Reading, MA — The Town of Reading issued a stop work order for the demolition work occurring at the site of the Reading Village 40B on Monday, March 26. The order cited workers for illegally closing the street as well as not adhering to dust control measures as agreed to when the development was approved by the town. Until the issues are rectified, fines up to $1,000 could be imposed.
The Reading Village 40B development is across from Reading Depot on the corner of Lincoln and Prescott Streets.
The Zoning Board of Appeals granted the application of a comprehensive permit to MKM Reading, LLC for a sixty-eight unit apartment building at their meeting on February 21, 2017. The final vote was four in favor and one opposed. Seventeen of the sixty-eight units are designated as affordable, which helps the town meet the 10% affordable housing goal mandated by the state. The decision, which is twenty-two pages long, moves the project one step closer to commencement.
The new building would replace the storage facility on Prescott Street, the garage on the corner, and the former Certainly Wood building on Lincoln Street. The development has been controversial since application was first made last winter and Zoning Board meetings consequently drew large crowds of concerned neighbors and citizens at the outset of the process. The final decision will be filed with the town clerk in a few days.
