Image courtesy of Embarc Studio

The timeline for construction of the MBTA’s West Station in Allston is still in flux, but a Brookline developer is planning for the transit hub’s future arrival as it moves forward with permitting for a $104 million apartment tower.

City Realty Group this week kicked off permitting for the 17-story building including 254 compact living apartments at 76 Ashford St. The designs leave a 60-foot-wide path undeveloped for future dedicated bus lanes, a cycle track and pedestrian walkways connecting to the station property.

Designed by Boston-based architects Embarc Studio, the plans include 63 stackable parking spaces on the lower levels. All 254 apartments would be designed under Boston’s compact living housing pilot, which allows lower parking ratios near public transit and smaller housing units.

“While still in its pilot form, we believe when done right, compact housing will provide more affordable units that are both comfortable and desirable. Given our new awareness of contagions, we are crafting the required common spaces to be configured to allow for smaller groups and strategically distributing them throughout the building,” developers stated in a project notification form to the Boston Planning and Development Agency.

The developers have been in talks with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation on providing access from the property to the planned West Station site for buses, pedestrians and bicyclists.

West Station, including a commuter rail platform and bus terminal, is part of the over-$1 billion Allston Multimodal Project realigning the Massachusetts Turnpike and replacing the aging Allston viaduct. State transportation officials last fall punted the decision on a crucial part of the design into spring or summer of this year among disagreements between state environmental officials, transportation officials and community and business groups over the best way to replace the viaduct.