Over 530 residential units approved at November BPDA board meeting

Nov 18, 2016

The Boston Planning & Development Agency’s (BPDA) board of directors approved 11 development projects at last night’s meeting. In total, the projects represent a combined investment of $295 million and will generate over 650 construction jobs.

In addition to the approval of these 11 development projects, the BPDA board also voted to adopt and implement an executive order of Mayor Martin J. Walsh which promotes equity in public procurement. With an understanding of racial and economic disparities in Boston, the executive order sets spending goals for minority- and women-owned businesses competing for contracts in construction, architecture, engineering, and professional services. In addition, the executive order ensures training and assistance to minority- and women-owned enterprises to encourage successful bidding and performance on City contracting.

Below are summaries of the newly approved projects. The full board agenda and archived video stream can be found here.

Affordable senior housing moves forward with 16 Ronald Street project approval

Total Project Cost: $17,600,000
Total SF: 45,646
Construction Jobs: 34

Located in Dorchester, the proposed 16 Ronald Street project will include the development of a four-story residential rental building with 54 total housing units. Of the 54 units, 52 will be affordable one-bedroom senior housing units, the other two will be affordable studio units. The project will also have two units designated as both affordable and accessible.

The 16 Ronald Street project will also include a multipurpose room on the first floor of the building for resident dining and recreational activities, however the space may also be available to neighborhood residents for meetings and social events. The site plan also includes recreation areas for residents, their families and friends, to encourage social interaction between residents of the building and members of the Four Corners community.

Housing for chronically or formerly homeless individuals over age 55 greenlighted

Total Project Cost: $8,500,000
Total SF: 28,546
Construction Jobs: 21

Trinity Green Investments, LLC has proposed and received approval to construct a three-story, residential building at 123 Hamilton Street. The building will have 52 studio rental units, 1,319 square feet of ground floor common space, a 400 square foot administrative suite and eight off-street parking spaces located in the building’s at-grade garage.

What is most distinct about this project, however, is that Trinity plans to enter into a 100% master lease with the Pine Street Inn to create housing for chronically or formerly homeless individuals over the age of 55 years. As proposed, this project strongly aligns with Mayor Walsh’s charge to end veteran and chronic homelessness in Boston. Construction is expected to begin in early 2017.

Marine Wharf hotel approved for Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park

Total Project Cost: $160,000,000
Total SF: 320,000
Construction Jobs: 257

The proposed hotel will be located at 660 Summer Street on 1.17 acres in the Raymond L Flynn Marine Park. The hotel, managed by Hampton Inn and Homewood Suites by Hilton, will be a maximum of 320,000 square feet with 411 rooms, a mix of 245 select-service hotel rooms and 166 extended-stay hotel rooms, as well as ground floor restaurant, retail, and service uses.

This project will also generate a number of public benefits, including a $1,626,300 contribution to the Neighborhood Housing Trust and a $325,650 contribution to the Neighborhood Jobs Trust by the developer, as based on current project plans.

Dorchester’s 202 Southampton Street project given board approval

Total Project Cost: $4,500,000
Total SF: 22,400
Construction Jobs: 12

This approval will bring a car dealership and service facility to Dorchester. As proposed, the project requires the remodeling of the existing building to provide space for the new showroom. The remodeled building will be one-story and will include a showroom, customer support areas, business areas, and a full service garage with approximately 21 service bays. Aside from the building, the project will also include new paving, new landscaping, new site lighting, and 44 parking spaces for customers, employees, inventory vehicles, and vehicles in the process of repair.

16 Boardman Street approved for Orient Heights neighborhood

Total Project Cost: $6,200,000
Total SF: 23,400
Construction Jobs: 17

This East Boston project proposes the construction a three-story, approximately 23,400 square foot residential building with 19 homeownership units, including two income restricted units, and approximately 27 off-street vehicle parking spaces. As currently proposed, the 19 residential units will be made up of two one-bedroom units, 16 two-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom unit.

Updated development and master plans approved for 480 Rutherford Avenue

Total Project Cost: $45,000,000
Total SF: 168,000
Construction Jobs: 124

The 480 Rutherford project proposes an approximately 168,000 square foot building with 177 residential units, of which 23 units will be designated as affordable. The project will also include amenity spaces, retail space, and 90 structured parking spaces, along with landscaping and restriping of parking areas on the project site.

New four-story residential building approved for Jamaica Plain’s 76 Stonley Road

Total Project Cost: $9,500,000
Total SF: 40,940
Construction Jobs: 31

The 76 Stonley Road project site is located in the Stonybrook section of Jamaica Plain at 58-76 Stonley Road. The project will include the development of a new four-story, 30,720 gross square foot, 28 unit rental residential structure with 23 parking spaces.

In order to align the project with the proposals set forth in the PLAN: JP/ROX draft plan, the developer has exceeded the affordability requirement for the project, designating five units as IDP rental units. In addition, the developer will contribute $21,000 to the City of Boston Slow Street program.

New Mikvah building, replacement on-site synagogue, residences approved in Brighton

Total Project Cost: $13,575,000
Total SF: 99,645
Construction Jobs: 75

Located in Brighton, the 101-105 Washington Street project will include the construction of a seven-story residential development, along with a new replacement on-site synagogue for the Congregation Kadimah-Toras Moshe and a new Mikvah building for the Daughters of Israel Mikvah.

The collective redevelopment program will consist of approximately 99,645 gross square feet of new floor area in the three separate but related projects. The proposed multi-family residences will have a mixture of unit types and sizes that will accommodate Brighton’s diverse and growing population, including 30 one-bedroom units, 39 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom units. Of the 73 units, nine will be designated as affordable.

Board approves 64 residential units for 301-303 Border Street in East Boston

Total Project Cost: $21,610,000
Total SF: 75,167
Construction Jobs: 50

The proposed 301-303 Border Street is located on five parcels of land located at 301-323 Border Street in the East Boston neighborhood, directly across the street from the Mario Umana Middle School Academy.
City Realty, LLC has proposed the construction of a six-story, approximately 75,167 square foot mixed-use building with 64 homeownership units, including eight units made affordable. The project will also include ground floor commercial space, 42 off-street parking spaces, and 64 bicycle storage spaces. As currently proposed, the 64 residential units will consist of two studio units, 21 one-bedroom units, 31 two-bedroom units, and 10 three-bedroom units.

Proposed renovation for 771 Harrison Avenue approved by board

Total Project Cost: $9,000,000
Total SF: 117,000
Construction Jobs: 39

Located in the South End, the 771 Harrison Avenue project, known as The Cosmopolitan, will include the renovation and conversion of the existing church and attached Link Building into 63 rental units with six income restricted units. The church was originally constructed for Boston College in 1859 and designed by renowned architect Patrick C. Keely, whose work also included the Holy Cross Cathedral. The Link Building was built around 1960 and was part of the Jesuit Urban Center, the last occupant of the buildings.

The renovation of the buildings will keep the exterior substantially intact with the exception of changes to include roof terraces and skylights, remove and replace windows, add a canopy at the entrance of the Link Building, and remove all exterior religious icons from the building. Once complete, The Cosmopolitan will be seven stories inside the church structure, two stories inside the Link Building, and include 63 rental units made up of four studios, 28 one-bedroom units, 23 two-bedroom units, and eight three-bedroom units.

Board approves updates to 64 Allandale St. project by way of Notice of Project Change (NPC)

The new building components of the 64 Allandale project have reduced the project’s scope from 20 townhouses to 18 townhouses. The project’s site plan has been modified, however, to ensure that all new buildings will be located outside of any wetlands buffer zones projected by nearby land, the revised layout will further provide a minimum 10 foot clearance from the edge of such zones for all buildings within the site. All of the new construction townhouses will be designed to a Net Zero performance standard, yielding the city’s first Net Zero neighborhood.