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Mayor Menino Announces New Projects Moving Forward

Oct 18, 2013

BRA Board Approves Harvard IMP for Allston Campus

The BRA Board unanimously approved the Institutional Master Plan (IMP) for Harvard University’s Campus in Allston.
 
The approved IMP outlines a ten-year vision for Harvard's campus in Allston that includes nine projects and 1.4 million square feet of new construction, with an additional 500,000 square feet of renovation projects. The plan will expand the University’s academic presence, continue the activation of Barry’s Corner, enhance the public realm, strengthen pedestrian connections, improve circulation, and create new green space and gathering places for the University and the community. In addition, the plan includes a long-term vision to guide future campus and community planning in Allston.  
 
Harvard, the City of Boston and the Allston community are working together to finalize a master plan for community benefits commensurate with the scale and scope of the projects anticipated during the life of Harvard’s new IMP.
 
The University, City of Boston, Task Force, and Allston community have participated in regular public meetings over the past two years to discuss Harvard’s plans for Allston development and community benefits associated with institutional growth. The approved IMP provides a framework for future development in Allston that will support key academic needs and further knit together campus and community. 

Harvard IMP Projects

  1. Ruth Mulan Chu Chao Center. Harvard will replace the existing Kresge Hall with  The Chao Center an approximately 90,000 square foot building that will serve HBS’s Executive Education program, providing space for dining, classrooms, offices, and common spaces.
  2. Burden Hall. Harvard will replace the existing Burden Hall with a new classroom and academic building. As currently envisioned, the project will be three stories above grade, and a level below grade totaling 140,000 square feet.
  3. Faculty and Administrative Office Building. Harvard will construct a new Faculty and Administrative Office Building. The proposed site is in the northeast corner of what is now Ohiri Field and is directly north of the Harvard Innovation Lab/Batten Hall. As currently planned, the building will be approximately 110,000 square feet and four stories in height.
  4. Harvard Stadium Addition and Renovation. Harvard will undertake a renovation and addition to Harvard Stadium. This project will provide improved accessibility to visitors with disabilities, renovate existing areas, relocate program areas from other athletic buildings in the district, provide new program space and restore areas of the existing structure.
  5. Mixed Use Facility and Basketball Venue. Harvard plans a new 60,000 square foot basketball venue with 3,000 seats at the site of the current 175 North Harvard Street building. The remainder of the site will be a project that is largely focused on institutional affiliate/graduate student housing and/or potentially office space. This portion of the project will include between 200,000 and 250,000 square feet of residential space and approximately 10,000-30,000 square feet of ground floor retail.
  6. Gateway Project. On the site of the existing Charlesview Apartments, the University is proposing to construct a project of approximately 300,000 square feet of space, including between 35,000 and 50,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. An active ground floor supporting permeability will include mixed use activities, comprising service, retail, and/or other institutional uses and programming. The upper floors will include institutional/mixed uses, which may also include administrative or academic office space. The project will be between six and nine stories to be compatible with the Barry’s Corner mixed use development on the west side of North Harvard Street.
  7. Hotel and Conference Center. The University plans to develop a hotel and conference center on the south side of Western Avenue, across from the parking lot, framing the northern edge of the future Greenway. It is currently anticipated that the project will have approximately 200 hotel rooms and approximately 26,500 square feet of meeting space for a total project of approximately 250,000 square feet. In addition, there will be approximately 125 parking spaces.
  8. HBS Baker Hall (to be renamed Esteves Hall). Harvard intends to renovate the interior of HBS’s Baker Hall and improve adjacent landscaping. The building has not had a significant renovation since its opening, and as a result it requires both cosmetic and system upgrades in order to provide comfortable accommodations and accessibility improvements for Executive Education participants.
  9. Soldiers Field Park Housing. Harvard intends to renovate Soldiers Field Park housing. This graduate student housing complex has not had a significant renovation since its opening in 1974, and as a result it requires both cosmetic and system upgrades. The University is investigating a range of options for renovating these buildings.  

New Office Building Approved in the South End

Total Project Cost: $130 million
Total SF: 308,000 SF
Jobs: approx. 300 construction jobs, 880 permanent jobs
LEED: LEED silver
 
The BRA board unanimously approved a new mixed use building in the South End. The $130 million project at 80 East Berkeley Street will replace a parking lot and one story auto repair facility with a use that will attract new pedestrian activity and further diversify, revitalize, and improve a busy South End intersection.
 
The 308,000 square foot building includes 290,000 square feet of office space with 5900 square feet dedicated to incubating new business and 200 parking spaces. The project also includes 18,000 square feet of ground floor retail, extending the retail experience along Washington Street across East Berkeley Street. The project will also provide a new pedestrian friendly connection between Shawmut Avenue and Washington Street. With 5900 square feet of incubator space.
 
The project is being developed by The Druker Company with project architect Elkus Manfredi. The project will create 300 construction jobs and 880 permanent jobs.
 
The area around the 80 East Berkeley Street project was identified as a high growth district during the two year Harrison Albany corridor planning study completed in December 2011 and adopted as an amendment to the zoning code in January 2012.
 

Copley Place Residential Addition and Retail Expansion

Total Project Cost: $500 million
Total SF: 805,000 SF
Housing Units: 542 units
Jobs: 1,700 construction jobs
LEED: LEED silver
 
The BRA Board unanimously approved a notice of project change for Copley Place. The $500 million project will add up to 805,000 square feet of retail and residential uses in a 52 story tower near Copley Square.
 
The revised Copley Place project will have a total of 542 units of housing, including 109 condos and 433 apartments, 71 of which will be affordable. In addition the project includes a 40,000 square foot expansion of the existing Neiman Marcus store and approximately 75,000 square feet of new retail, restaurant, and an interior four-season atrium.
 
The project developer is contributing up to $1,000,000 to support the City’s Public Art Initiative, $250,000 to the Southwest Corridor Park Conservancy, and $250,000 to the Friends of Copley Square.
 
The project development team includes the Simon Property Group and the architecture firm Elkus Manfredi Architects. The project will create 1,700 construction jobs and be LEED silver.
 

New Housing Approved at Forest Hills MBTA Station

Total Project Cost: $95 million
Total SF: 300,000 SF
Housing Units: 283
Jobs: 280 construction jobs
LEED: LEED silver certifiable
 
The BRA Board unanimously approved a new transit oriented mixed use development adjacent to Forest Hills Station. The $95 million project at 3593-3615 Washington Street reflects the principles of the 2008 BRA Forest Hills Improvement Initiative, which called for dense commercial and residential development on the publicly owned parcels around the Forest Hill T stop.
 
The Commons at Forest Hills will include 283 units of housing across four buildings and include a mix of studios, one, two, two plus a den, and three bedroom units with 9,000 square feet of ground floor retail. The project also includes 250 bike parking spaces.
 
The project developer is Forest Hills Arborway LLC, a partnership between The Brennan Group and John M. Corcoran and Company with project architect Utile, Inc.

New Housing Approved in Four Corners Neighborhood of Dorchester

Total Project Cost: $14 million
Total SF: 50,000 SF
Housing Units: 35
Jobs: 42 construction jobs
LEED: LEED silver
 
The BRA Board unanimously approved new housing in Dorchester. The project, located in the Four Corners neighborhood of Dorchester, will add 35 units of housing in two buildings.
 
Building A located at 322-336 Washington Street will be a 4-story building with 22 affordable units, ground floor retail, and a community room. Building B at 101 Bowdoin Avenue will be a 3-story building with 13 affordable units, ground floor retail, and a community room. The project includes a total of 3,200 square feet of commercial space and 23 parking spaces.

The development team includes developer Viet-Aid and project architect Utile Inc.
 
LEED Silver Certifiable, TDC $14,324,048
 
Copley Place project change approved. $500M project in #BackBay incl 542 units of housing w/ 71 affordable units #BRABoardMtg
 
283 units of housing w/ 250 bike parking spots approved next to Forest Hills @MBTA stop #JamaicaPlain
 

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