Despite significant changes made to the original plans for a condo development proposed for 94 Rockland Street, neighbors attending the West Roxbury Neighborhood Council (WRNC) meeting on March 24 remained opposed to the project. Even with a reduction from the original six units to three units, concerns were raised about parking, lot flooding, and the building design not fitting into the rest of the neighborhood.

James Guerrier, the developer, stated that while he initially proposed six units at the WRNC in September 2025, and later aimed for four after two meetings with neighbors, consensus couldn't be reached. “We see it’s down to three units. That’s our proposal. It’s one building now,” he said. The new proposal is for three townhouse-style units in one building, featuring a mansard roof to minimize visual impact. The roof peaks at 28 feet 10 inches, below the maximum 35 feet, and each unit will have three bedrooms and two parking spaces, more parking than zoning requires.”

WRNC member Rob Corley asked, “James, what are the current violations you are now facing with the revised plan?” Guerrier responded that the front yard setback is 18 feet (required is 20 feet), left yard setback is 7 feet (required is 12 feet; there are 16 feet on the right side), the FAR (floor area ratio) is .44 with .4 required. Minimum required open space per unit is 1,627 with 1,800 required. There are no height or parking violations. Corley noted that while there are a lot of violations that were triggered, they are close. When asked about single family residences, which the neighborhood would favor, Guerrier said, “We wouldn't be able to build two or three single-family homes because we can't subdivide the land.” The units are for owner occupancy if required. Other building options were not financially viable.

Some at the meeting insisted that a three-family was never agreed to by the neighborhood.

“Excuse me, but what neighbors agreed with that building? Because that was our debate from the word go,” said one neighbor. Another added, “We said the building could not be built because it's going to change our whole neighborhood.”

Guerrier said he remembered that an agreement was made for a three-family that would be acceptable to the neighbors.

“Tony (Saroufim) and I and a lot of people, we wanted you to go back to the drawing board, and that's what you did, and I commend you for it,” said Stephen Smith, WRNC member to Guerrier. “You said from the beginning these were not going to be single family homes… we asked you to go back and you did that with the three units.”

Smith said the WRNC has also always been consistent.

“We have to be honest here; something is going to go there. I'm just being realistic with people here and that’s pretty much what Tony was saying to all of you at the last meeting.”

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Another attendee responded, “We know something's going to go there … but we don't want units. We have a unique little neighborhood with different houses, with apex roofs.”

A single-family zoning aspect was raised, but that has not been flagged as a violation. Others said more parking was needed and that their own housing values would go down.

“So, I agree wholeheartedly with Stephen about the dramatic shift that you've made from what was originally proposed here, which was, you know, dead on arrival,” Corley said to Guerrier. He noted that going from six units to three was a 50 percent reduction and the original square footage was 1,700-1,800 SF and now 1,400 SF.

Corley asked the group what the other issues were. Concerns over lot flooding were raised and Corley said that would be addressed when applying for the building permit.

“He has to manage water on site… he can’t do anything otherwise if he wants a permit.” Corley went on to say the mansard roof was a costly concession and suggested that the neighbors ask for tree plantings that would screen the property to buffer the view. Corley said that at a selling price of $800,000 each, no one’s property values would go down.

Corley also explained that the role of the WRNC was to give opinions on whether to grant the zoning variances, but theirs is not the deciding factor. The city does not have to accept their opinions. He recommended that the neighbors attend the zoning board meeting to voice their concerns.

The WRNC voted 7 to 1 to recommend approval to the Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA).