BPDA approves 142 new residential units, including 58 income-restricted, at November meeting
Nov 12, 2020
Renovation of 132 elderly and disabled units at BHA’s St. Botolph Street property
The Boston Planning & Development Board of Directors this month approved 4 new development projects and 1 Notice of Project Change that will result in new market-rate and income-restricted residential units, economic development, and jobs across the City of Boston. The development projects approved this month will create an additional 142 residential units, including 58 income-restricted units.
In addition, the Board approved the renovation of the Boston Housing Authority (BHA)’s 70 St. Botolph Street property, which will renovate and rehabilitate 132 existing elderly and disabled units in the Back Bay.
Development Projects
3326 Washington Street will bring 43 compact living units, affordable units at a range of income levels
Live: 43 rental units, 23 percent of the total usable square footage will be income-restricted units between 30 and 70 percent Area Median Income (AMI)
Work: 32 construction jobs
Connect: Project will include documentation of the former Turnpike Schoolhouse previously located at this location
Sustain: No vehicular parking, 46 bicycle parking spaces
Located in Jamaica Plain, 3326 Washington Street will construct a five-story residential building including 43 rental units. 23 percent of the total usable square footage will be income-restricted units. Given the proximity of the project site to public transportation, it will not include any vehicular parking but will include 46 bicycle parking spaces.
As a result of community feedback, the proponent will document the history of the former Turnpike Schoolhouse previously located on the project site through a virtual gallery website with architectural drawings and photographs. Other community benefits associated with the project include subsidized transit passes for each of the income-restricted units for the first year of occupancy and improvements to the public realm such as street trees and bicycle racks.
70 St. Botolph Renovation Project in Back Bay moves forward, rehabilitating 132 existing elderly and disabled units
Live: Rehabilitation of 132 elderly and non-elderly disabled Boston Housing Authority units, all of which are income-restricted
Work: 82 construction jobs
70 Saint Botolph Street is an existing Boston Housing Authority building located in Back Bay with 132 residential units dedicated to elderly and non-elderly disabled income-restricted housing. BHA will rehabilitate the project to address the building’s capital needs by replacing core components of mechanical, electrical, plumbing, heating, emergency power, fire protection, and stormwater management. Additionally, the building’s exterior envelope, mechanical, and heating systems will be upgraded to new, energy-efficient systems.
375 Cummins Highway in Roslindale will construct a six-story building with 49 rental units, 6 of which are income-restricted
Live: 49 rental units, 6 of which are income-restricted
Work: 42 construction jobs
Connect: Dedicated bicycle storage room with 49 spaces
Sustain: Electric vehicle charging stations
The newly approved 375 Cummins Highway will transform vacant and underutilized land in Roslindale into a six-story residential building totalling approximately 49,840 gross square feet. The building will contain 49 rental units, 6 of which are income-restricted. There will also be 49 bicycle storage spaces, and 61 off-street parking.
With new sidewalks, bike paths and walking path improvements, and continued conversations with the MBTA to improve the existing bus stop located directly in front of the building, the project will result in an improved pedestrian experience along Cummins Highway for all residents to enjoy.
BPDA approves Simmons University’s Institutional Master Plan, outlining the development of the University’s campus over the next 10 years
Live: 1,100 dormitory beds, adding 64 beds to the University’s permanent housing inventory
Work: 800 construction jobs
Connect: New student dormitory beds make progress on goals outlined in Mayor Walsh’s housing plan
The Simmons University 2020 Institutional Master Plan (IMP) outlines the development of the University’s campus over the next 10 years, enabling the University to consolidate all of the on campus student housing from the existing residence campus to the academic campus over the term of the IMP in three phases: renovation, demolition and construction.
The University will renovate the existing Lefavour Hall and reorganize floors of the West Wing of the existing Maine College Building. Following these renovations, the University will demolish the existing Park Science Center to construct a new Living and Learning Center. This 18-story Center will include a program of 372,000 gross square feet andl contain athletic facilities, a dining hall, and approximately 1,100 beds of student housing. This adds 64 new beds of student housing to the University’s permanent housing inventory, building on the student housing goals outlined in Mayor Walsh’s housing plan.
The Board approved a Notice of Project Change for Phase Three of the Orient Heights Redevelopment to renovate the existing buildings and redistribute the units proposed within one of the townhouse buildings. Phase Three of the Orient Heights Redevelopment Project in East Boston will construct 81 income-restricted units and renovate 42 existing, income-restricted state public housing units. This project will incorporate on and off-street vehicle parking spaces, pedestrian paths, open space, and related infrastructure improvements. All three phases of the Orient Heights Redevelopment Project are expected to replace 298 of the 331 existing state public housing units and renovate the other 42 units over multiple phases of construction. Phase One of the approved project was completed in Spring 2018 and Phase Two was completed in Summer 2020.
The Board also approved an amendment to the multi-phase Bartlett Place Development in Roxbury, originally approved by the BPDA in 2013. The amendment will reduce the commercial space on Lot A to 12,000 square feet and increase the number of rental units from 42 units to 60 units, all of which are income-restricted. The amendment will also update the programming for Lot D to include a new, six-story building with up to 50 income-restricted senior units.
Community benefits associated with this phase of the project include the creation of the Boston Workforce Community Innovation Center. This program will help engage a local, community-based, and diverse workforce on the Bartlett Place project to provide professional development and workforce training options for residents. Altogether, once completed, the Bartlett Place Development will create approximately 382 residential units, 241 of which are income-restricted with approximately 166 home-ownership units.
The Board also approved an amendment to the Boston University Charles River Campus 2013-2023 Institutional Master Plan to lease and occupy 16,000 square feet of space located at 540 Commonwealth Avenue in Kenmore Square for academic and administrative uses.