From Dave Brigham:
In the second part of this series about Allston, I talked quite a bit about current and future redevelopment in the Boston neighborhood known in prior decades as a home to gritty rock clubs and raucous student bars (see April 2, 2022, "Jamming Through Allston, Part II: The Future"). In the first post, I blabbed on and on about those clubs and other aspects of the village (see March 26, 2022, "Jamming Through Allston, Part I: Rock City"). In this installment, I will talk about retail and restaurant outlets, a historic former fire station and other old buildings, and a one-time railroad depot that has housed numerous bars and restaurants over the years, but that currently sits empty. Let's start there.
Allston Depot sits hard by the Massachusetts Turnpike and the railroad tracks that carry commuter, freight and Amtrak trains in and out of downtown Boston. Located on Franklin Street, across from the future home of the Allston Square development (which will comprise several buildings across from the depot on both Franklin and Cambridge streets), the depot was built in 1887 by the Boston & Albany Railroad. It was designed by Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, the successor firm of famed architect Henry Hobson Richardson (Trinity Church, Boston; Marshall Field store in Chicago - since demolished; Thomas Crane Public Library, Quincy, Mass.; numerous train stations in and around Boston).
A designated Boston Landmark, the depot was taken out of service in the 1950's, according to a Boston Landmarks Commission report from 1997. "Yeoman-O'Connell acquired this abandoned property in 1956, operating their fence supply establishment from this location until the late 1960s," the report indicates. "The Arcand Automotive Repair Company purchased this former depot in 1969, initially intending to relocate their Allston business to this site. Instead, owner Eugene J. Arcand converted the building to restaurant use, opening the 'Allston Depot Steak House' in 1972." Eventually the restaurant, under the same ownership, changed its name to the Sports Depot. Its most recent use was as an outlet of local chain Regina Pizzeria.
(Sign on the door for the depot. It says "Circa 1884," so perhaps the station was begun that year, and not completed until 1887.)
While buildings all around the depot are slated for demolition or redevelopment, this place is safe. Last fall, reports surfaced that City Realty Group, which is spearheading the Allston Square project, was considering opening one-time Brighton dive bar Mary Ann's in this location (see April 19, 2019, "From Scary Ann's to Mary Jane's?"). A group affiliated with City Realty has been buying up dive bars in the area for the last several years, according to this Universal Hub article.
As I mentioned in the first Allston post, the folks who ran the Great Scott nightclub were also interested in the old Sports Depot site, but that deal fell through. Whatever ends up here, it will probably be a bit more upscale than what's been there before.
Another building that will abut the new Allston Square project is the old fire station on Harvard Avenue.
Built in 1891, per MACRIS, the old station is currently home to businesses including The Mindful Mutt, which offers doggy daycare, grooming and more; an outlet of the Out of the Blue art gallery; and Looney Tunes Records.
Alright, from here on down I'm throwing rhyme and reason out the window. I'm going to bounce all around the heart of Allston and talk about various buildings.
I was surprised that the beauty above doesn't show up in the MACRIS files. Located across Brighton Avenue from the current fire station, this place rose in 1899, according to the Boston assessor's database. I call it the DMOD building, after a company that was located there in the late '90s that provided secure digital media distribution software. I went to a meeting here with the company in my previous life as a writer for an online publication.
I love the look of Scissor Sound Hair Studio, which is located across from the old fire station.
I'm not proficient in foreign languages, but I believe the characters on the sign are Korean.
On Highgate Street I spied this nicely restored old building.
According to the sign on the facade, this place was built in 1896 and is known as Whitcomb Stables.
The building at 116-126 Harvard Avenue, below, is partially occupied. The space at the northern end is vacant; the southern portion is home to Korean Garden restaurant.
MACRIS calls this the McLaughlin Block, and says it dates to 1913. A LoopNet listing indicated the building was erected in 1930. I don't know who to trust. I dig the Spanish tile roof.
Just across an alleyway, at the corner of Harvard and Brighton avenues, is the E. Willard Frost Commercial Block, circa 1913.
I like the sign in the above photo, but unfortunately it's no longer 100% accurate. Yes, The Pike and L.A. (Lower Allston) are indeed in the directions indicated by the arrows. You'll still find Downtown by following the arrow, and I suppose The Burbs are indeed located in Hell. As for Patron's and Sunset (Patron's pool hall and the Sunset Grill & Tap), however, they vacated the Frost building years ago (see June 12, 2019, "The Sun Has Set On This Grill & Tap".
Current tenants include a Shibuyala Japanese skin care store, Stage Karaoke and Happy Lamb Hot Pot, a retaurant that has filled the old Sunset space.
I assume at least part of this building was once a bank, given the vault alarm hanging over one entrance. The building is somewhat down at the heels. I haven't found it in an online search for potential redevelopment, so I guess it's going to stay as-is for now.
One of the more mysterious buildings in Rock City is the Edison Light Company concrete block at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue and Linden Street.
MACRIS says the building dates to 1920, and that it's a garage. The Boston assessor's office gives a date of 1900, which is often a default that means, "We don't know/haven't done the research." Either way, I'd love to know what goes on in there, even if it's just loads of electrical equipment humming and buzzing.
With so many changes to the Allston landscape already in place, and on the way, photographer Edward Boches created the Postcards from Allston series for Allston Village Main Streets, in order to document "the character of a neighborhood." On the windows of the derelect building at the corner of Cambrdge Street and Emery Road, there are great promotional posters for this campaign.
The photo project features residents and businesspeople, as well as old buildings and street scenes. It's really cool.
Most recently home to Century Furniture and Boston Village Collision Specialists, this building is -- surprise! -- slated for redevelopment. "The current development plan proposes to construct a six-story building and a five-story building, one on each parcel," according to the plan from Anchor Line Partners. "As proposed, the buildings would total approximately 164,000 gsf and 2,400 sf of ground-floor retail space." The proposal features 166 apartment units, including 28 affordable; 88 studios, 54 one-beds and 18 two-beds five townhomes.
This project will also involve the demolition of a building on Rugg Road that most recently was home to Madhouse Motors.
Madhouse, which is now located in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood, "specializes in antique & vintage restorations, general maintenance, fabrication and custom builds" for motorcycles.
Along North Beacon Street is Yoma Burmese Cuisine, which offers a political statement in its window.
Along Harvard Avenue is the Gordon Building, which I find quietly impressive.
Built in 1926, this Colonial Revival building has some nice details (scroll pediments, inward-curving pilasters) that outshine the graffiti, in my mind. There's some nice original artwork on the front of The Pet Shop, as well as a groovy sign for Tresses d'Or Beauty Palace.
As I mentioned in the first post about Allston, I used to frequent this neighborhood when I first moved to Brighton with my girlfriend (now my wife). Until I started shooting photos and doing research for this series, I hadn't thought about the building below in quite a few years.
Located across from The Horse Allston tavern, this building dates to 1902 and is known as the Lincoln Block. It is home to Punjab Palace, Realr Skin Clinic, Friendship BBQ and other businesses. I recall going up to the second floor of this place back in the early '90s to buy vintage clothing, 'zines and maybe records. I wish I could remember any specific things I bought here. Thirty years later, I still shop for records and, once in a while, for vintage clothing. 'Zines, not so much.
Next door to the Lincoln Block is Linden Superette.
The convenience store is also part of the Lincoln Block. I don't know how long the store has been there, but guessing by the sign, I'd say a few decades at least. I love the word "superette." A few years ago, I wrote about the Brookline Superette.
The superette's nearest competitor is Night Star Convenience, which is located on Harvard Avenue.
Also home to Artful Edge Framing, the R.F. Whitehead Block dates to 1913.
The next building dates to 1910 and houses the Hanmaru Restaurant.
Located on Harvard Avenue, this place is one of many along this main thoroughfare that hasn't been well taken care off in recent years (decades?). You can see a bit of the finer details in the triangle above the eatery's sign. Perhaps with all of the new development in Allston, owners of buildings such as this one will be motivated to upgrade their facades.
I'm going to wrap up this post with a nice sign for a business that's been in Allston for more than a century.
Model Hardware has been selling hammers, nails and the like since 1916. The building dates to 1910.
That's it for funky old buildings and such in Allston Rock City. In the final part of this series, I will feature murals and graffiti galore.
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