Mayor Menino Announces New Development Projects Moving Forward
May 16, 2012
Approved projects will create 2,766 new jobs and is $381 million in private investment in the City of Boston
New Senior Housing for Mission Hill The BRA Board unanimously approved the Housing Creation Proposal by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences and Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services (MHNHS) to commit up to $279,386 in Housing Linkage Funds for the development of the MHNHS Roxbury Crossing Senior Building Project. The project will include 39 affordable housing units - 35 units for those at or below 50% of area median income and 4 for those at or below 30% of area median income. The project will also include a manager’s unit, 8 rear parking spaces, and a community room. The Housing Linkage Funds will continue to be used for the creation and maintenance of affordable senior rental housing units. Ink Block Development at the Former Herald Site Gets Final Approval for Housing, Retail, and Grocery
Private investment / Total project cost: $200 million
Total square footage: approx. 548,900 sq ft
Jobs: 250-450 construction jobs, 60-75 permanent jobs
Housing: 471 units
The BRA Board unanimously approved a new housing and retail development in the South End. Ink Block will be located at the former Boston Herald site at 300 Harrison Avenue and is the first project to be approved under the new Harrison Albany Corridor Strategic zoning guidelines. The Ink Block development team includes developer National Development and architectural firm Elkus/Manfredi Architects. The project will be developed in two phases with an estimated completion date of 2016 and create 250-450 construction jobs, and 68 permanent jobs. Condos Approved for South End
Private investment: $12.8 million
Total square footage: 45,860 square feet
Construction jobs: 15
Housing: 18 rental condominium units, 2 on site affordable housing units
The BRA Board unanimously approved a project that would create 18 condominiums and 20 underground parking spaces for 477-481 Harrison Avenue in the South End. The project sits in the middle of a South End block that is bordered by Harrison Avenue, Washington Street, Perry Street, and Savoy Street. An upholstering company currently occupies the first floor of the existing 5-story building; however, the upper floors are vacant. The project proposes transforming an underutilized building to create two ground floor retail and office spaces and condominium units on the upper floors. The project includes 8 one-bedroom units, 6 three-bedroom units, and 4 four-bedroom units. A 6th floor will be built to house 2 penthouse units and a green roof. Two of the units will be affordable. The development team is composed of The Holland Companies, developer, Hacin+Architects, and LaCasse Law, LLC, counsel. Fifteen construction jobs will be created. Urbanica Design + Development Designated for Hotel and Housing in Roxbury
Private investment / Total project cost: $63 million
Total square footage: approx. 223,000
Jobs: 800 to 1000
Housing: 52 rental, including 8 affordable
The BRA Board tentatively designated Melnea Partners, LLC, an affiliate of Urbanica Design + Development, as the developer of Parcel 9, a key 1.3 acre lower Roxbury parcel at the gateway to Dudley Square. The $63 million project adjacent to Ramsey Park and bounded by Melnea Cass Boulevard and Washington Street calls for a 3-building complex that includes a 150-room hotel, a 2-story commercial and community building, and a 5-story residential and retail facility. [caption id="attachment_6376" align="alignright" width="205" caption="Parcel 9 Hotel Rendering"]
[/caption] A two story building with retail, community space, and a gym will connect the hotel to a 5-story mixed use building. Floors two through five will have 52 rental housing units, including 8 affordable units with seven of those available to residents earning below 70% of the area median income. The unit mix will be 14 one-bedrooms, 26 one-bedrooms with a study, 10 two-bedroom units, and two penthouse units. The total project includes 139 parking spaces for use by residents, hotel visitors, and retail users. The site will be landscaped with trees, modern light fixtures, benches, and bicycle racks. Parcel 9 will create 800 to 1000 construction jobs. The development team includes Melnea Partners, LLC, NADAAA, D/R/E/A/M Collaborative, and Landworks Studio. Parcel 9 is part of the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan adopted in January 2004 to guide and shape future policy and activities in the neighborhood over the next one to two decades. Parcel 9, which is partly owned by the BRA and Massachusetts Transportation Department, was identified as a key site by the plan. Through 23 community meetings and collaboration with the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee, the BRA drafted a RFP for the Master Plan of Parcel 9 and Parcel 10, located across the street. The RFP looked for proposals that would maximize economic development and job creation potential, generate wealth through jobs, equity, and business ownership opportunities for residents, catalyze new economic growth, reinforce Roxbury’s physical, social, and economic fabric, maximize the value of the parcels, and build a sustainable and transit oriented development. On November 16, 2010 the BRA put an RFP out on Parcel 9 and Parcel 10. On July 25, 2011 the authority received three proposals for Parcel 9. Following the submission of the proposals, the BRA, MassDOT, and the Project Review Committee, made up of community stakeholders, held 8 working sessions and one community wide meeting to review the three proposals. On January 30, 2012 the PRC voted to recommend Melnea Partners, LLC to be tentatively designated as the redeveloper of Parcel 9 and on February 6, 2012, the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee unanimously voted to endorse that decision. Developer Designated for Housing and Retail at Entrance to Dudley Square
Private investment: $32 million
Total square footage: 196,500 square feet
Construction jobs: 580
Permanent Jobs: 121
Housing: 66 residential units, 44 on site affordable housing units
The BRA Board unanimously approved the tentative designation of Madison-Tropical, LLC as the redeveloper of Parcel 10 in Dudley Square, Roxbury’s commercial and historical center. Parcel 10 is 2.1 acres or 90,000 SF; the BRA owns approximately 64,000 SF, and MassDOT owns the remainder. The parcel is bordered by Melnea Cass Boulevard, Washington Street, Williams Street, and Shawmut Ave. Madison-Tropical proposed the creation of 3 combined-use buildings including a 40,000 SF grocery store for Tropical Foods Supermarket, 25,600 SF of ground floor retail, 11,160 SF of office space, 66 residential units, and 173 surface and below grade parking spaces. Landscaping, sidewalks, the creation of open space, lighting, seating, and roof decks will ensure the creation of a pedestrian-friendly project. [caption id="attachment_6378" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Parcel 10 Site Plan"]
[/caption] Parcel 10 is zoned to encourage the diversification and expansion of Boston and Roxbury’s economies, the creation and retention of job opportunities, and the provision of additional economic benefits to the Roxbury Neighborhood District. Through 23 community meetings and collaboration with the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee, the BRA drafted a RFP for the Master Plan of Parcels 9 and 10. The RFP sought proposals that would maximize economic development and job creation potential, generate wealth through jobs, equity, and business ownership opportunities for residents, catalyze new economic growth, reinforce Roxbury’s physical, social, and economic fabric, maximize the value of the parcels, and build a sustainable and transit oriented development. A Project Review Committee of 12 committee members was established to review the proposals submitted in response to the RFP. The committee voted to make the following recommendations to the BRA: the inclusion of more market rate housing, the minimizing of public subsidies, the planning and achievement of important milestones within a year of tentative designation, and ensuring that the construction teams are composed of 51% residents, 51% persons of color, and 10% women. The development team includes Madison Park Development Corporation, Tropical Foods International, Next Street Financial, business strategy consultant, DHK Architects, CWC Builders, construction engineering, Howard Stein Hudson, traffic engineer, Geotechnical Partnership, Klein Hornig, counsel, and HW Moore Associates, civil engineer. New One and Two Bedroom Housing Approved in South Boston
Private investment: $7.2 million
Total square footage: 29,211 square feet
Construction jobs: 75
Housing: 23 residential units
[caption id="attachment_6370" align="alignright" width="150" caption="637 East First Street Rendering"]
[/caption] The BRA Board unanimously approved the creation of 23 residential condominiums at 637 East First Street in South Boston. This $7.2M, 29,000 SF project will create 5 one-bedrooms, and 18 two-bedrooms ranging in size from 750 SF to 1,408 SF on a vacant lot. Twenty-four parking spaces will also be constructed. The development team includes Oranmore Enterprises, LLC, developer, Niles O. Sutphin, architect, Walter McKinnon Associates, structural engineer, LVR Corporation, MEP engineering, and Greater Boston Survey and Engineering, land surveying consultant. The team anticipates the yearlong construction process will begin in the fall of 2012, and 75 construction jobs will be created. BRA Board Extends Developer Designation for Downtown Hotel Development
Private investment / Total project cost: $66 million
Total square footage: 100,000 square feet
Jobs: 300 construction jobs, 150 permanent jobs
The BRA Board unanimously approved a 90-day tentative designation extension for a hotel development at a key Theater District site. Amherst Media Investors Boston, LLC, Tremont Stuart Development, LLC, and HotelWorks Developer, LLC are proposing a 19-story, 100,000 square foot hotel at 240 Tremont Street. The $66 million project would have approximately 240 “micro” guest rooms and street level retail or restaurant space and a 3-story digital sign to complement the vibrancy of the surrounding Theater District. The project creates 300 construction jobs and 150 permanent jobs with an anticipated groundbreaking early next year. Amherst Media Investors, LLC had been previously tentatively designated to develop the site. On April 9, 2012 the developer filed a Notice of Project Change updating previously approved plans and adding development affiliates Tremont Stuart Development, LLC and Hotel Works Developer LLC to the project. The 5,787 square foot parcel is owned by the BRA