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81 affordable housing units move forward at October BPDA Board meeting 

Oct 11, 2018

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors approved nine new development projects at their October meeting. The projects will generate 193 residential units, including 81 total affordable units, and 885 jobs once construction is complete. Two of the projects approved, 41 North Margin Street in the North End and Morton Station Village in Mattapan, are fully affordable, generating 63 of the 81 affordable units approved at this meeting.

In addition to the development projects, the Board approved a two-year pilot program for a Compact Living Policy and an Interim Planning Overlay District (IPOD) for East Boston. A result of the launch of PLAN: East Boston this summer, the IPOD is an interim zoning tool that is used to maintain increased public review and community voice in the evaluation of proposed new development during the planning process.

These initiatives and the approved units build on Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s updated housing targets, announced this fall to meet Boston’s population growth by supporting the creation of new affordable housing, increasing access to homeownership opportunities, and preventing displacement of residents.

Development Projects

41 North Margin Street approval brings fully affordable senior living project to the North End

Live: 23 affordable senior housing units, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible
Work: 50 construction jobs, over $12 million in investments
Connect: Residents’ community room, Knights of Columbus meeting space
Size: 24,257 square feet

Funded through the Hub on Causeway's linkage payments, 41 North Margin Street will consist of 23 rental units, 1,500 square feet of Knights of Columbus meeting space and 13 parking spaces. All 23 rental units will be designated for senior affordable housing. The units will be a combination of 12 studio units and 11 one-bedroom units.

The project will include the construction a five-story addition, add an additional two-stories and renovate the existing three-story building. Once complete, the construction will total 24,257 square feet.

Morton Station Village brings 40 affordable housing units, community space to Mattapan

Live: Nine income restricted homeownership units, 31 income restricted rental units
Work: 37 construction jobs
Connect: 1,500 square feet of community space adjacent to the City of Boston Parks Department-designed Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden
Size: 57,265 square feet

Located at 872 Morton Street, the Morton Station Village project consists of 40 units of income restricted housing, consisting of nine income restricted homeownership units and 31 income restricted rental units. In order to create an economically diverse new residential community and to meet the needs of and desires expressed by neighborhood residents through the seven community conversations, the 40 units of housing will be made available to residents earning from 30% to 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI).

Nine one-bedroom and two-bedroom units will be created as affordable homeownership condominium units restricted at 80% AMI to 100% AMI. All 31 rental units will be deed-restricted affordable between 30% and 100% AMI. This income mix has been purposely established both in response to neighborhood objectives and to provide opportunity for a wide-ranging population to afford to rent or purchase a condominium here. The unit mix consists of 14 one-bedroom units, 22 two-bedroom units and four three-bedrooms. In addition, the project will feature common areas including laundry, a fitness center, bicycle storage, onsite management and parking in a modern LEED Silver Certifiable structure. There will be 30 parking spaces on-site.

Work with the community has led to the incorporation of nearly 1,500 square feet of community space in the building adjacent to the City of Boston Parks Department-designed Steven P. Odom Serenity Garden. The garden will sit towards the rear of the project site near Hopkins Street and provide a respite location for the community in a public park setting. The community space will be intricately tied into the garden to enable the community and neighbors to use these spaces together.

New Leather District hotel approved for 150 Kneeland Street will feature 300 free hotel nights annually to people in need

Live: 300 free hotel nights per year, collaboration with Housing Stability and Chinatown non-profit, funding for Project Place neighborhood cleaning, improvements to Leather District Park and Reggie Wong Park
Work: Over 40 retail and hotel jobs, 150 construction jobs, new hotel employment opportunities
Connect: Access from hotel development to South Station, street infrastructure and security upgrades, three Boston Police linked cameras, LEED Silver Certifiable
Size: 81,600 square feet

The existing site of the approved 150 Kneeland Street project is composed of two parcels, currently occupied by vacant commercial buildings. A new building with mid-rise tower housing and a well-designed, top-quality hospitality facility will be constructed in its place. The new building will be contemporary in style, featuring elements that relate to the surrounding area and will generate a supply of hotel space to the immediate South Station area. As proposed, the project is expected to be a 21-story, 230 room hotel. In addition to guest rooms, the hotel will include meeting spaces, publicly accessible food and beverage on the ground floor, as well as other amenities. There will be no parking associated with this project.

Once complete, the project will provide public benefits including job creation, infrastructure upgrades, visual streetscape improvements, a new destination for locals and tourists. Most notable is this project’s commitment to a unique 10-year contribution of 300 free hotel nights annually to people in need of accommodation, an effort meant to address short-term housing emergencies that may occur from crises such as loss of property, medical issues, and immigration displacement.

610 Rutherford Avenue approval to generate 22 residential ownership units, three IDP in Charlestown; contribute funding toward Rutherford Avenue/Sullivan Square Design Project

Live: 22 residential ownership units, three affordable units, public community space, top floor with roof deck access
Work: 120 construction jobs
Connect: 10 bike storage units, building wifi, walking distance to Sullivan Square MBTA Station
Size: 25,450 square feet

The 610 Rutherford Avenue project site currently has a four unit two-story residential building which has been approved for demolition by the Landmarks Commission. The redevelopment of this site will feature the construction of a new five-story building with 22 condominium units. Three of the units will be designated as IDP units. The first floor of the building will consist of the a residents lobby, bike storage and parking for 19 vehicles. There will also be a loading/drop-off area to service the building.  
Upon the issuance of the building permit for this project, a $20,000 contribution toward the City of Boston's Transportation Department (BTD) will be made for the Rutherford Avenue/Sullivan Square Design Project in Charlestown.

East Boston’s 277 Border Street to create 18 units of housing, contribute toward East Boston Social Centers and the East Boston Greenway

Live: 18 housing units of which two are ADA accessible, 16 market-rate units, two affordable units,
Work: 40 construction jobs
Connect: $20K in community benefits toward East Boston Social Centers and East Boston Greenway
Size: 20,595 square feet

The approved 277 Border Street project will construct a five-story, mixed-use building. The building will feature 18 condominium units, made up of 16 market-rate units and two IDP units. In addition, the building will also have one commercial unit. There will be eight off-street garage parking spaces located at-grade level. Bicycle storage and a trash/recycling room will be located within the ground-level of the building. The 18 condominium units will consist of a mix of four studio units, 11 one-bedroom units, two two-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom unit.

The project has committed $10,000 contributions to both the East Boston Social Centers and the East Boston Greenway.  The East Boston Social Centers contribution will be used to fund youth athletic and enrichment programs, while the East Boston Greenway contribution will be used to fund construction and improvements.

Approval of 400 Dorchester Street in South Boston to yield 35 housing units, provide funding toward a future Transportation Action Plan for the PLAN: South Boston/Dorchester Avenue study area

Live: 35 housing units of which two are ADA accessible, 29 market-rate units, six affordable units
Work: 50+ constructions jobs, new commercial space with job opportunities upon completion of project
Connect: $35,000 in community benefits toward Transportation Action Plan funding and a neighborhood restaurant
Size: 38,437 square feet

As approved, the 400 Dorchester Street project proposed to construct a six-story, mixed-use building. The building will contain 35 rental units, made up of 29 market-rate units and six IDP units. There will be a mix of 30 one-bedroom units, and five studio units. The ground floor will consist of 2,535 square feet of commercial retail space for a new restaurant use. The proposed project will also include a roof deck as an amenity for residents. A trash/recycling room and bicycle storage will be located within the building.

The proposed project will provide community benefits for the South Boston neighborhood and the City of Boston as a whole. In order to mitigate the transportation network impacts of the project, $35,000 has been committed toward a future Transportation Action Plan for the PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue study area.

425 Border Street to bring 16 residential units to East Boston, contributions to East Boston Social Centers and East Boston Greenway

Live: 16 residential units, including two affordable units
Work: 50 construction jobs
Connect: Community benefits supports East Boston Social Centers and East Boston Greenway
Size: 20,762 square feet

425 Border Street will bring a five-story, 16 residential unit building, consisting of 14 market rate units and two affordable units to East Boston. All 16 units will be two bedroom units. The project is located five blocks from Central Square and less than one mile from the MBTA’s Blue Line Maverick Station, and is well served by multiple bus lines operating in East Boston. The project has committed $10,000 contributions to both the East Boston Social Centers and the East Boston Greenway.

New BIDMC Inpatient Building approved will provide needed single-bed patient rooms, intensive care beds, and expanded surgery and clinical support spaces

Live: $40,000 parks contribution to benefit surrounding neighborhoods
Work: 80 - 100 permanent jobs
Connect: $300,000 in transportation mitigation
Size: 325,000 square feet

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) will construct a 325,000 square foot, 10 story inpatient building on its West Campus in the Longwood Medical Area bounded by Brookline Avenue, Francis Street and Pilgrim Road. The new inpatient building will include up to 128 single-bed/surgical rooms and up to 30 clinical rooms.

In addition, the project will provide $40,000 in Parks funding, between 80 and 100 permanent jobs, and $300,000 for pedestrian and cyclist improvements in the vicinity of the Riverway and Brookline Avenue.

111 Terrace Street in Mission Hill to include designated artist units, pedestrian improvements, and transportation study

Live: 34 market rate units, five affordable units, two designated for artists
Work: Artist work space, 50 construction jobs
Connect: Transit-oriented, On-site bicycle storage
Size: 31,862 square feet

111 Terrace Street will construct a five story, 31,862 square foot residential building with 39 residential rental units, 21 off-street parking spaces and at least 48 on-site bicycle storage spaces. Five units within the project will be created as IDP rental units made affordable to households earning not more than 70% of the AMI. The project is located within a six minute walk of the Roxbury Crossing Station connecting to the MBTA Orange Line and bus service.

Two studio units within the project will be built out and designated as income restricted artist live units and will have access to the shared work area on the ground floor.

In addition the project will fund a transportation study/analysis of the Terrace Street corridor, the installation of signage and a new pedestrian crosswalk at the intersection of Cedar Street and Terrace Street, will generate pedestrian access improvements along Terrace Street including widened sidewalks and landscaping improves, and the installation of new lighting along the building perimeter to improve visibility and pedestrian safety.

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