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BOSTON - January 18, 2023 - The
Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors Thursday
approved several planning initiatives and zoning amendments, and six new
development projects representing approximately 1.2 million square feet
(SF). The new projects will create 349 residential units, including 112
units that are designated income-restricted, and will support approximately
1,150 construction jobs and 1,080 permanent jobs. These projects will make
Boston a more resilient, affordable, and equitable city.
Planning & Zoning
BPDA Board adopts PLAN: East Boston
The BPDA Board of Directors today adopted East Boston Tomorrow, the PLAN:
East Boston vision report, at their monthly meeting, after five years of
planning work and engagement with the community. This report sets out a
clear and ambitious vision for the neighborhood, deeply informed by the
priorities of its residents. The plan focuses on increasing affordable
housing in the neighborhood, climate change preparedness, enhanced mobility
and transit options, support for local businesses, and zoning recommendations
to facilitate predictable and contextual growth. These goals cover
residential areas, squares and corridors, and waterfront and evolving
industrial areas throughout East Boston. The board also approved zoning
recommendations, which will now go to the Zoning Commission for
consideration.
[Read more]
Board approves Stadium and Public Amphitheater Open Space Zoning
District
The BPDA Board approved a text amendment to the Zoning Code regarding
stadiums and public amphitheater open space. The Stadium Open Space
subdistrict would create a new stadium and public amphitheater zoning
district in order to enable greater investment and more amenities in
appropriate areas of the city’s current and future open spaces. This
subdistrict is currently proposed to apply to East Boston Memorial Stadium
and White Stadium in Franklin Park. This new zoning will allow these areas
to function optimally as community resources and enable future investment.
BPDA Board adopts Allston Brighton Needs
Assessment Report, approves consultant contract for
Community Plan
The BPDA Board approved the Allston Brighton Needs Assessment Report. This
Report is the result of ten months of research and engagement in uplifting
and assessing the community’s assets and needs across the neighborhoods of
Allston and Brighton. The Needs Assessment began as a community request put
forward by the Harvard Allston Task Force, and involved engagement with
community members, community-based organizations, institutions, and City of
Boston service providers. Documented within are the results of analyzing
thousands of comments, comprehensive interviews, and survey-informed
research describing the rich spatial, planning, and demographic
characteristics of Allston-Brighton. This Report identifies the gaps that
exist today, and how future development in Allston-Brighton provides
significant opportunity. These opportunities include: increased housing,
accessible public outdoor spaces, cultural food providers, convenient
transportation, improved elementary schools, institutional research
opportunities, arts programing, and cultural gatherings for all ages. The
narratives, analysis, and recommendations in this Report provide a
foundation for a comprehensive Allston-Brighton Community Plan. The BPDA
Board also approved a consultant contract to create that comprehensive
Community Plan for the neighborhoods, focused on the next 3-10 years.
Development Projects
376-384A Blue Hill Avenue project
to create 18 income-restricted homeownership opportunities in Dorchester
Live: 18 income-restricted homeownership units
Work: Two retail spaces, approximately 21 construction jobs and four
permanent jobs
Connect: Shared ground floor space for residents, interior bike
parking
Sustain: LEED Gold Certified
This project will convert what is currently vacant City-owned land on Blue
Hill Avenue into 18 income-restricted homeownership opportunities for
residents in Dorchester. It will be a transit-oriented development, as it
is served by an MBTA Bus route and is in close proximity to the MBTA Dudley
Station. In addition, the building will provide indoor and outdoor bike
parking. There will also be retail and community space for residents on the
ground floor. The project will improve the public realm with better
lighting and new street trees. The project will contribute $5,724 to the
Boston Transportation Department to support the bikeshare system. In
support of the City’s green building and carbon neutral goals, the project
will be LEED Gold.
495 Dorchester Avenue project
will build more than 300 housing units in South Boston, including
income-restricted units for seniors
Live: 331 units including 94 affordable senior units
Work: 8,425 square feet of retail space, approximately 393
construction jobs and 17 permanent jobs
Connect: 288 indoor bike parking spaces
Sustain: LEED Platinum residences
This project includes two buildings: a 16-story building with 237 housing
units, and a seven-story building with 94 income-restricted units for
seniors. Along with commercial retail space, there will be open space and
amenities for residents including senior-specific services. The retail
space will be subsidized and made available to community start-ups, artists
in need of workspaces, or other community groups and programming. This
project is within the Planned Development Area for the On the Dot Project
in Dorchester. It is key in realizing the vision of PLAN: South Boston
Dorchester Avenue and the PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue
Transportation Planning Study, as it will help transition the neighborhood
from an industrial area to a mixed-used space, as envisioned in the plans.
Public safety in the area will be significantly improved by new, wider
sidewalks, new crosswalks, and protected bike lanes along Dorchester Avenue
and Alger Street. Street trees will be planted along the property to
increase the tree canopy, and the project complies with flood district
requirements in support of the City’s climate resilience goals. As a
transit-oriented development, this project is near the MBTA Andrew Station
which provides Red Line service and access to multiple bus lines. The
project will provide a total of 288 bike parking spaces.
103 North Beacon Street to
bring life science and retail space to Allston
Live: $1.8 million in Linkage for affordable housing
Work: Life science and retail space, approximately 694 permanent
jobs and 328 construction jobs
Connect: Close proximity to public transit, onsite bike parking,
creation of new North Beacon Street Plaza
Sustain: LEED Gold, activated green roof terrace, compliant with
Massachusetts Stretch Code
Located in Allston, this project will build a new mixed-use building with
life science and retail space. This new development will replace what is
currently a commercial building and parking lot. It will be a
transit-oriented development as it is in close proximity to several MBTA
bus lines and the Commuter Rail. In addition, the project will contribute
$74,200 to the Boston Transportation Department to install a Bluebikes
station onsite. This project will add green space to the site and
incorporate design elements to improve on-site stormwater management and
reduce the risk of flooding, such as reducing impervious surfaces,
increasing the amount of greenery and incorporating green infrastructure.
It will also be built to reduce heat island impact in the neighborhood. In
addition, the project will contribute $75,000 to the Boston Parks and
Recreation Department for the upkeep of Ringer Park. As part of the
community benefits for this project, it will contribute $1.8 million in
Linkage fees towards affordable housing, and $346,550 towards jobs
training.
39 Dalton Street project
will convert part of hotel into student dorms for Northeastern
Live: 426 dormitories: 856 student beds
Work: Approximately 251 construction jobs
Connect: Student amenity space, buildout of the outdoor plaza with
new landscaping and seating
Sustain: LEED Certified
This project in Back Bay, also known as Belvidere Street Student Housing,
will convert the South Tower of the Sheraton Boston Hotel into student
housing for Northeastern University. This tower will be separated from the
rest of the Sheraton Hotel to serve only students. The third floor will be
converted into laundry, fitness, study/lounge areas, and resident life
services for the students. In addition, the public realm on site will be
improved with a variety of seating to create a comfortable, dedicated
outdoor space for students. In support of the Housing Boston 2030
initiative, the conversion of underutilized hotel space into an
undergraduate dorm supports the goal of increasing new off-campus student
dormitory housing to relieve market pressure on Boston’s housing market. In
support of the City’s bikeshare system, the project will contribute
$117,000 to the Boston Transportation Department. It will also contribute
$256,000 for off-site safety and accessibility improvements to Belvidere Street
and Dalton Street.
Research and development project at 287 Western Avenue brings
community space, pedestrian and bike safety improvements to Allston
Work: Approximately 305 permanent jobs and 124 construction
jobs
Connect: Public co-working space, protected bike lane and pedestrian
connection
Sustain: Over 90% fossil fuel reduction, LEED Gold
This project will revitalize an underutilized site in Allston and help
return jobs and revenue to the neighborhood through its mix of uses. The
ground level of this approximately 90,000-square-foot office and research
and development building is intended to be a co-working and meeting space
for the public while the site will continue to be home to an EMS
substation. To align with the Western Avenue Corridor and Rezoning Study
(WACRZ), this project will be set back along Western Avenue to create a
planting zone and a low-stress separated bike lane along the road. Two curb
cuts on Western Avenue will be eliminated to create a safe, continuous
pedestrian and bike pathway. Along with wider sidewalks, there will be a
large, publicly accessible plaza as part of the public realm improvements
for this project. In support of climate change preparedness, the project is
committed to increasing the site’s tree canopy to reduce heat island
effect. The project will also provide space for a bikeshare station.
1334 Dorchester Avenue project
will revamp retail and office facility in Dorchester
Work: 20 permanent employees, family-owned, long-term local
business
Connect: More than 4,000 square feet of new green space, trees
onsite, approximately 33 construction jobs and 60 permanent jobs
Sustain: Complete conversion to heat pumps, photovoltaic (PV)
installation on roof
This project on Dorchester Avenue will demolish and reconstruct portions of
the existing retail, storage, and office facility. It will maintain the
character and extent of operations and structures existing at the site.
This project site is in front of an MBTA bus stop, with the Fields Corner T
stop about a half mile away, along with other bus lines. Architecturally,
the project will enhance the building’s appearance with a new façade and
greenspace.
In addition to these projects, the board approved:
· The Notice of
Project Change at 100-114 Hampden Street to
reconfigure interior space and modify the programming with a more diverse
mix of retail on the ground level.
· The Notice of
Project Change at 804 East Seventh Street to
reduce the number of units, reconfigure the interior of the building, and
for a change of ownership.
· The disbursement of
a total of $200,000 from the Harvard-Allston Partnership Fund to 26
non-profit community organizations throughout the City.
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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 bostonplans.org,
and follow us on Twitter @BostonPlans.
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