SPRINGFIELD — A local construction company is proposing to build 18 single-family homes off Bay Street, extending a subdivision it developed around 2019.
Graham Construction, Inc. has filed for approvals to build the new subdivision in the Pine Point neighborhood on about 9.5 acres of vacant land off Elaine Circle.
“A subdivision this large is pretty rare. Springfield doesn’t have that many big lots left,” said Philip Dromey, deputy director of planning for the city.
This is the second phase of the development Graham Construction started after purchasing the blighted Mutual Ford property on 1535 Bay St. in 2016.
“This land has been vacant for years. There were plans to build a church on it at some time but it was never built,” Dromey said.
A total of 22 homes were built in the first phase. City records show most were sold around 2019 for more than $400,000 apiece. The extension comes at a time when there is a housing shortage statewide.
Owners of Graham Construction did not return calls for comment, but the plans show the new subdivision will be built on a cul-de-sac that is now called Elaine Circle Extension.
The lots will range from 9,844 to 43,263 square feet, plans said, exceeding the city’s requirements that call for single-family homes in Residence A zoning to be constructed on parcels at least 7,500 square feet.
Because there are some wetlands on the property, the company will have to receive approvals from the Conservation Commission to ensure they are protected. It is also scheduled to go before the Planning Board for subdivision approval on Jan. 17.
The property does extend to the busy Boston Road, but there are no plans to have access to the road from the new street. Instead the street will connect off Elaine Circle, the plans said.
An initial review of the by plans by city officials show few concerns except for a proposal for sidewalks to abut the street. The city’s policy calls for a tree belt to serve as a buffer between sidewalks and the road and officials asked that trees also be planted on the green space.
