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Mayor Menino Announces New Projects Moving Forward

Apr 12, 2012

BRA Board Approves New Innovation District Housing
Private investment / Total project cost: $62 million
Total square footage:198,335 sq ft
 Jobs: 200 construction jobs, 12 permanent jobs
Housing: approx 197 units across two buildings
Retail: approx 4,200 sq ft, ground floor retail
The BRA Board unanimously approved 411D Street, which will add new housing to the growing Innovation District. [caption id="attachment_5539" align="alignright" width="150" caption="411D Street South Building"]411D Street South Building[/caption] The $62 million project, located on D Street across from the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, is made up of two buildings both fronting onto D Street.  The 6-story north building will have up to 90 rental units with 2,200 square feet of ground floor retail.  The 5-story south building will have up to 107 rental units and approximately 2,000 square feet of ground floor retail. The total project has 26 affordable units and 26 innovation units.  Innovation housing features compact units for sleeping that open into shared space for living and dining, which encourages collaboration and innovation, goals of the Innovation District.  Other approved projects in the district with innovation housing include Pier 4, 63 Melcher St, and 381 Congress Street. [caption id="attachment_5536" align="alignleft" width="198" caption="411 D Street North Building"][/caption] 411D Street will include 121 enclosed vehicle parking spaces and bike storage to   accommodate each unit of housing.  The project includes the addition of landscaping elements along the sidewalk and other streetscape enhancement measures. The 411D Street project creates 200 construction jobs and 12 permanent jobs.  It will replace an existing 74,000 square foot building, the former headquarters of Bowne of Boston Inc., a provider of commercial lithographic printing services. The project is a joint venture between Cresset Development, LLC and Clarion Partners.  Elkus Manfredi is the project architect. BRA Board Approves 1501 Commonwealth Avenue
Private investment: $17 million
Total square footage: 65,727 square feet
Construction jobs: 200
Housing: 55 residential units, 17 on site affordable housing units
The BRA Board unanimously approved a project creating 55 mixed-income residential units in a former nursing home in Brighton.  The $17 million residential project has been designed in Jacobean style seamlessly linking itself to the architectural fabric of its neighbors.  The 55 units will be constructed in 5 stories above one level of parking. [caption id="attachment_5546" align="alignright" width="150" caption="1501 Commonwealth Avenue"][/caption] Benefits to the community will include street improvements, increased pedestrian access, open space and landscaping: $50,000 to the Commonwealth Avenue gradient across from the project site, $25,000 to revitalize Ringer Park, and the addition of landscaped areas, trees, and improved fencing.  In addition, a construction and management apprenticeship program will be implemented for the building’s residents.  The proposed site fronts Commonwealth Avenue to the east, Brighton Marine Health Center to the north, Kindred Hospital to the south, and Overlook Park to the west. The development team consists of The Brighton Partnership for Community Reinvestment, a joint centure of Diamond Sinacori and Hart Development Associates, Tise Design Associates, project architect, Brennan, Dain, Le Ray, Wiest, Torpy & Garner, legal counsel, New Ecology, green consultation, Allen & Major, civil engineering, Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, traffic engineer consultant, and McPhail Associates, geotechnical engineers and environmental consultants.  The project is expected to create 200 construction jobs. BRA Board Approves the Return of Trolleys to the Boston Marine Industrial Park The BRA Board unanimously approved the return of Old Town Trolley Tours, Super Duck Tours, and City View Trolley Tours to transport visitors from Black Falcon Cruise Terminal in the Marine Industrial Park to downtown Boston.  The Mass Port Authority expects the cruise Port of Call season to run April 24, 2012 – November 1, 2012.  Last year, the Terminal welcomed over 100 ships and more than 300,000 passengers.

Related Tags

1501 Commonwealth Avenue 411 D Street BMIP Housing Trolleys 

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