Written by Betsy Walsh Frissora
The May 16th BRA meeting approved various new projects throughout Boston, including developers’ most favorite location, the South Boston Waterfront (aka the Innovation District). The proposed massive development located at 315 North Street, known as Parcel K will move forward; the plan will redevelop surface parking lots into a 480,243 sq.ft. mixed-use (hotel, housing, garage, office, restaurant and retail) development.
Developed by Conroy Development, the $230 million Parcel K project site sits on 2.4 acres of land located directly across the street from the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion (former Bank of America Pavilion) on the corner of Northern Avenue, Congress Street, Silver Line Way and the Massport Haul Road. The location site will push the current development strip along the Waterfront down even further.
The Parcel K development calls for the construction of two 10-11- story buildings. The first building, located on the eastern side of the parcel, will be a 10-story 150,000 sq.ft. boutique hotel with 247 rooms. The second building, located on the western side of the parcel, will be an 11-story 300,00 sq.ft. residential rental building. The residential building will create 304 housing units (including 40 affordable units), which are are expected to be a mix of one- and two-bedroom units in addition to studios and micro-units.
Together, the two buildings will create 11,592 sq. ft. of incubator office space, and 17,748 sq.ft. of restaurant and retail space, and include a three-floor, below-grade garage for 640 parking spaces.
The project also promises public benefits, which include new open spaces for the public (indoor and outdoor), including an outdoor courtyard, as well as an improved pedestrian environment. Additionally, the developer has committed “$200,000 for community-directed purposes, to be disbursed by the BRA.”
Parcel K, part of a larger plan to fully develop and transform the South Boston Waterfront promises many exciting additions to our South Boston neighborhood. However, it also brings up the concern about traffic in the area, and highlights the need for public transportation along the Waterfront. With so much development in the Seaport, how will the BRA and MassDot solve the issue of transportation to and from the new and booming neighborhood?
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We need a light rail system that runs along the existing tracks and forms a loop along East/West 1st street before all the land gets developed!!!