Roslindale Transcript
May 7, 2008
By Jessica Smith
Roslindale - The Roslindale Substation has been vacant since before many current residents were born, but now the Boston Redevelopment Authority is ready to change that. They just have to find a tenant.
Meeting with a roomful of those familiar with the blighted building at 4228 Washington St., the city agency responsible for overseeing the process presented its draft Request for Proposals, or RFP.
The RFP, created by the BRA, has already been shared with numerous neighborhood groups. It will serve as a guide for prospective developers as they bid for the right to develop the property. In other words, it represents the standards that the BRA has set for development.
Marie Mecurio, a senior planner for the BRA who works on Roslindale, emphasized to residents that the building is not slated to be torn down.
“Our goal is to preserve the building. This is not a demolition,” said Mecurio, who added that a preferred use of the more than 6,000-square-foot structure would be active or commercial retail space on the ground floor.
While the floor is a single story, the BRA’s Fran Collins added that a second floor could be added within the building, but that nothing would be done that would increase the height of the structure.
According to Mecurio, the BRA would like to see whatever goes in the building to increase foot traffic in Roslindale, generate long-term jobs and contribute to Roslindale’s growth.
She also said that the BRA would support a green building, and mentioned the possibility of the renovated structure including housing for various income levels.
The existing windows, some of which are boarded up, will be restored. This, according to the BRA, means that the mural painted on the building will be removed.
In addition to waiting for a developer, the building is also waiting to hear if it will be added to the National Register of Historic Places. Should that occur, the BRA is prepared to incorporate any restrictions that would come with the honor.
Jessica Smith can be reached at jsmith@cnc.com.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Compromise on Height at the Dainty Dot
The Boston Globe
May 7, 20008
By Thomas Palmer
A compromise reached between City Hall and developers of a planned 299-foot-tall residential tower in Chinatown will reduce the height by 34 feet, but means elimination of the revered Dainty Dot building on the site.
more stories like thisThe planned glass tower near Essex Street and Surface Artery, proposed by developer Ori Ron, has split the Chinatown and neighboring Leather District communities.
Some residents object to having a building that tall in a neighborhood outside the Financial District and in close proximity to a new park on the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. Others wanted all or part of the remaining portions of the 119-year-old Dainty Dot structure preserved.
And some, including influential Chinatown organizations, vigorously supported Ron's proposed building because it would bring life to the community and provide much-needed housing - including funding for 48 units of affordable residences to be built elsewhere in Chinatown.
The compromise, described last night to the Boston Design Review Commission, includes reducing the building's height to 265 feet, or about 4 1/2 floors, paring the number of residential condominiums from 180 to 147, and adding a new park on Oxford Street. But it also includes demolishing the Dainty Dot, once headquarters of a hosiery company and formerly known as the Auchmuty Building.
A portion of the ornate building was lopped off in the 1950s, when the elevated Central Artery was constructed, but Ron had originally planned to save all or most of the remaining structure.
David Seeley, a leading critic of the new building's proposed height and defender of the old Dainty Dot building, acknowledged that the height reduction is "a significant drop."
But, he said of the loss of the old building, "I think it's tragic. It's a beautiful building and by all rights would be a landmark if it hadn't already been previously damaged."
A spokesman for Ron said Mayor Thomas M. Menino helped to broker the compromise.
"We're happy," said Boston Redevelopment Authority director John Palmieri. "There may be a few critics, but overall we've improved the design program considerably and satisfied some of the more significant neighborhood issues."
Palmieri said parking floors will not be as prominent in the tower, and the number of spaces was reduced from 156 to 95.
Ron maintained he could not afford to pay the cost of saving the facade and also reduce the number of units in the building. "Our design team agrees," said Palmieri. "It was a 'facade-ectomy' anyway, an awkward looking development program."
Thomas C. Palmer Jr. can be reached at tpalmer@globe.com.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
An Overview of development in Southie
South Boston Times
Boomin' Times on the Waterfront
The rapidly developing South Boston Waterfront has had a busy twelve months. Projects, both planned and actually underway, will require billions of dollars to complete, will generate tens of thousands of new jobs, and will see a decade-long buildout.
by Rick Winterson
It is no news that developments along the South Boston Waterfront are proceeding rapidly. From the Conley Terminal to Fort Point, the underlying value of a location on the peninsula that makes up South Boston has become obvious. The nation’s hometown has morphed into the nation’s boomtown.
Twelve months ago, developer John Drew presented his revised plans for a project called Waterside Place”. Located on an eight-acre plot near the intersection of D and Summer Streets, it will comprise a 300-room hotel, 200 hundred residences, 2,300 parking spaces, and 640,000 square feet of retail space.
In September, ground was finally broken on the long-awaited Fan Pier project, which is being developed by Joseph Fallon. The $3 billion buildout will take up to ten years. In addition to its being a huge mixed-use development, Fan Pier’s unique marina has attracted the Volvo Regatta. Fan Pier sits between the Moakley Courthouse and the Institute of Contemporary Art, for which Fallon donated the land.
The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center has surpassed even its boosters’ best expectations, and was named the “Convention Center of the Year” in 2007. This is partly due to its communications capabilities and partly due to its sheer size. Recently, the Massachusetts Convention Authority announced a feasibility study to expand the Convention Center, which is already New England’s largest single building.
Exelon’s L Street Power Plant, which borders the Reserve Channel, retired the second of its two generating units in November. Cleanup and dismantling of the entire plant is expected to begin this year, after a series of community hearings. Long-term plans for the site have not been announced.
In January, MassPort announced that it wished to acquire the Coastal site, a 30-acre site on East First Street owned by the Coastal subsidiary of El Paso Corporation. Because of oil seepage over the years, there has been a significant controversy over the site’s cleanup. If the deal goes through, MassPort intends to expand the Conley Terminal along the Reserve Channel using the Coastal property.
Late in January, Mayor Menino released plans for the Jimmy’s Harborside property that were assembled by the B.R.A. The property will hold an office building and up to four restaurants; the Harbor Walk and access roads will be extended along the Waterfront. The $30 million project is slated for completion in 2009.
The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel became the Waterfront’s newest hospitality location, when it completed its “soft opening” in January. It has 450 elegantly appointed rooms, all with state-of-the-art electronics technology.
Late last year, Gale International completed its plans for what it calls “Seaport Square”. This will be built on the McCourt Properties. These plans are being presented to South Boston at this time, via a series of open community meetings. Seaport Square is a true mega-project – a city-within-a-city amounting to 6.5 million square feet. The project will mean an expenditure of many billions of dollars; it is reputed to be the largest mixed-use development ever undertaken in the Northeast.
The job impact from all of these developments will be enormous: as many as 15,000 construction jobs, followed by 30,000 (or more) permanent positions. All of these projects, when they are completed, will essentially use up the areas available for mixed developments along the South Boston Waterfront..
Another article would be needed to cover industrial and commercial developments on the eastern reaches of the South Boston peninsula, within the Marine Industrial Complex. The Fort Point area is also under development, especially since the sale of the Boston Wharf building complex. South Boston’s Barbara Lynch is perhaps the most well-known person to move there, where she is creating a versatile foodservice establishment.
As a final note, the U.S. Post Office Annex plans to move to South Boston from its current site on the South Station side of Fort Point Channel. That will have significant neighborhood ripples, also.
Stay tuned! All in all, that’s a big bunch of bricks and mortar.
Boomin' Times on the Waterfront
The rapidly developing South Boston Waterfront has had a busy twelve months. Projects, both planned and actually underway, will require billions of dollars to complete, will generate tens of thousands of new jobs, and will see a decade-long buildout.
by Rick Winterson
It is no news that developments along the South Boston Waterfront are proceeding rapidly. From the Conley Terminal to Fort Point, the underlying value of a location on the peninsula that makes up South Boston has become obvious. The nation’s hometown has morphed into the nation’s boomtown.
Twelve months ago, developer John Drew presented his revised plans for a project called Waterside Place”. Located on an eight-acre plot near the intersection of D and Summer Streets, it will comprise a 300-room hotel, 200 hundred residences, 2,300 parking spaces, and 640,000 square feet of retail space.
In September, ground was finally broken on the long-awaited Fan Pier project, which is being developed by Joseph Fallon. The $3 billion buildout will take up to ten years. In addition to its being a huge mixed-use development, Fan Pier’s unique marina has attracted the Volvo Regatta. Fan Pier sits between the Moakley Courthouse and the Institute of Contemporary Art, for which Fallon donated the land.
The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center has surpassed even its boosters’ best expectations, and was named the “Convention Center of the Year” in 2007. This is partly due to its communications capabilities and partly due to its sheer size. Recently, the Massachusetts Convention Authority announced a feasibility study to expand the Convention Center, which is already New England’s largest single building.
Exelon’s L Street Power Plant, which borders the Reserve Channel, retired the second of its two generating units in November. Cleanup and dismantling of the entire plant is expected to begin this year, after a series of community hearings. Long-term plans for the site have not been announced.
In January, MassPort announced that it wished to acquire the Coastal site, a 30-acre site on East First Street owned by the Coastal subsidiary of El Paso Corporation. Because of oil seepage over the years, there has been a significant controversy over the site’s cleanup. If the deal goes through, MassPort intends to expand the Conley Terminal along the Reserve Channel using the Coastal property.
Late in January, Mayor Menino released plans for the Jimmy’s Harborside property that were assembled by the B.R.A. The property will hold an office building and up to four restaurants; the Harbor Walk and access roads will be extended along the Waterfront. The $30 million project is slated for completion in 2009.
The Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel became the Waterfront’s newest hospitality location, when it completed its “soft opening” in January. It has 450 elegantly appointed rooms, all with state-of-the-art electronics technology.
Late last year, Gale International completed its plans for what it calls “Seaport Square”. This will be built on the McCourt Properties. These plans are being presented to South Boston at this time, via a series of open community meetings. Seaport Square is a true mega-project – a city-within-a-city amounting to 6.5 million square feet. The project will mean an expenditure of many billions of dollars; it is reputed to be the largest mixed-use development ever undertaken in the Northeast.
The job impact from all of these developments will be enormous: as many as 15,000 construction jobs, followed by 30,000 (or more) permanent positions. All of these projects, when they are completed, will essentially use up the areas available for mixed developments along the South Boston Waterfront..
Another article would be needed to cover industrial and commercial developments on the eastern reaches of the South Boston peninsula, within the Marine Industrial Complex. The Fort Point area is also under development, especially since the sale of the Boston Wharf building complex. South Boston’s Barbara Lynch is perhaps the most well-known person to move there, where she is creating a versatile foodservice establishment.
As a final note, the U.S. Post Office Annex plans to move to South Boston from its current site on the South Station side of Fort Point Channel. That will have significant neighborhood ripples, also.
Stay tuned! All in all, that’s a big bunch of bricks and mortar.
Forest Hills Improvement Initiative
Forest Hills process takes final steps
By DAVID TABER May 2, 2008
Jamaica Plain Gazette
A working timeline has been devised for the final steps of a year-and-a-half-long community planning process that will end with the MBTA opening bidding on over 6 acres of land around Forest Hills Station.
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) member and JPNC Housing and Development Committee Co-Chair Francesca Fordiani announced the timeline at the April 29 meeting of the JPNC.
On May 2, according to the timeline, a public comment period will begin for the draft Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the parcels, along with Use and Design Guidelines that have been developed in a lengthy Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA)-led community process known as the Forest Hills Improvement Initiative (FHII).
The public comment period will be open for four weeks.
On May 22, the MBTA will host a community information meeting to review the content and meaning of the ITB.
The MBTA plans to issue the ITB on June 27.
The BRA also held an FHII meeting to review a draft of the Transportation and Streetscape Improvement plan for the Forest Hills area that has been developed through the process on April 30.
There will be an FHII wrap-up meeting on June 26.
Close to 400 residential units and 64,000 square feet of retail space could potentially be developed on the parcels if the Use and Design Guidelines are followed.
Fordiani said she is concerned about the affordability component of the guidelines. Originally they called for 15 to 75 percent of the new residential units to be designated affordable, with a goal of 50 percent. Later, in part due to lobbying by the Housing and Development Committee, the range of 15 to 75 percent was removed from the recommendation.
Since then, it has been reinserted, Fordiani said.
“If the community feels there need to be strong affordability goals, the BRA needs to hear it from the community and not just us,” Fordiani said, “The BRA needs to hear from the community or else I need to be proven wrong.”
Vacancy
JPNC member Yawu Miller has moved out of JP, leaving a vacancy in Area C (Pondside/Jamaica Hills/Forest Hills). It was announced that anyone interested in the seat should present themselves at the JPNC’s May 27 meeting.
By DAVID TABER May 2, 2008
Jamaica Plain Gazette
A working timeline has been devised for the final steps of a year-and-a-half-long community planning process that will end with the MBTA opening bidding on over 6 acres of land around Forest Hills Station.
Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) member and JPNC Housing and Development Committee Co-Chair Francesca Fordiani announced the timeline at the April 29 meeting of the JPNC.
On May 2, according to the timeline, a public comment period will begin for the draft Invitation to Bid (ITB) for the parcels, along with Use and Design Guidelines that have been developed in a lengthy Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA)-led community process known as the Forest Hills Improvement Initiative (FHII).
The public comment period will be open for four weeks.
On May 22, the MBTA will host a community information meeting to review the content and meaning of the ITB.
The MBTA plans to issue the ITB on June 27.
The BRA also held an FHII meeting to review a draft of the Transportation and Streetscape Improvement plan for the Forest Hills area that has been developed through the process on April 30.
There will be an FHII wrap-up meeting on June 26.
Close to 400 residential units and 64,000 square feet of retail space could potentially be developed on the parcels if the Use and Design Guidelines are followed.
Fordiani said she is concerned about the affordability component of the guidelines. Originally they called for 15 to 75 percent of the new residential units to be designated affordable, with a goal of 50 percent. Later, in part due to lobbying by the Housing and Development Committee, the range of 15 to 75 percent was removed from the recommendation.
Since then, it has been reinserted, Fordiani said.
“If the community feels there need to be strong affordability goals, the BRA needs to hear it from the community and not just us,” Fordiani said, “The BRA needs to hear from the community or else I need to be proven wrong.”
Vacancy
JPNC member Yawu Miller has moved out of JP, leaving a vacancy in Area C (Pondside/Jamaica Hills/Forest Hills). It was announced that anyone interested in the seat should present themselves at the JPNC’s May 27 meeting.
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