‑bedrooms but later revised during the hearing to a layout with additional one‑bedrooms), garage parking on the lower level accessed from the lower grade of South Street, and landscaped elements intended to retain several mature trees at the rear of the lot. Civil engineer Chi Minh described stormwater controls, underground infiltration systems and a plan to sink and screen an on‑site transformer in a retaining wall “so it won’t be as unsightly,” he said.

Neighbors’ concerns during public comment: Community commenters raised repeated concerns:
- Jack Mayo, a long‑time Claremont Avenue resident, said the neighborhood already feels congested and warned that on‑street parking would worsen, estimating (in his view) the development could increase local vehicle counts by dozens.
- Councilor Richard Ashworth and other neighbors requested more on‑site green space, buffer landscaping between the new parking and abutting properties, and asked that the applicant reserve some surface spaces for guest parking rather than sell all spaces as condominium parking rights.
- Maggie McKee asked about tree removal and reminded the applicant of Quincy’s tree ordinance that can require fees or mitigation for removed trees over 8 inches in diameter.

Technical issues flagged: The board and peer reviewers pressed the applicant on trash capacity and collection, photometric (lighting) plans and the transformer location. Chi Minh said the transformer would be “sunken down into that wall” with plantings and bollards to protect it. The applicant said they had met with the city traffic reviewer and revised the parking layout to address clearance concerns raised in peer review; a formal resubmittal to the department was promised.

Board action: The board moved and unanimously voted to continue the public hearing to June 25 to allow the applicant to submit revised plans, peer‑review responses and additional details requested by staff and neighbors.

Next steps: The applicant indicated it will provide revised plans, photometric data, trash handling details, and further coordination with the National Grid and the city; the continued hearing is scheduled for the planning board’s June 25 meeting.