Turning a Layered Site Into a Transit-Connected Community
A former office and industrial property. A 23-acre site beside the MBTA Commuter Rail. A residential community shaped by careful planning, permitting, and site design. RJ O’Connell helped guide Station 117 in Franklin, MA from early land planning through construction, supporting the transformation of an underutilized Franklin site into a 257-unit apartment community.
Located at the MBTA Commuter Rail Station in Franklin, the site was previously occupied by office buildings and a lumber yard. RJOC helped reposition the property into a residential community with strong access to transit, parking, amenities, and everyday residential use.
Creative site design was needed to work around the existing cell tower and provide sound walls between the residences and commuter rail line. RJOC coordinated access, circulation, grading, utilities, stormwater management, and site layout within a layered and active setting.
RJOC helped move the project through Zoning Board of Appeals variances, Planning Board Special Permit / Site Plan Review, Conservation Commission approval, MBTA License for Entry, and NPDES Construction General Permit coverage. From feasibility through construction-phase services, RJOC provided the technical coordination needed to keep the project moving.
Station 117 includes 257 apartments across six buildings, plus surface parking, garage parking, a clubhouse, outdoor pool, grilling areas, and dog park. Behind the finished community is a carefully planned site framework designed to support access, resident experience, and long-term performance.
Services:
- Land Planning
- Feasibility Study
- Site/Civil Engineering
- Stormwater Management
- Land Use Permitting
- Construction Documents
- Construction Phase Services
Team:
- Architect: CNK Architects
- Wetland Scientist: Goddard Consulting – Wetland Strategies, LLC
- Landscape Architect: Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.
- Traffic Engineer: Vanasse & Associates, Inc.
- Geotechnical Engineer: Miller Engineering & Testing, Inc.