News & Updates

Mayor Menino Announces: New Projects Moving Forward

Nov 16, 2012

New Wentworth Institute of Technology Dorm Approved
Private investment / Total project cost: $43M
Total square footage: approx. 110,760 SF
Jobs: 275 construction jobs
  The BRA Board unanimously approved Wentworth Institute of Technology’s proposed 305 bed dorm at 525 Huntington Avenue. The new student housing will allow Wentworth to house 96 percent of its student body on campus. The $43 million, 7-story building will include 71 apartment style dorm units with 68% occupied by a single individual. The project also includes 1,897 SF of open space that will be located at the building entry on Huntington Avenue. The project creates 275 construction jobs and 6 permanent jobs. The approved dorm is part of the Wentworth Institutional Master Plan that was approved in December 2010. The IMP proposed five institutional projects and of the five projects proposed, the $20 million Flanagan Campus Center and the $20 million Ira Allen building addition have been completed.   Next Step in Inner-Harbor Ferry Service The BRA Board unanimously approved Marine Safety Consultants to assist the BRA with the purchase of two water transportation ferries for ferry service between East Boston, South Boston, and Charlestown.  Each vessel will have a capacity for 40-100 passengers and be ADA accessible.  Marine Safety Consultants will perform a ferry assessment study, prepare language for the Request for Proposals for the 2 vessels, and assist with the vessels’ selection and procurement. In early August, the BRA was awarded $1.28 million to fund a Boston Inner Harbor Ferry. The new ferry service will enhance Boston’s water transit, a key part of Mayor Menino’s Boston Harbor planning objectives.   Downtown BID Streetscape and Wayfinding to Improve with Next Step After a competitive RFP process (11 proposals), Kloper Martin Design Group was unanimously approved by the BRA Board to produce streetscape design standards and a wayfinding program for the Downtown Boston Business Improvement District Area.  Kloper Martin will focus on redesigning the pedestrian zone as a public-oriented space and creating a wayfinding program to highlight connections.  In addition, Kloper Martin will be responsible for revising the sidewalk & roadway material guidelines (to enhance the public realm) and the vending program (by identifying new locations and new retail methods), all to create a unique shopping experience.   Boston Marine Industrial Park – COMPANIES EXPAND Boston Ship Repair will expand its operations from 32A Dry Dock Avenue to the vacant 3-story building at 24 Dry Dock Avenue.  The BRA Board unanimously approved the redevelopment and reuse of the vacant, 30,000 SF building into Boston Ship Repair’s office and operations center.  Boston Ship Repair employs 200 people. Adcotron, an electronics manufacturing contractor, will expand at 12 Channel Street to over 42,000 SF, having secured the unanimous approval of the BRA Board. Adcotron employs 50 people who focus on manufacturing and product assembly. A tenant since 2004, Practical Applications, a wastewater management service, was unanimously approved by the BRA Board to expand to over 23,000 SF at 12 Channel Street.  Practical Applications employs 20 people.  

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