Moving Forward at the Pru, Despite NIMBYs

Prudential towers win city approval
Boston Herald
By Thomas Grillo
Friday, December 5, 2008



The Boston Redevelopment Authority yesterday approved two controversial Prudential Center towers.

In a unanimous vote, the BRA OK’d a 17-story office building at 888 Boylston St. and a 27-story apartment tower on Exeter Street.

The votes came after nearly four hours of testimony, as proponents including Mayor Thomas M. Menino, who was represented by a spokesperson, union officials, residents and business representatives said the buildings would create jobs and bring needed affordable housing to the Back Bay.

“The process worked,” said Michael A. Cantalupa, senior vice president of Boston Properties, the developer of the $192 million office building at the Pru. “We have a good development. We will start construction when we find a tenant.”

The Exeter Residences, to be built by Avalon Bay Communities, will include 188 units. Of that number, 52 affordable apartments will be located in Avalon’s four buildings at the Pru including six units at the new tower.

Yesterday’s vote in a packed hearing room at City Hall was the culmination of more than 17 months of contentious meetings. The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay and state Rep. Martha M. Walz asked the BRA board to reject the proposals, saying they believed both buildings would be too tall.

“These buildings do not fit the scale of the Prudential Center,” said Ann Gleason of the neighborhood association. “They are out of character.”

But the BRA board rejected the claims. The 888 Boylston St. project, to be built between the new Mandarin Oriental Hotel and the John B. Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center, has been in the works for years.