Boston – The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) board of directors recently approved eight new development projects representing approximately 872,332sf. The new projects will create 656 residential units, 123 of which will be designated income-restricted, and will support approximately 871 construction jobs and 66 permanent jobs.
Located in Dorchester, the 29 High Street project will build a new 3-story building with 31 homeownership units, five of which will be income-restricted. The development will be a transit-oriented, as it is in close proximity to public transportation. It will also include space for bike parking. The project will also contribute $31,000 to the Boston Parks and Recreation Department for maintenance of nearby parks.
The 88 Geneva Avenue project will build 36 new homeownership units on what is currently vacant land in Dorchester. Public realm improvements from this project will include wider sidewalks, as well as new street trees. This project will support the Grove Hall community with a $100,000 contribution for programming, internships, educational opportunities, and activities for area residents, to be administered by nonprofit organizations and institutions that serve the community.
Located in East Boston, the 1188 Bennington Street project will build two 5-story, mixed use buildings containing housing and retail. Of the 40 residential units, seven will be income-restricted. The project will contribute new publicly accessible open space, and public realm improvements that include rightsizing the intersection of Bennington Street, Leyden Street, and Walley Street as envisioned in PLAN: East Boston.
Located in Roxbury, the 24-34 Notre Dame Street project will build a new 5-story building containing 26 new homeownership units, four of which will be income-restricted. The project will contribute $26,000 to the Boston Recreation Department’s City’s Fund for Parks in support of greenspace located in Roxbury. Public realm improvements from this project will include improved sidewalks, and lighting and landscaping to improve the pedestrian experience.
The project at 1208C VFW Parkway will build a new 5-story residential building in West Roxbury that includes 55 new homes, nine of which will be income restricted. As part of the mitigation for this project, the developer will build a new pedestrian connection to and from nearby Baker Street. The project will also contribute $20,000 towards the Boston Parks and Recreation Department’s City’s Fund for Parks for the upkeep of Billings Field.
The 100 Charles Park Road project will turn what is currently a parking lot and vacant building into housing in the West Roxbury neighborhood. Two 5-story buildings will contain 121 residential units in total, including 20 income-restricted units. This project will include a number of public realm improvements such as new street trees, sidewalk improvements, and the redesign and construction of the Charles Park Road, Rivermoor Street, and Gardner Street intersection.
Located across the street from the Shawmut MBTA station, the 150 Centre Street project will build a new 4-story, 100% income-restricted building in Dorchester. This transit-oriented development will provide 72 income-restricted units, and will support city goals by providing higher-density housing near public transit. The project will also include public realm improvements and a Bluebikes station on site.
Located on the Harvard University campus in Allston, the 175 North Harvard Street project, made possible by an amendment to the university’s Institutional Master Plan, will create new housing for Harvard graduate students, faculty, and staff within a new 13-story building, as well as a new Center for Performance and Creativity for the American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.). In support of open space, this project will include dozens of new street trees and improved landscaping throughout the development.
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In addition to these projects, the board approved:
- Final designation of Windale Developers Inc. to develop 12 vacant BPDA-owned parcels into 23 new housing units in the Garrison-Trotter neighborhood of Roxbury, nearly 70% of which will be income-restricted.
- The tentative designation of Trinity Financial to redevelop the Austin Street Parking lots in Charlestown into housing and retail space.
- The purchase of a portion of the parcel between Lowney Way, Mt. Vernon Street, and Prospect Street in Charlestown, also known as the Charlestown Peace Park, to support new investments in this public space.
- The renewal and extension of the Emerson College IMP.
- The renewal and extension of the Boston College IMP.
- The renewal and extension of the Tufts University Health Sciences Campus IMP.
- The disbursement of grants totaling $180,000 across five arts and culture organizations identified through the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture’s Cultural Space Fund program, and drawing said disbursements from the Channel Center Project Fund.
- The disbursement of grants totaling $274,825 across two community organizations, and drawing said disbursements from the Boston College Neighborhood Improvement Fund.
- The disbursement of grants totaling $390,000 across 22 community organizations located in South Boston, and drawing said disbursements from fund contributions made by the Summer Street Hotel, Parcel K, 20 West Fifth Street, 200-204 Old Colony Avenue, and 765 Third Street projects.
