Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh and Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker today announced that the 5.5-acre state-owned parcel located at 185 Kneeland Street will be offered for redevelopment. A request for proposal (RFP) will be issued later this year.

According to Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, also in attendance, the city and state are “very committed to housing” being built on the parcel; a mix of uses will likely be incorporated. According to Boston Department of Neighborhood Development Director Sheila Dillon, also in attendance, a number of market-rate housing units will likely be incorporated as the parcel will be expensive to develop. While the state’s preference is to offer 185 Kneeland Street for lease, the parcel may be sold to its future developer.

The 185 Kneeland Street parcel is currently home to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) District 6 Highway Division headquarters. The parcel sits at the entrance to downtown Boston, above the entrance to Interstate 93’s Dewey Square Tunnel. Recently-completed One Greenway is located nearby. A new home for the District 6 headquarters has not yet been named; the state is seeking a central location with highway access. An existing Veolia steam plant at 185 Kneeland Street will be incorporated into the redevelopment. The redeveloped steam plant would be built physically underneath any future development.

The city and state are working to make more state-owned land available for development across Boston. On Thursday, ground was broken on Parcel 1B, a development project that will be built on state-owned land. Secretary Pollack also gave an update on the proposed South Station Air Rights development project, located nearby. The state is hoping to file a final environmental report for the South Station project this spring. The ultimate goal is to move the project, which has secured federal funding, forward at least through planning.

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