The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) Board voted unanimously to approve the proposed 41-unit, all-affordable senior housing development at 4259-4267 Washington St.

The proposal met with mostly positive feedback from residents during the Article 80 Large Project Review process, and B’nai B’rith stated it will look to come back in the future to develop the adjacent parcel.

The approved proposal comes with a bit of a caveat, however. The ground-floor retail space for the proposal will rehouse The Thrift Shop of Boston once completed, which occupies the other building adjacent to the proposed site on the western side.

However, according to a public comment lodged by Thrift Shop Board President Dan Singleton of The Thrift Shop, the rehousing process is not so clear cut. He said The Thrift Shop is still in the “gathering information stage” of figuring out its support of the project.

“As recent news suggests, it is becoming more and more difficult for non-profit thrift shops to find affordable and appropriately sized spaces,” he wrote This proposed Washington St. parcel looks like a thoughtful space. However, our organization is looking at a future with a whole lot less square footage at a greater financial cost. We do not want the community to assume that The Thrift Shop of Boston moving into this space is a foregone conclusion at this juncture.”

It should be noted that Singleton wrote that B’nai B’rith has been nothing but forthcoming and helpful during the process:

“The B’nai B’rith Housing (BBH) team has met with our management and board members a number of times,” he wrote. “The BBH team has been helpful and communicative with our team. We realize that it takes a good while to get all the details about future costs and expenses related to the proposed Washington Street parcel.”

The Thrift Shop of Boston is one of the many fundraising arms of The Home for Little Wanderers, which provides housing and care for at-risk youth across the city.

The BPDA Board appeared to be very enthusiastic about the project.

“Well Madam Chair, I don’t make it a secret that each meeting I have a favorite project to vote for; you are much more King Solomon in making sure you don’t show favorites,” said Board member Matt O’Malley. “Net zero carbon, 100 percent affordable and senior housing, I mean this is the trifecta. This is a great project. I know this area well, it’s close to where I grew up, and I look forward to welcoming seniors into this neighborhood. It’s literally steps away from a grocery store, a bank and a pharmacy. It’s just such a great location and it’s really, really exciting.”

A couple of days before the vote, B’nai B’rith announced a new proposal at 1208C VFW Parkway to change the 55-unit proposal – originally approved by the BPDA Board back in 2023 – and convert it to 55 all affordable units at 80 percent area median income (AMI).

However, the caveat here is that B’nai B’rith is looking to remove the project’s promised community contributions to the Mayor’s Office of Housing, the Boston Transportation Department (BTD) and the Boston Parks & Recreation Department. Those benefits included $15,150 for the BTD bikeshare program, and $20,000 to the City’s funds for parks. It is not clear if the proposed public greenspace or pedestrian connection to Baker Street will remain.

This is not to be confused with B’nai B’rith’s other project at 1208D VFW, which was 60 units, all affordable and completed last year.

The comment period for 1208C is open until Jan. 9; presumably there will be a public meeting on the matter. For more information, go to https://tinyurl.com/2txnzfu5