News & Updates

New Development Projects Moving Forward

Nov 14, 2013

The BRA Board approved several development projects at the November 14 Board Meeting, along with several Institutional Projects and Planning and Zoning initiatives. These projects will create more than 3,900 new construction jobs and invest more than $4 billion in the City of Boston over the next decade.

Dorchester Health Center Expanding

Total Project Cost: $4 million
Total SF: 4,100 SF
Jobs: 14 construction jobs, 5 permanent jobs

The BRA Board unanimously approved expansion of the Bowdoin Street Health Center located at 230 Bowdoin Street in Dorchester. The 4,100 square foot addition will allow for the expansion of the facility’s outpatient clinical space, including a wellness center, and accompanying interior renovations. The Bowdoin Street Health Center is a project associated with the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Government Center Garage Redevelopment Will Knit Together Downtown Neighborhoods

Total Project Cost: $2.2 billion
Total SF: 2.9 million
Housing: 812 units, 102 affordable units
Hotel Rooms: 202
Jobs: 2,600 construction, 6,000 permanent
LEED: LEED Gold for office/LEED Silver for residential

The BRA Board unanimously approved the redevelopment of the Government Center Garage, which will knit together the neighborhoods of Bulfinch Triangle, Government Center, the West End, the North End, and Beacon Hill. The project will add new office, retail, housing, and hotel that will activate the street 18 hours a day and dramatically improve the public realm.

The 2.9 million square foot project bounded by New Sudbury, Bowker, New Chardon, and North Washington Streets, will include six new buildings with a total of 812 units of housing, 196 new hotel rooms, approximately 1.15 million square feet of office space, 82,500 square feet of retail space, and 1,159 parking spaces.

The site is divided into two development sites. The West Parcel will feature a 464 unit, 480 foot tall residential building, an approximately one million square foot, 528-foot office building, and a 291 unit, 299 square foot residential building. All three buildings include retail totaling 20,000 square feet. The West Parcel components will be built around and above the portion of the existing garage that will remain and will include 1,159 parking spaces.

The East Parcel includes three components, a 157 foot tall building that includes 57 residential units, a 196-key hotel with 17,400 square foot of retail, a 152-foot tall building containing 143,500 square feet of office space and 20,3000 square feet of retail space, and a 60-foot tall, 25,000 square foot retail building.

The project will be constructed in 3 phases and be coordinated with the partial removal of the existing Government Center Garage structure. The development team is HYM Investments with architecture firm CBT.

New Housing Coming to Symphony Road in the Fenway

Total Project Cost: $9 million
Total SF: 28,278 SF
Residential Units: 20
Jobs: 50 construction jobs
LEED: Silver Certifiable

The BRA Board unanimously voted to approve a $9 million residential project in the Fenway. The proposed project will be located at 50 Symphony Road between the historic Emerald Necklace and the Back Bay neighborhood.

The project site is an approximately 6,000 square foot lot which is currently a parking lot. The development will include 20 residential condominium units, three of which will be affordable, as well as 11 on-site/off-street parking spaces. The residential units will be a mix of one and two bedroom condominiums. The exterior of the project will be a five story, double bow front design to give a contemporary interpretation to traditional Fenway architecture. There will also be designated space for bicycle racks on the property.

The development team includes developer Urbanica, Inc. and project architects Urbanica Design, Inc. The project is anticipated to begin construction in the spring of 2014, with a completion date of summer 2015.

Bulfinch Triangle Renovation Project will bring Housing, Retail to Vacant Historic Building

Total Project Cost: $20 million

Total SF: 109,033 SF
Residential Units: 80
Jobs: 120 construction jobs
LEED: Silver

The BRA Board unanimously approved the $20 million renovation and conversion of the existing six-story Forecaster Building, a vacant building in the Bulfinch Triangle. The project, located at 121-127 Portland Street, will include residential condominiums and retail space, and add 4 stories to the building.

The historic Forecaster Building, after renovation and addition, will house 80 residential units comprised of one, two, and three bedroom condominiums. Seven of the eighty units will be affordable, and three more affordable units will be created off-site. Two ground floor retail spaces totaling 3,719 square feet will create street-level activity and vitality for the neighborhood. Thirty-two parking spaces for residents will be contained within the first floor and will utilize mechanical stacking systems. Additionally, the renovation will provide space for electrical charging stations to encourage the use of alternatively fueled vehicles.

The development team includes Cathartes/AEW Portland Street IV, LLC and the Pizzuti Development Team.

South Boston Mixed-Use Redevelopment Adds Housing, Restaurant to Neighborhood

Total Project Cost: $8 million
Total SF: 29,344 SF
Residential Units: 30, 4 affordable
Jobs: 100 construction, 40 permanent

The BRA Board unanimously voted to approve an $8 million mixed-use project in South Boston. The project, located at 11 Dorchester Street, will add new residences and restaurant space to the neighborhood.

The project will replace New England Auto Body, an automotive repair and storage business, with 30 new residential units, four of which will be affordable. The project will also include a 2,230 square foot ground level restaurant that will enliven the streetscape and neighborhood. Fifty four off-street residential parking spaces will be located both at grade and below grade in the building’s garage.

The development team consists of developer Allure Boston and architecture firm Pisani + Associates Architects. The project is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2014 with an estimated construction completion in the second quarter of 2015.

Renovation of South Boston Church will offer Market Rate and Affordable Condominiums

Total Project Cost: $12.5 million
Total SF: 21,504 SF (excluding parking)
Residential Units: 25 market rate condominiums, 4 affordable condominiums
Jobs: 100 construction jobs

The BRA Board unanimously approved a $12.5 million rehabilitation and conversion of a South Boston church into 29

residential condominium units. The Residences at St. Augustine will be located at 225 Dorchester Street in South Boston. The project site will be adjacent to the Residences on E project, which is being proposed by the same development team.

The project site and existing church building were formerly owned by the Archdiocese of Boston. The church, which was constructed in 1874, ceased operation in 2004 and has remained vacant since. The Residences at St. Augustine will retain and renovate the main church building, adding 29 condominium units on three levels and 27 surface and underground parking spaces to the site. Four of the residential units will be affordable, and all units will be a mix of one and two-bedrooms.

The development team includes Bruce B. Daniel of 201 E Street LLC as Owner-Developer, and Sousa Design Architects as project architect. The project is expected to break ground in March 2014 and to be completed by 2015.

South Boston Project will Create Housing, Parking

Total Project Cost: $12 million
Total SF: 49,763 SF
Residential Units: 30 market rate condominiums, 4 affordable condominiums
Jobs: 100 construction jobs

The BRA Board unanimously voted to approve a $12 million residential project in South Boston.

The project site, located at 205 E Street, will lie adjacent to The Residences at St. Augustine, a church-to-residences renovation project which has been proposed by the same development team.

The project site, formerly owned by the Archdiocese of Boston, is currently occupied by a vacant school building. The Residences on E will remove the existing structure and create 34 units of new construction condominium housing, including four affordable units, on three levels. There will be a mix of one, two and three bedroom units as well as two townhouses. The project will also 63 parking spaces and additional site improvements.

The development team includes Bruce B. Daniel of 201 E Street LLC as Owner-Developer, and Sousa Design Architects as project architect. The project is expected to break ground in March of 2014 and to be completed by 2015.

Share This Article:

Previous Next

First Name :		Last Name :
Zip Code :		*Email:

New Development Projects Moving Forward

Nov 14, 2013

Share This Article:

Subscribe to our News & Updates