Color scheme changed for proposed library/apartment tower to lessen visual impact on neighboring historic building, but increase visibility of BPL branch

Initial design on left; revised look on right, both showing the Otis House; renderings by the Architectural Team.

Architects designing a replacement for the West End BPL branch that would include a two-story library topped by twelve stories of affordable apartments have submitted revised renderings that aim to better highlight the new branch and the historic Otis House next door.

In renderings submitted to the Boston Civic Design Commission last month, architects for the non-profit Preservation of Affordable Housing and its investment partner, Caste Capital, showed off the new plans to achieve requests from the commission at a meeting in May to make the new building less "visually competing" with the Otis House.

POAH and Caste won city approval in 2023 for a plan to replace the current