From Amazon distribution center to life science labs

Tim Logan of the Boston Globe is reporting that Core Investments will unveil a plan to convert two warehouses near Andrew Square into DOTLabs – lab and research aimed at life science.

Initially, Core Investments wanted to develop an Amazon Distribution Center in that area.  A plan that met with push back from the BPDA and residents. In November, the plans were withdrawn.

Now it looks like the plan is labs. If lab space and life science buildings sounds familiar it’s because it’s the new buzz term in real estate.  There seems to be a large amount of life science projects in the works in many South Boston developments. You can read more about this new laboratory/research real estate boom here. 

City Councilor Ed Flynn has requested a hearing to discuss the zoning and the community outreach process for proposed developments of life science laboratories. This hearing comes in the wake of so many “life science” buildings are being proposed in the neighborhood including the recently amended large scale project on Morrissey Blvd. 

Many residents are now wondering what happened to the Plan Dot Ave. vision.

Okay, so what is Plan Dot Ave? 

Well, it is a 2016 Boston Planning & Development Agency plan envisioned a mixed-use neighborhood of housing and offices for this area. You can learn more about it here.

Who’s the developer?

Core Investments.  They are also partners in the 746-unit Washington Village complex across the way!

What else is happening in that neighborhood?

Tatte Bakery will open as the anchor tenant at 60-70 Old Colony Ave.   The wildly popular and chic bakery will offer classes and workshops open to the public, and have a viewing area of the production space which will serve all Tatte’s Massachusetts locations as they undertake significant expansion.  Tatte’s new space totals nearly 30,000 SF and will create over 100 jobs. Holy Moly! Also in store for the former Cole Hersee industrial buildings will be an additional eight to ten additional restaurant and retail operators in a new dynamic ground floor. Overall, the project’s new restaurant and retail storefronts will total nearly 75K SF. 

image via Boston Globe – architects rendering 

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