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Forest Hills Parcels V&W to Bring New Commercial Space to Jamaica Plain

Apr 15, 2010

The BRA Board approved the Forest Hills Parcels V&W redevelopment project, which is located directly south of the Forest Hills MBTA subway station along Washington Street in Jamaica Plain. The project will create two newly constructed buildings, one on each vacant parcel, containing a combined area of approximately 44,300 gross square feet. The Parcel V building will consist of a three-story commercial/retail structure with approximately 2,895 net square feet of retail space, approximately 6,260 net square feet of office/commercial space, 20 parking spaces, and related landscape and site improvements. The developer is planning on occupying one of the floors upon its completion. The Parcel W building will consist of a three-story commercial/retail structure with approximately 10,962 net square feet of retail space on ground and mezzanine levels, approximately 17,338 net square feet of office/commercial space on the upper two levels, 38 parking spaces, and related landscape and site improvements. It is the developer’s plan to lease out the 8,620 SF ground level retail space to a neighborhood grocer.

The project is the direct result of a 2006 BRA and City of Boston led planning initiative called the Forest Hills Improvement Initiative. The process was an 18-month community based planning effort that concluded in the fall of 2008. The initiative focused on improving and growing the Forest Hills Station area and planning for the sale and development of several MBTA-owned parcels as well as other publicly and privately owned parcels around the station. In October of 2008, in accordance with the Forest Hills Improvement Initiative Use and Development Guidelines, the MBTA and its real estate consultant issued an Invitation to Bid (ITB) for Parcels V and W. WCI Corporation, the developer, of Jamaica Plain was the sole applicant who responded to the ITB, and was selected as the redeveloper of Parcels V and W on March 18, 2009 by the MBTA.

The development team has designed the buildings to achieve a LEED Silver rating as set forth by US Green Building Council, consistent with goals and objectives outlined in the ITB and the Initiative’s Use and Development Guidelines.The total development cost for the project is estimated at approximately $6.6 million dollars. The developer anticipates construction to commence in the fall of 2010 with completion in approximately 12 months. The project is expected to create 75 jobs.

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