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At June meeting, BPDA Board approves 324 residential units in Downtown, West Roxbury and East Boston

Jun 14, 2019

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors approved development projects in neighborhoods across the City of Boston which will result in new market-rate and income-restricted residential units, economic development, and jobs. Overall, the development projects approved this month will create an additional 324 residential units, including 39 income-restricted units, and 717 trade jobs, 572 direct jobs and 382 indirect and induced jobs.

The residential projects moving forward make progress towards Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s goal of increasing affordable housing to support a strong middle-class. Mayor Walsh’s 2019 legislative agenda aims to support the creation of new affordable housing, increase access to homeownership opportunities, and prevent displacement of residents.

In addition to development projects, the BPDA Board approved a request authorization to advertise and issue a Request For Proposal (RFP) for Consultant Services for PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue Transportation. This transportation planning initiative prioritizes the mobility recommendations outlined in PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Ave and is in coordination with Mayor Walsh’s Imagine Boston 2030.  

Development Projects

Dock Square Garage moves forward, bringing over 200 residential units to Downtown Boston
Live: 209 residential units, including 27 income-restricted
Work: Creates approximately 200 construction jobs, including 20 permanent jobs
Connect: Enhancements to the public realm, including the plaza transformation at Clinton & North Street

The newly-approved Dock Square Garage will build a 6-story vertical addition of residential space and up to another 3,000 square feet of residential space through a horizontal expansion to the existing structure located at 20 Clinton Street in Downtown Boston. The project will have a total building height of 124 feet and 8 inches which is pursuant to the Greenway District Planning Study Use and Development Guidelines adopted by the BPDA Board in 2010.  

Dock Square Garage will house approximately 209 multifamily homeownership units, including 27 income-restricted units. The project will maintain much of the existing parking with roughly 450 parking spaces. To accommodate a new ground-floor residential lobby, the existing commercial space will be reconfigured to approximately 11,500 square feet, including a new commercial space facing John F. Fitzgerald Surface Road.

Mitigation from this project includes a contribution to the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway Conservancy for artwork along the Greenway and to the Boston Transportation Department for transportation improvements in the vicinity of the project site.

The BPDA Board approval follows a robust community process, including 5 BPDA-sponsored public meetings and feedback from the Boston Civic Design Commission (BCDC).

BPDA Board approves 11 and 26 Heron Street, resulting in approximately $375k worth of community benefits for West Roxbury
Live: 72 total units, including 35 rental apartments, 28 home ownership units and 9 income-restricted units
Work: Creation of over 70 construction jobs
Connect: Approximately $375,000 in community benefits for public realm improvements to Heron Street and surrounding area

Located in West Roxbury, 11 and 26 Heron Street will construct two, four-story residential buildings on either side of Heron Street. The buildings will house a total of 72 residential units. 11 Heron Street will consist of 40 rental apartments, including 5 income-restricted units, while 26 Heron Street will consist of 32 home-ownership units, 4 of which are income-restricted.

The project will create approximately 85 total parking spaces, comprised of 57 interior garage spaces and 28 surface parking spaces. There will also be on-site storage for approximately 72 bicycles.

11 and 26 Heron Street will result in approximately $375,000 worth of benefits for the West Roxbury community, including updates to the existing roadway and public realm along Heron Street and further improvements to the immediate neighborhood.

A transit-oriented development, 2-10 Maverick Square, brings 25 residential units to East Boston
Live: 25 housing units, including 3 income-restricted units
Work: Creation of commercial retail space and over 40 construction jobs
Connect: Approximately $40,000 in community benefits, including transportation infrastructure funding and public realm improvements

2-10 Maverick Square, located directly opposite the MBTA’s Blue Line Maverick Station, will bring 25 residential rental units, including 3 income-restricted units and approximately 10,710 square feet of commercial/retail/restaurant space to the East Boston neighborhood. The six-story building will also contain bicycle storage and a trash/recycling room on the ground-floor.

The newly-approved project will bring approximately $40,000 in community benefits. These include improvements to the public realm around the project site and throughout Maverick Square. Additionally, mitigation from the project will help fund a future “Transportation Action Plan” for the PLAN: East Boston study area.

The BPDA kicked off PLAN: East Boston this past summer. The ongoing planning initiative is working with the community in the existing neighborhoods in East Boston that are facing increased development pressure. Community discussions are focused on the preservation of the existing residential fabric, enhancement of the vitality of existing residential communities and businesses, anti-displacement strategies for residents and businesses, connectivity along the waterfront, mobility, and flood protection and climate resiliency

With BPDA Board approval, 45 Spring Street receives addition of 5 residential units, creating a total of 18 units for the West Roxbury project
Live: 18 residential units
Work: New commercial office and street level retail space
Connect: Addition of 18 bike storage spaces

The BPDA Board has approved the addition of 5 residential units and a commercial space to an already permitted, as of right, 13 unit project that is currently under construction at 45 Spring Street in West Roxbury. This will create a total of 18 residential units, a commercial space, retail space and 30 parking spaces for the project. Additionally, the project will create over 4,678 square feet of viable open space.

45 Spring Street will fund various community benefits for the neighborhood, such as the installation of a new “Welcome to West Roxbury sign” and an upgrade to the bathrooms at the baseball complex located at 255 Baker Street.

The project is zoning compliant, therefore is not required to comply with the Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP). As part of his 2019 Legislative Agenda, Mayor Walsh has proposed strengthening IDP in order to capture affordable housing units and funding from projects which are zoning compliant.

About the Boston Planning & Development Agency
As the City of Boston’s urban planning and economic development agency, the BPDA works in partnership with the community to plan Boston's future while respecting its past. The agency’s passionate and knowledgeable staff guides physical, social, and economic change in Boston’s neighborhoods and its downtown to shape a more prosperous, resilient, and vibrant city for all. The BPDA also prepares residents for new opportunities through employment training, human services and job creation. Learn more at www.bostonplans.org, and follow us on Twitter @BostonPlans.

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