News & Updates

BRA Board Approves $375 Million in New Development Projects, Creating More than 625 New Construction Jobs

Dec 05, 2013

Kenmore Square Hotel Adding Rooms
 
Total Project Cost: up to $45 millionHotel-Commonwealth-Expansion_FOR-WEB.jpg
Total SF: 133,400 square feet
Hotel Rooms: 94
Jobs: 100 construction jobs, 25 permanent jobs
LEED: LEED certifiable

The BRA Board unanimously approved the expansion of the Hotel Commonwealth located in Kenmore Square (pictured on right). The hotel, located at 500 Commonwealth Avenue, will grow the hotel by 94 rooms to 243 rooms.

The up to $45 million expansion will replace a parking lot located in back of the hotel, which faces the Massachusetts Turnpike, with an attractive 7-story, approximately 65-foot tall addition. In addition to guest rooms, the 133,400 square foot expansion will include event spaces and multi level parking for 216 vehicles.

The development team includes Kenmore Hotel, LLC and Group One Partners as architect. The project is anticipated to create 100 construction jobs and 25 permanent jobs.

Condominiums & Rentals Slated for the South End
Sepia-Daytime-Hero-Shot-(1).jpg
Total Project Cost (Sepia): $55 million
Total SF (Sepia): 105,000 square feet
Housing Units (Sepia & 5Ink): 156 units, 21 affordable
Jobs (Sepia): 100 construction jobs
LEED (Sepia): Silver

The BRA Board unanimously approved a project change at the Ink Block complex in the South End. Phase II of the project planned for 30-36 Traveler Street will now include two buildings with 156 units housing, instead of one building. Sepia (pictured on right) will have 84 homeownership units with 8 affordable units and 5 Ink will feature 73 rental units with 13 affordable units.

The five buildings that make up Ink Block total 471 units of housing, 62 units of which are affordable. Phase I, a $200 million project with 315 units of housing in three buildings, broke ground in April 2013, and is slated for occupancy in early 2015.

Ink Block is being constructed at the former site of the Boston Herald. The development team includes developer National Development and Elkus/Manfredi Architects. The project will create 100 construction jobs.

Condominiums Slated for Lovejoy Wharf

Total Project Cost (160 North Washington Street and 131 Beverly Street projects): $250 million
Total SF (131 Beverly): 225,000 square feet
Housing Units (131 Beverly): 175 condos, voluntary $6.75M contribution to support affordable housing
Jobs (131 Beverly): up to 350 construction jobs
LEED (131 Beverly): Silver

The BRA Board unanimously approved a change in project at Lovejoy Wharf. The site consists of the future home of Converse in Boston located at 160 North Washington Street, and a vacant lot at 131 Beverley Street where a dilapidated 9-story warehouse was recently demolished.

The project change only impacts the previously approved residential building at 131 Beverly Street. The new approval reduces the original 250 rental unit proposal to 175 homeownership units, and eliminates the parking component. The developer is making a voluntary $6.75 million contribution to support affordable housing creation citywide. The project did not need zoning relief, and as a result an affordable housing component was not required.

The development team includes developer Related Beal and architecture firms Robert A.M. Stern Architects and ADD Inc. The project will create up to 350 construction jobs.


MATCH School Will Consolidate into Hyde Park Campus

Total Project Cost: $25 millionMatch_School-201310_FOR-WEB.jpg
Total SF: 70,000 square feet
Jobs: 75 construction jobs, 60 permanent jobs

The BRA Board unanimously approved plans for the consolidation of the Match Charter Public School and the Match School Foundation to Poydras Street in Hyde Park. The new location will accommodate the school’s projected enrollment increase to 700 students.
 
The new $25 million campus (pictured on right) includes the construction of approximately 70,000 square feet of educational, community, and administrative space in three new buildings. The project also includes 79 off street parking spaces for staff and visitors.

The Poydras Building, located at the corner of Poydras Street and Neponset Field Lane, will include 19,000 square feet for classrooms, offices, and a common area for dining, group meetings, and tutoring.

The River Building will include 38,000 square feet for offices, classrooms, and a common area overlooking the Neponset River and a 20,000 square foot synthetic turf playing field.
 
The Gymnasium, totaling 13,000 square feet, will include a regulation basketball court, team locker rooms, and equipment storage space.

The existing Match schools are located at 86 Wachusett Street and 215 Forest Hills Street in Roxbury.

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