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Mayor Menino Announces New Projects Moving Forward

Feb 16, 2012

BRA Board Approves 49/51/63 Melcher Street Private investment / Total project cost: $34 million Total square footage: 176,200 SF
  • Phase I (63 Melcher Street): 34,700 SF
  • Phase II (51 Melcher Street): 99,000 SF
  • Phase III (49 Melcher Street): 42,500 SF
Construction jobs: 150-200 construction jobs, 624 permanent jobs in office, entertainment, restaurant or recreation/retail/service, and building management Housing: Phase I (63 Melcher Street): 38 residential units:  6 loft-style units, 27 innovation housing units, and 5 affordable artist live/work units, including 4 on-site affordable units.  Phase III (49 Melcher Street): 14-22 residential units, 2 on-site affordable units The BRA Board unanimously approved 49/51/63 Melcher Street, revitalizing three adjoining buildings located in the Innovation District’s Fort Point Channel. The project will add approximately 60 residential units to Boston’s housing stock, including 27 innovation housing units to attract and retain innovative industries and employees, and 11 affordable units, 5 of which will be artist live/work units.  As part of the Mayor’s Innovation District Initiative, approximately 1,500 SF will be leased at a reduced rate to innovation economy businesses at the front of 319 A Street, adjacent to 49/51/63 Melcher Street. The proposal approved by the BRA Board constructs the project in phases: Phase I – 63 Melcher Street, Phase I – 51 Melcher Street, Phase III – 49 Melcher Street, and incorporates residential use into the project.  The BRA Board first approved a development project for 49/51/63 Melcher Street in December 2008 that would create retail and office space and a one-story rooftop addition to 51 Melcher Street. The project will begin with the rehabilitation and conversion of 63 Melcher Street for residential use, specifically innovation housing: 5 affordable artist live/work units, 27 innovation housing units including 4 affordable units, and 6 loft-style units.  Nearly 6,000 SF of basement space will be used for residential amenities, and a rooftop garden with a greenhouse will be created.  63 Melcher is affiliated with the 319 A Street Project, which was approved by the BRA Board in November 2011.  63 Melcher Street is owned by Gerdling Edlen, the developer of 319 A Street Rear. In Phase II, 51 Melcher Street will be rehabilitated to use 4,780 SF of first-level space for entertainment, restaurant or recreation/retail/service use, and 94,220 SF for office space. The project will end with the rehabilitation and conversion of 49 Melcher Street to residential use, with a basement and first-level for entertainment, restaurant, or recreation/retail/service and rooftop deck.  Levels 2 through 5 will house 14 to 22 residential units, 2 of which will be affordable and on-site, and a 2,250 SF rooftop deck including an accessory rooftop penthouse will be constructed. Parking for occupants and residents will be located at the neighboring Necco Street Garage. The project site is bounded by Melcher Street to the north, Necco Court to the south, A Street to the east, and Necco Street to the west.  The Innovation District’s Fort Point Channel has evolved from primarily warehouse and industrial uses towards a mix of uses including commercial, retail, office, artist live/work units, and residential uses. The development team includes Archon Group, Goldman Properties, Melcher Street Holdings LLC, Gerding Edlen Development, Bargmann, Hendrie & Archetype, Epsilon Associates, Inc., Howard/Stein-Hudson Associates, and legal counsel, Dalton and Finegold, LLP.  The project is expected to create 150-200 construction jobs, and 614 permanent jobs. The Innovation District is an area on the South Boston Waterfront focused on attracting startup companies and innovation industries.  Over 100 companies and 3,000 new jobs have moved to the Innovation District since the Mayor announced the creation of the district in January 2010. BRA Board Approves The Merano Private investment / Total project cost: $165 million Total square footage: 491,700 SF Jobs: 240 construction jobs, 275 permanent jobs Housing: 230 residential units with 30 affordable units on-site, 210 key hotel The BRA Board unanimously approved a project that will bring hundreds of residential units, a hotel, and more restaurants and retail to the Bulfinch Triangle.  This former Central Artery parcel is bounded byCauseway Street to the north, Medford Street to the east, North Washington Street to the southeast, Valenti Way to the south, and Beverly Street to the west. The $165 million Merano proposed project will create 248,000 square feet for 230 residential apartments, a 210 key hotel of 149,000 square feet, 13,000 square feet of restaurant space, 4,700 square feet of retail space, 30 affordable on-site units, and 184 parking spaces. Boston Development Group will contribute $50,000 to a comprehensive traffic study by the Boston Transportation Department of the Bulfinch Triangle neighborhood, $75,000 to support neighborhood improvements, $300,000 to the Boston Crossroads Initiative, specifically Causeway Street, $12,000 to the Bulfinch Triangle Streetscape Improvements Initiative, and $500,000 to be used for the design and construction of a neighborhood park, totaling $973,000 in public realm improvements.  With The Merano’s retail and restaurant space, pedestrian activity along Valenti Way, Beverly Street, and Causeway Street will be enhanced. The BRA Board first approved The Merano in August 2008 for two hotels, office space, retail and restaurant space, mechanically stacked parking, and the inclusion of 86-88 Washington Street.  Today’s proposal approved by the BRA Board no longer includes 85-88 Washington Street and office space. The Bulfinch Triangle Community Advisory Committee supports the proposed project.  The development team is composed of Boston Development Group, CBT Architects, Epsilon Associates, Inc., Howard Stein Hudson, and legal counsel, Goulston & Storrs.  The project is expected to break ground in spring 2012 and will create 240 construction jobs and 275 permanent jobs. BRA Board Approves 630 East Second St Private investment / Total project cost: $3.2 million Total square footage:  24,000 sq ft Jobs: 9 Construction jobs Housing: 18 condominium units The BRA Board unanimously approved two new multi-family residential buildings at 630 East Second St.  The 3-story condominium buildings will replace a vacant one story commercial warehouse with a development that complements the existing residences in this South Boston neighborhood. The larger 19,500 square foot building will include 14 two bedroom units and one 1 bedroom unit with a 21 spot underground parking garage.  The adjacent 4,500 square foot building will house three units and include three at grade parking spaces.  The condominium unit sizes will range from 755 square feet to 1,200 square feet. The $3.2 million project is being developed by Michael Indresano and Sutphin Architects and will create nine construction jobs.  A project groundbreaking is expected in spring 2012 with an estimated completion date in the spring of 2013. BRA Board Tentatively Approves Redevelopers for 4228 Washington St. The BRA Board tentatively designated Historic Boston Inc. and Roslindale Village Main Streets to redevelop a former MBTA Substation at 4228 Washington Street in Roslindale. The redevelopers propose to minimally rehabilitate the main level’s 4,000 square feet in order to create an indoor winter venue for farmers’ markets which would be also used as a catered event space.  The 4,000 square feet is a unique, large open space with steel and brick structural components which Historic Boston and Roslindale Village Main Streets would like to preserve.  Together Historic Boston and Roslindale Village Main Streets will invest $550,000 and will raise $650,000 to complete the project.  The development team includes Kathy Kottaridis of Historic Boston, Adam Rogoff of Roslindale Village Main Streets, Wes Spaulding Associates, EndPoint LLC, Rolf Jensen & Associates, and JJ Welch.

Related Tags

4228 Washington Street 49/51/63 Melcher Street 630 East 2nd St Historic Boston Roslindale Village Main Streets South Boston The Merano 

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