BRA Board Approves Projects Across Boston
Dec 15, 2011
BRA Board Approves Pier 4
Private investment / project cost, phase I: $150 million
Total square footage, phase I: 373,000 square feet
Construction jobs, phase I: 400
Housing, phase I: 383 residential units, 35 on site affordable housing units in phase 1, and 50 on site innovation units
The Innovation District’s momentum continues with the BRA Board’s unanimous approval of phase 1 of the Pier 4 project, a three phase project located at 136-146 Northern Avenue on 9.5 acres. Phase 2 and 3 will be approved as specific projects are submitted to the BRA Board for review. The approval of Pier 4 just one month after the approval of 319 A Street answers the call for housing in the area.
Phase 1 is a $150 million project that will transform an existing restaurant, patio, surface parking, and deteriorating pier into a vibrant, waterfront mixed-use complex with 625,000 square feet of residential space, 20,000 square feet of public civic space, and 20,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. Thirty-five of the residential units created in phase 1 will be affordable, and 50 of the residential units will be innovation housing. When phases 2 and 3 are submitted to the BRA for review, there will be additional affordable housing.
Pier 4 will enhance the public’s interaction with the harbor by creating new waterfront open space areas, including a one-acre Waterfront Park, Waterfront Plaza, 1,800 feet of Harborwalk, the Water Commons consisting of a water taxi landing area and covered waiting area, public restrooms, and the All-Seasons Gathering Area linking to the civic space. The deteriorating pier will undergo significant repairs, and the area will house a “touch and go” dock, fish cleaning station and bait and tackle shop. Additionally, approximately $2 million will be contributed to improved water transportation services in the District.
As part of the District’s development into a 24-hour neighborhood, Pier 4 will bring residential, hotel, retail/restaurant, civic, and commercial uses to the waterfront. Boston’s waterfront economy will be strengthened, and the Pier 4 project will create a new community on Boston’s waterfront. Parking will move below ground opening surface area space for pedestrian use. Community activities in new, open waterfront space will be created, and a pedestrian and vehicular network across the 9.5 acres will be built improving the physical and visual access of the public to the harbor.
The development team includes New England Development LLC, architects ADD Inc, and legal counsel, Goulston & Storrs, P.C. Phase I will create 400 construction jobs.
The Innovation District is an area on the South Boston Waterfront focused on attracting startup companies and innovation industries. Over 90 companies and 2,800 new jobs have moved to the Innovation District since the Mayor announced the creation of the district in January 2010.
BRA Board Approves Penniman on the Park
[caption id="attachment_3741" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Penniman on the Park rendering"]
[/caption]
Private investment / Total project cost: $7.2 million
Total square footage: 41,053 square feet
Construction jobs: 30
Housing: 36 condominiums, 6 affordable
The BRA Board unanimously approved a project that will result in new home ownership opportunities just outside of Allston’s Union Square neighborhood.
The $7.2 million Penniman on the Park project will replace three deteriorating low rise commercial and storage buildings on a lot bounded by Penniman Street, Rugg Road, a 4-story artist live/work building, and a commercial building. The new 5-story building will feature 36 condominiums, including 6 affordable units, 17 underground parking spaces, and access to 10 surface parking spaces on an adjacent parcel.
The 41,053 square foot project will also include bike racks in the garage and improved pedestrian access to the site, which is located across the street from a park.
Penniman on the Park was first approved in October 2008. The revised plan includes 4-new setback penthouse units to mitigate the cost of environmental remediation required at the site.
The development team consists of developer Rugg Road Realty Trust and architectural firm O’Sullivan Architects, Inc. The project is expected to break ground in spring 2012 and will create 30 construction jobs.
BRA Board Approves 375 Market Street
[caption id="attachment_3742" align="alignright" width="300" caption="375 Market Street rendering"]
[/caption]
Private investment / Total project cost: $15 million
Total square footage: 65,727 square feet
Number of jobs:
- construction jobs: 40
- permanent jobs: 10
Housing: 39 units, 5 affordable
The BRA Board unanimously approved a new mixed-use development in Brighton, which will replace a vacant building and surface parking lot with a 4-story residential building with ground floor retail.
The $15 million project at 375 Market Street will house 39 residential units and provide new housing opportunities for families, including 2-one-bedrooms, 34-two bedrooms, and 3-three bedrooms. The project includes a 22,425 square foot parking garage with 58 spaces and accommodations for 12 bicycles. A pocket park that fronts onto Bennett Street will be constructed and will be open to the public.
New plantings and 3,567 square feet of new retail associated with the project will improve and activate the Market Street streetscape heading towards Brighton Center. Bars and convenience stores will be prohibited from the commercial space as requested by the community.
The project’s development team includes Brookline Development Corporation O’Sullivan Architects. The project is expected to break ground in April 2012 and will create 40 construction jobs and 10 permanent jobs.
BRA Board Approves West Square
Private investment / Total project cost: $75 million
Total square footage: 351,341 square feet
Number of jobs:
- construction jobs: 200
- permanent jobs: 10
Housing: 256 residential units, 33 on-site affordable housing units
Property Tax Revenue: $675,000
The BRA’s support of development projects in the Innovation District continues with the unanimous approval of the West Square project. The West Square project will demolish 4 vacant and vandalized buildings on 2.5 acres in the St. Vincent neighborhood. The proposed project is bounded by D Street, West First Street, C Street and West Second Street. The proposed project will build a 4 story building with 256 residential units, a 4.5 story parking structure with 268 parking spaces, and open space for residents. The 256 residential units will consist of 40 studio units, 146 one-bedroom units, and 70 two-bedroom units.
The development team includes Lincoln SB LLC, SK&I Architectural Design Group, Epsilon Associates, Inc., and Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo, P.C., legal counsel.
BRA Board Tentatively Approves Developers for Three E+ Developments
The BRA Board tentatively designated three development teams for the Mayor’s E+ Green Building Program. The three teams will construct Boston’s next generation of ultra-efficient, energy positive, deep green buildings on three city owned parcels in Roxbury and Jamaica Plain.
[caption id="attachment_3744" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="61-69 Marcella Street rendering"]
[/caption]
Urbanica Design + Development and Interface Studio Architects have been tentatively approved to develop four attached townhouses, including one affordable unit, at 226 Highland Street and 61-69 Marcella Street in Roxbury. Each 3-story townhouse will measure approximately 1,500 square feet and house 2.5 bathrooms, a full basement, a rear patio, a small yard, and one parking space. The total development costs have been estimated at close to $1 million.
Transformations Zero Energy Homes, Sage Builders, and Nickerson Design Services have been tentatively designated to develop four residential condominiums, including one affordable unit at 156-160 Highland Street in Roxbury. Two Greek Revival style duplexes with three bedroom units, one parking space, and patios will be built. The total development costs have been estimated at close to $1.1 million.
[caption id="attachment_3758" align="alignright" width="150" caption="64 Catherine Street rendering"]
[/caption]
GFC Development and Utile, Inc. have been tentatively designated to develop two 3-bedroom townhouses at 64 Catherine Street in Jamaica Plain that will include private outdoor space. The total development costs have been estimated at close to $745,000.
Construction on all three parcels is slated to begin in spring 2012 and be completed by fall 2012.
The three development teams were selected through a competitive RFP process launched by the BRA in March 2011. Fourteen proposals were submitted by eleven development teams. The final teams were chosen by BRA staff with assistance from building experts who based their decisions on the proposal’s energy performance, urban design, and feasibility.
The Mayor’s E+ Green Building Program seeks to advance industry practice and public awareness of energy efficient green buildings and to construct high performance residential green building prototypes that can serve as models for future practice. This program is a pilot initiative of the City of Boston’s Department of Neighborhood Development, Office of Environment & Energy Services, and the Boston Redevelopment Authority with support and sponsorship of National Grid, NSTAR, US Green Building Council, USGBC Massachusetts Chapter, Boston Society of Architects, and Boston Architectural College.