TodayAI concept
Concept 1 · Harvard Avenue
Long brick blocks, bays, gables, dormers; about 4–6 levels.
Building type B · moderate features · about $407/GSF (range $369–469)
Architecture/Street concepts
Street concepts: what our design rules could permit
Fifteen real Allston-Brighton sites, photographed today and reimagined with AI image tools as traditional, street-facing housing. Drag each slider to compare.
About these images. AI concept The right-hand images were generated with AI tools. They are illustrations of the kind of building our proposed design rules would allow, not proposals for these specific properties, and we have not consulted the owners. Cost figures are conceptual hard-cost budgets in October 2026 dollars per above-grade gross square foot (GSF), excluding land, parking, soft costs and financing. See the cost study for scope and caveats.
TodayAI concept
TodayAI concept
Concept 2 · Harvard and Brighton Avenues
Corner tower, projecting bays and roof detail; about 4–5 levels.
Building type B · elaborate features · about $425/GSF (range $380–490)
TodayAI concept
Concept 3 · Harvard Avenue
Repetitive street walls, restrained bays and dormers; about 4–6 levels.
Building type B · moderate features · about $407/GSF (range $369–469)
TodayAI concept
Concept 4 · Braintree Street
Terraces, deep bays, complex roof; about 5–6 levels.
Building type B · elaborate features · about $425/GSF (range $380–490)
TodayAI concept
Concept 5 · Cambridge Street
Mansard and extensive stone-like trim; about 4 levels.
Building type A · elaborate features · about $395/GSF (range $350–450)
TodayAI concept
Concept 6 · Brighton Avenue near Acton Street
Repeated gables, chimneys, railings; about 4–5 levels.
Building type B · moderate features · about $407/GSF (range $369–469)
TodayAI concept
Concept 7 · Brighton Avenue
Two deep bays and occupied-roof expression; about 4 levels.
Building type A · elaborate features · about $395/GSF (range $350–450)
TodayAI concept
Concept 8 · Brighton Avenue
Flat roof, repetitive openings and shallow piers; about 4 levels.
Building type A · essential features · about $370/GSF (range $332–413)
TodayAI concept
Concept 9 · Brighton Avenue
Low-rise retail row, variable roof and large bay; about 3 levels.
Building type A · moderate features · about $377/GSF (range $339–429)
TodayAI concept
Concept 10 · Brighton Avenue
Corner exposure, gables, bays and dormers; about 4 levels.
Building type A · moderate features · about $377/GSF (range $339–429)
TodayAI concept
Concept 11 · Brighton Avenue
Long repeated modules with varied roofs and bays; about 4–5 levels.
Building type B · moderate features · about $407/GSF (range $369–469)
TodayAI concept
Concept 12 · Harvard and Commonwealth Avenues
Large glass corner, roof monitors and timber arcade; about 4 levels.
Building type A · elaborate features · about $395/GSF (range $350–450)
TodayAI concept
Concept 13 · Brighton Avenue
Curved corner, roof detail and deep bay; about 5 levels.
Building type B · elaborate features · about $425/GSF (range $380–490)
TodayAI concept
Concept 14 · Greylock Road
Repeated residential entries, stoops, bays and roofs; about 3–4 levels.
Building type A · moderate features · about $377/GSF (range $339–429)
TodayAI concept
Bonus · The Jackson Mann site
The City is studying housing, a school and a community center for this site, closed since 2019. This concept was not part of the cost study.
Tell us what you think. Take our two-minute survey: fifteen pairs of buildings, and you pick the one you’d rather have on your street.