The Fenway’s overburdened housing market may get some measure of relief from a proposed building on Park Drive with over a hundred units of housing units and a focus on affordability.

Transom Real Estate and Harbor Run Development submitted a letter of intent for the project on July 26, the first document required for major real estate developments.

There’s still a long review process ahead before they break ground, but the developers say further information will arrive “in the coming weeks” with a more detailed project notification form.

Details on the project itself are few at this early stage, but the current blueprints are for two seven-story buildings containing just over 100,000 square feet. That’s enough for 111 rental housing units.

Developers haven’t committed to a specific number of affordable units but say a “significant portion” will be rent restricted. Transom doesn’t currently expect to require any zoning relief from the city.

The plot at 165 Park Drive is currently adjacent to the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral, an Orthodox Christian church over a century old that holds services and conducts religious education.

The letter of intent describes the church as a “partner” in the project and says the buildings would contribute to significant repairs and landscape improvements.

Parking may prove contentious, with the buildings only proving four new parking spaces and a car share service to pick up the slack.

A zoning change approved by the City Council in October 2021, however, has made it more difficult for abutters to block projects that don’t meet parking minimums if 60% or more of the building’s units qualify as affordable housing. If this project meets that threshold, car-loving abutters wouldn’t be able to halt the proposal with a lawsuit.

“There could be some discussion about whether or not they’re providing sufficient parking spaces,” said Richard Giordano, director of policy and community planning for the Fenway Community Development Corporation.

“Any number of developers back before that amendment who didn’t have an issue with parking but did have an issue with affordable housing would sue to block the development if they didn’t comply with parking zoning. It’s real NIMBY stuff.”

Ultimately, Giordano expects the project will be received well. The Fenway is desperate for housing, and any objections from the community have plenty of opportunities to be addressed during the open forums of the Article 80 public review process.

“We’ll keep our fingers crossed. It’s hard to make a specific judgment at this early stage, but any housing in the Fenway is needed. Between the displacement of long-term residents by absentee investors and student housing specialists, we’re in short supply. There’s just not enough housing for the demand that exists,’ said Giordano.