Category Archives: Government Center Development

0 Government Center Garage project officially named Bullfinch Crossing

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Where is Bulfinch Crossing?

rendering of Bulfinch Crossing in govt. center

Credit: Boston Business Journal

According to the BBJ, “the long-delayed $1.5 billion plan to convert the hulking Government Center Garage into a six-building, 2.9 million-square-foot mixed-use project…spans almost 5 acres and two city blocks, centered around the 1.2 million square-foot,1960s-era parking and office complex at One Congress St. near Boston’s City Hall.

The Boston Business Journal also notes “at full buildout, the six-building project is slated to include:”

• 1.15 million square feet of office
• 85,000 square feet of retail
• 812 residential units
• 196 hotel rooms
• 1,160 parking spaces
• 1-acre “rooftop amenity” on the project’s west parcel
• 1+ acre urban public plaza on the project’s east parcel

You can read the BBJ article on the Boston Business Journal’s website.

 

0 Government Center Garage Aims for Dynamic Redevelopment

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This plan to remake the Government Center Garage is genius. The notion that the garage will be repurposed into a smaller garage, apartments and tower infrastructure solves many problems that held this project back. The largest non-economic benefit for the neighborhood is not having to go through demolition and then site work that could exceed 18th months.

Plan for Govt Center garage project

Credit: Boston Globe

From the Boston Globe:

“It’s not as if you can just swing a wrecking ball at this thing,” said Tom O’Brien, managing director of the development firm HYM Investment Group, which is turning the huge garage into the base of two new skyscrapers, a third mid-rise apartment building, and a plaza of low-rise buildings along the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Instead, HYM will carefully take down parts of the garage, while remaking other sections so it can continue to provide parking during and after construction. In some places whole sections of the garage will be demolished, while elsewhere HYM will slice off portions to make way for several of the buildings; the remainder of the garage will serve as a platform that unifies the complex.

0 Real Estate Developments Planned for Boston Train Stations

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proposed developments at Boston train stations

Credit: Boston Globe

Train and towers will be the combination for three large-scale projects at prime Boston locations, including South Station, Back Bay Station and North Station.

Brief excerpts on each impending Boston train station development from the Boston Globe:

North Station
Boston Properties and Delaware North have already begun construction at North Station. That project will eventually include a 38-story residential tower, two shorter buildings, and a massive retail complex at the long-empty site of the old Boston Garden on Causeway Street.

Back Bay Station
Across town, Boston Properties recently unveiled an ambitious vision to remake Back Bay Station and a neighboring parking garage as the base of a trio of buildings that would join the Back Bay and the South End.

South Station
And at South Station, the Houston developer Hines is attempting to kickstart long-stalled plans to build what would be among the tallest buildings in the city.

According to the Boston Globe article, “all three projects are complex, in terms of engineering and economics. But for the cash-strapped Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, they bring deep-pocketed partners who could help pay for needed transit improvements…In return, the developers would get access to some of the best locations in a crowded city with a growing population, where getting around can be a challenge.”

0 Boston City Hall Plaza Transformation Edges Closer

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Boston’s City Hall Plaza is poised to change to become a destination location for locals and tourists.

rendering of Boston city hall plaze redevelopment

Credit: Boston Globe

From the Boston Globe:

The owners of TD Garden have won a bid to remake Boston’s City Hall Plaza, proposing to transform the little-loved, windswept brick expanse at the heart of the city into a bustling year-round hub of arts, food, and leisure. Delaware North Cos. was tapped for the project Thursday by the administration of Mayor Martin J. Walsh, beating out two competitors. The company said in its bid it was willing to invest “upwards of $15 million” in improvements and attractions.

While its plans are conceptual and will require public input and further approval from the city, Delaware North made numerous suggestions for the plaza, including:

  • An “iconic” observation wheel, up to 200 feet high and featuring 42 climate-controlled gondolas.
  • A “casual cool” restaurant featuring local ingredients in a temporary two-story building surrounded by outdoor eating and beer garden areas. Nearby, a ground-level “#BOSTON” sign would become “an instant landmark . . . the ultimate new Boston selfie station.”
  • An “urban beach” area would be set up in summer, replete with sand, beach chairs, umbrellas, and cabanas.
  • A winter garden and ice skating venue, featuring “cozy warming huts,” hot cocoa stations, and — why not? — curling.
  • Additional concert series that would build on the success of the popular Boston Calling festivals.
  • A series of interactive art installations, inspired by the glow-in-the-dark “Impulse” seesaws in Montreal that also play music.
  • Semi-permanent food and coffee stalls near the Government Center MBTA station.

 

0 Government Center Garage Towers get BRA Approval

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Government Center garage towers

Credit: Boston Globe

Government Center Garage will become a beacon of redevelopment for Boston.

From the Boston Globe:

The Boston Redevelopment Authority board gave its OK to a pair of towers on the site of the Government Center Garage straddling Congress Street. Construction on the first — a 480-foot luxury apartment high-rise — will begin this spring, developers say. The second — a 43-story office tower — will launch once it has secured a major tenant.

The towers are the first two phases of a six-building plan by the Boston development firm HYM Investment and National Real Estate Advisors of Washington to transform the giant 1960s-era garage into a complex of housing, office buildings and retail. When fully completed, the project would include 812 new housing units, 1.1 million square feet of office space, a hotel, and retail storefronts. It would open up the northern end of Congress Street for the first time in a half-century.

0 North Station Transportation Plan gets $400k

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development near Boston north station

Credit: B&T

The integration of transportation, services and infrastructure is paramount to a city’s success. Boston’s North Station is now benefiting by receiving $400K towards a transportation plan that will look at short and long term solutions.

Banker&Tradesman reports, “the nine-month project will encompass the West End, Bulfinch Triangle and Government Center, where nearly 8 million square feet of commercial and residential projects are expected to be completed in the next few years…The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and the city’s transportation department are overseeing the project designed to analyze the existing network and future needs…The $400,000 is expected to cover the entire cost of the project, BRA spokesman Nicholas Martin said.”

More information is available on B&T, here.

0 Designers Wanted for City Hall Project

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Boston City Hall Plaza

Credit: Boston Herald

Mayor Walsh wants your creative ideas for City Hall.  Let’s see what some of our creative thinkers will come up with.

From the Boston Herald:

Walsh announced plans to “re-envision” the plaza to make it a more inviting and attractive civic space for residents and visitors during this year’s State of the City address in January…The master plan will identify areas for improvements at City Hall and the plaza, including possible public-private ventures, historic considerations and approaches for reuse, according to the solicitation issued by the city’s Public Facilities Department. It will look at existing conditions, including land use and zoning, and develop detailed cost estimates for the recommended work and programming.

“(The) vendor will coordinate with city representatives, other stake holders and (a) community advisory council on all aspects of project,” the advertisement states. “(The) scope of work will include a visioning exercise, identifying goals and objectives, best practices for municipal services and civic spaces as they relate to Boston City Hall and the plaza.”

0 Boston Experiencing Historic Commercial Building Boom

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rendering of office tower at Belvidere and Dalton East

Credit: Boston Globe

The Boston skyline is on the move.  A Boston Globe editorial notes, “Boston is in the midst of a building boom never seen in its history, with an influx of new residents and companies giving rise to skyscraping towers, thousands of homes, and retail businesses that are redefining commercial districts citywide.” The Globe followed the article with a list of 50 of the largest development projects organized by expected square feet.

Among these office developments are projects at the Government Center Garage, South Station air rights, Tremont Crossing, and Landmark Center in Fenway.

Jump over to the Globe to read through its complete list of the top Boston Office Developments in progress.

 

0 Government Center Poised for Modernization

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Boston city hall plaza at night

Credit: B&T

Government Center is an area in downtown Boston, bounded by Cambridge, Court, Congress, and New Sudbury Streets.  Center Plaza sits on the gateway and the new owners are poised to make a splash with their vision.

From Banker&Tradesman:

“The plans are going to be a very noticeable level of improvement on the retail arcade,” [said Kevin Kuzemchak, senior vice president for Shorenstein.] “We want to take what is now a fairly dark monotonous experience and add new lighting and storefronts where we can, signage, and hopefully install High Line-esque landscaping to the entire arcade and break it up into different zones.” Office lobbies will be expanded and moved closer to Cambridge Street.

Related Office Listings:
Government Center Office Space

0 Government Center T Renovations at Halfway Point

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The Government Center T Stop is at the hallway point in the renovation process.  The stop first opened with the Green Line in 1898 then added the Blue Line in 1916.  In 2013 the average weekday boarding’s was 10,828 and I expect most of those passengers are looking forward to the station reopening in 2016.

Govt Center T

One of the historic “Scollay Under” signs visible before closure; several more were uncovered during deconstruction of the 1963-built station – Source Wikipedia

Historic photo of Boston's Govt Center T Station

Riders at the then-newly renovated station in 1964 – Source Wikipedia