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On August 6, the redevelopment proposal for Great Scott, the iconic Allston music venue that closed in 2020, was returned to the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA)’s docket after an outpouring of community outcry against its removal from the September agenda.

The redevelopment project had been removed from the ZBA agenda on July 29, according to District 9 City Councilor Liz Breadon. A few days later, the organizers of Great Scott wrote in a statement on Instagram which says, “City Hall is now saying we need more public support to give us the final required approval.”

The project had been previously approved by the Boston Planning Development Agency in April, indicating that the project had already completed the Article 80 review process. The process is required for projects such as Great Scott that intend to construct over 15 housing units — and includes a requirement to conduct neighborhood meetings with local abutters and civic groups.

“It seems to be that they are trying to get them to go back out into a civic association in Brighton to make sure that they have an opportunity to get more information about Great Scott,” says Allston resident and Great Scott supporter Lizzie Torres. “It’s confusing to me about why that wasn’t a requirement before they got board approval.”

Upon its removal from the ZBA agenda, the organizers of the Great Scott encouraged its supporters to send letters and emails to Mayor Michelle Wu and District 9 City Councilor Liz Breadon.

“We had over 1,500 emails in the span of a few days,” says Councilor Breadon. “We just talked to the folks [at the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services] and said, ‘The neighborhood has community support for this project. It’s already gone through the BPDA approval process for Article 80. The neighborhood wants this to happen. So, can you expedite it getting back onto the agenda again?’”

“Never, in my time in this council, in this job, have I seen such an incredible outpouring of support, which is testament to how important this Great Scott project is to the neighborhood and to the music community in general,” adds Councilor Breadon, who has been on the Boston City Council since 2019.

Great Scott’s redevelopment proposal was returned to the ZBA docket on August 6. It is currently scheduled for a Zoning Board of Appeals hearing on September 9 during the 11 A.M. session. This step initiates the process for deciding whether Great Scott will be granted zoning relief, which is the final regulatory step before construction permits can be issued.

Great Scott, which was located at 1222 Commonwealth Avenue, was a popular 250-capacity venue that served Allston’s artists, students, and neighbors for over four decades. Its original location closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and was replaced by a Taco Bell Cantina.

The new plans for Great Scott’s development would entail the demolition of existing buildings on 1 Harvard Avenue and the construction of 139 rental residential units, a 300-person capacity performance space, O’Brien’s Pub, and additional retail space.  

“We are the only neighborhood in the country that’s named after an artist. And there is a reason that our history has so much art behind it,” says Torres. “We’re hoping that in combination with providing much-needed housing, that we’re going to have two venues that are heavily supported by the community, that are going to give an opportunity for starting artists, niche artists, and also artists who want to stay local and have their art be seen by people.” ■