BPDA Board approves 2,008 residential units, $1.85 billion in development at November 16 meeting

Nov 17, 2017

The Seaport Square Notice of Project Change (NPC) will continue the transformation of the South Boston Waterfront, bringing 700 housing units, 9,000 permanent jobs, an increase in open public space and a renewed commitment to cultural and civic spaces.  All affordable residential units will be located on the project site.

159 - 201 Washington Street is located in an approximately 11.6-acre lot in the Brighton, directly adjacent to the St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center above Washington Street. The project will build four new residential buildings and will restore the abandoned St. Gabriel’s Monastery, a Boston Landmark Building in significant need of repair, and the adjacent Church, retain the property of the existing Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima, and renovate the vacant house at 201 Washington Street. The project will enhance the Monastery Path and other improvements within Fidelis Way Park and enhance and maintain public access to the approximately 3-acre Olmsted Brothers-designed landscaped area along Washington Street.

The Back Bay/South End Gateway, a mixed-use, transit-oriented redevelopment, will revitalize an underutilized urban site and transform the adjacent public realm, and integrate and connect the surrounding Back Bay, South End, and Bay Village historic neighborhoods. The project consists of a new office building with ground floor retail, two new residential buildings, retail expansion of the existing Back Bay Station building, and the partial redevelopment of the existing 165 Dartmouth Street Garage. The project will invest $69 million in the renovation of Back Bay Station.

• Garage West Parcel, located at the corner of Dartmouth and Stuart Streets, includes construction of a new 26-story building of up to 668,470 square feet, containing a new entrance and pedestrian connection to the MBTA station from Stuart Street. It will contain up to 582,500 square feet of commercial office space, up to 23,700 square feet of ground floor retail or restaurant space fronting on Dartmouth and Stuart Streets, and the reconstruction of approximately 207,700 gross square feet of the Existing Garage to be architecturally screened from Dartmouth and Stuart Streets.
• Garage East Parcel, located on Clarendon Street, will construct a new 28-story residential building of up to 244,310 square feet, and will contain up to 240 residential units and up to approximately 222,100 square feet along the eastern end of the Garage.
• Station East Parcel, located on the existing bus drop-off along Clarendon Street, involves the relocation of the bus terminal and the removal of the existing MBTA ventilation tower, subject to MBTA approval, in order to construct a new 35-story residential building of up to 425,700 square feet, proposed to contain up to 360 units and 5,100 square feet of ground and second floor retail space.
• Station West Parcel, located on Dartmouth Street above the existing Station Concourse, involves the vertical expansion of the Station, creating up to approximately 33,000 square feet of additional retail opportunities to serve both transit customers and the adjacent neighborhoods.

The 95 Saint Alphonsus Street project site is located at 1575 Tremont Street in the Mission Hill neighborhood of Boston. The site currently contains a 175-space parking structure, abuts the Mission Hill Triangle Architectural Conservation District, is in close proximity to the Longwood Medical Area, and is well served by public transportation. The proposed project is comprised of a six-story residential building that will include up to 115 rental units. The residential units will consist of a mix of studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. The project will also  include 130 total parking spaces (108 in a two-level below-grade parking structure and 22 surface spaces).

• A contribution of $10K to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department for maintenance, programming, and other uses at Mission Hill Playground.
• A contribution of $50K to the Boston Transportation Department for a Hubway station on or near the project site.

The project site consists of two parcels of land at 395 – 409 Columbia Road in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston. The site is located near the Uphams’ Corner Health Center to the north and residential properties and the Quincy Stanley playground to the east. The site is currently occupied by Chapman Waterproofing Company, in two single-story buildings. The project proposes the to construct a new three-story school building, which will include 40 parking spaces and a dedicated drop-off path for buses and cars. The new school building will include classroom, gymnasium, performance space, and an outdoor performance courtyard, making the site the permanent location for the Conservatory Lab’s Elementary and Upper School.

The Hilton Garden Inn project is located at the corner of McClellan Highway and Boardman Street in the Orient Heights section of East Boston. Updates to the site will include the elimination of a one-story retail building on the eastern edge of the site and the addition of a five-story building to the existing Hilton Garden Inn hotel. The proposed addition will contain 84 hotel rooms and will eliminate approximately 25 on-site parking spaces. With the proposed revisions, the hotel will contain a total of 262 guest rooms and 321 off-street parking spaces for hotel guests.

On October 11, 2017, a Notice of Project Change (NPC) for the 370-380 Harrison project was submitted to the BPDA. The NPC consists of the demolition of the two existing structures occupying the project site and the construction of a 14-story, 150 foot mixed-use building that will include housing, retail space, and 180 off-street parking spaces. The proposed change to the original project consists of a reduction of 41 residential units, bringing the total of residential units to 273 residential units (172 rental units and 101 condominiums).