Dedham's Planning Board will hold public hearings on two mixed-use developments that would bring 108 new apartments to Bridge Street, the site of the former Moseley's on the Charles banquet hall.
The hearings are scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. at Dedham Town Hall, 450 Washington St., Room 304.
Both projects come from the same developer, 50 Bridge Street LLC, owned by Dedham resident Al Morteo and represented by attorney Peter A. Zahka II. The board approved earlier versions of both projects 5-0 on Feb. 12, 2025, but the new applications carry significantly higher unit counts. Why the projects are returning with revised plans has not been explained in available public records.
What's proposed
The first project, at 50 Bridge Street, would demolish the existing two-story building and replace it with a four-story mixed-use structure containing 63 apartments, 2,596 square feet of commercial space and 74 parking spaces. The application seeks special permits for a major non-residential project, mixed-use residential and work within a flood plain overlay district. About 15,000 square feet of the parcel sits in a flood zone along the Charles River.
The second project, across the street at 49-57 Bridge Street, would build a four-story mixed-use building with 45 apartments, 3,427 square feet of commercial space and 68 parking spaces, according to the Planning Board agenda.
Bigger than before
The increase totals 22 units.
The February 2025 approvals covered 49 units at 50 Bridge Street and 37 at 49-57 Bridge Street. The new filings add 14 and eight units respectively.
At the board's Jan. 8, 2025, hearing, Zahka said the projects would generate a combined $125,000 in annual tax revenue for Dedham and roughly $549,000 in one-time permit and water district fees. He also said 15% of residential units would be reserved as affordable housing. Whether those figures still apply to the larger proposals is unclear.
Traffic engineer Ken Cram told the board on Jan. 22, 2025, that the two projects were expected to add one new car every 10 minutes during peak weekday hours.
Background
At a June 26, 2024, scoping session, Planning Board member James F. McGrail called the project a tremendous opportunity for the Riverdale neighborhood and the town as a whole, according to the session's minutes.
Morteo hosted three community meetings with neighbors before filing and mailed notices to more than 100 nearby properties. The 49-57 Bridge Street parcel, formerly a Moseley's parking lot, was rezoned at the spring 2024 Town Meeting to place nearly all of it within the General Business zoning district.
Plans presented in December 2024 included a publicly accessible Riverbank Park at 50 Bridge Street, with ramps and steps connecting Bridge Street to the riverfront and native landscaping replacing asphalt at the river's edge. A 70-seat restaurant using Moseley's former liquor license is planned for the commercial space at 50 Bridge Street.
Chair John Bethoney has recused himself from all prior Bridge Street LLC hearings due to a professional relationship with the applicant.
The hearing can be watched on Dedham TV at dedhamtv.com. Questions can be directed to Planning Director Jeremy Rosenberger at [email protected] or 781-751-9240.
