The Architectural Team

Wood Framing Complete for Brighton Marine

Wood Framing is complete for the upcoming veteran's housing development along Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton. The project will include 100 apartments, a mix of studios through three bedrooms along with as well as 5,650 square feet of common amenity space. 11 units will be reserved for formerly homeless veterans.

More Details Unveiled for Potential Development at 75 Morrissey Blvd

More details of the development in planning for 75 Morrissey Boulevard were discussed during a recent community meeting in Dorchester and include a three-phase plan that could feature up to 7 buildings with a total of nearly 1775 residential units. The first phase of the project would be two towers, slightly reduced from previous plans from 23 & 26 floor to 21 & 24 floors next to the upcoming Beat. These towers would include 694 residential units, 11,400 square feet of retail, and two levels of parking with 374 spaces.

Ample green space is included throughout the plans along with a potential new home for the existing Star Market on the site. The development team will continue to meet with the community and also developers of nearby sites including the 20 acre Columbia Point UMASS Boston awarded development rights to Accordia Partners earlier this year.

Greystar Putting Finishing Touches on Elan Union Market in Watertown

While most recognized as one of the country's largest property management firms, Greystar also operates a significant development arm with 76 projects (over $12B) in the pipeline across the globe. Here in the Boston area, Greystar is wrapping up construction on Elan Union Market in Watertown, a recent stop on the NAIOP Science of Success Bus tour. The 282 unit building opened to first residents in June of last year and interior finishing is underway for the final units. 

The building designed by TAT features apartments ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms along with 7 outward facing courtyards to welcome in residents and provide a better streetscape for the community. 13,000 square foot of amenity space is also found on-site including an art gallery showcasing historic Watertown art, an outdoor pool, and fitness center.

Rents at Elan Union Market are ranging from $1800 to $4650 per month and include a very unique amenity, Hello Alfred service. As a service partner with Greystar, Hello Alfred provides a free weekly tidy up for all residents at the building. The Hello Alfred team will empty the dishwasher, take out the trash, and make the bed, certainly a nice extra perk!

Situated just a few blocks from Watertown Square on one side and Arsenal Yards on other the Elan Union Market location is proving popular with renters, as the project is already 75% leased.

Apartments at Clippership Wharf Set to Open July 15th

The first apartments at East Boston's Clippership Wharf are set to open in just over 1 month on July 15th.  In total there will be 284 rental residences on the waterfront site overlooking Boston Harbor. Residents of Clippership Wharf will have access to quite the array of indoor and outdoor amenities including a waterfront lounge with catering kitchen, an art gallery, boat dock, fitness center, and kayak center.

Construction is also ongoing for both Slip65 & Clip45 condos which will bring the total unit count on site to 478 residences. 

The Davis Companies Celebrate Groundbreaking at 100 Shawmut

The Davis Companies held a groundbreaking celebration for the launch of 100 Shawmut in Boston's South End. The development will feature a 13-story, 138-unit residential project with a 980-square-foot ground-floor cafe which would be located at the intersection of Herald Street and Shawmut Avenue in the South End’s rapidly developing New York Streets neighborhood.

“Today, we celebrate the groundbreaking of 100 Shawmut – a project realized through a unique partnership between The Davis Companies, the Boston Chinese Evangelical Church and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association,” said Jonathan Davis, Founder & CEO of The Davis Companies. “Our collaboration has yielded a dynamic development for the historic South End and this innovative property will ensure that our Chinatown-based non-profit partners will be able to serve the community for years to come, in addition to bringing new housing and jobs to our city.”

Amenities at 100 Shawmut would include a 13th-floor rooftop deck and amenity space and a 9th-floor rooftop terrace, both offering sweeping views of the Boston skyline. Select 7th-floor residences would have private balconies and rooftop terraces.

Facade Install Ongoing for A.O. Flats in JP

Facade install is ongoing for A.O. Flats as part of the Parcel U Development just outside Forest Hills Station in Jamaica Plain. This part of the development will include 78 mixed-income apartments along with 1,620 square feet of ground-floor retail. The project will also feature 1,040 square feet of community space, a 42-space underground parking garage, and a fitness center.

Construction Continues on Phase 1 of The Fenway Center

Phase 1 of the $600M Fenway Center project is rapidly moving forward with the first two buildings in the project at or very near full height. These two new residential buildings will feature 312 apartments along with 37,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. A large deck and landscaped walkway will also be constructed over Yawkey Station. The buildings are designed to be highly sustainable and are expected to reach a LEED Gold certification. The first occupancy is expected here in Q1 2020.

Demo Underway at 112 Shawmut Ave in the South End

The partial demo of an existing six-story former office building at the corner of Shawmut Ave. and Herald Street in the South End is underway. The street-facing facades will be saved and incorporated into the design of the new 13-story building. This building is set to include 139 residential units along with a ground floor commercial/restaurant space and parking for 110 cars. Resident amenities will include a rooftop deck with Boston views.

Framing Rising for Redevelopment of Whittier Choice in Roxbury

Wood framing is ongoing for the redevelopment of the Whittier Choice public housing development in Roxbury. The first phase of the project will create a new 5-story building to contain 83 units. A second and third phase will house another 304 residential units along with over 7,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The new buildings will contain a mix of affordable and market-rate residential units. Both rental and condominium residential units will be constructed ranging from studios to four-bedrooms.

Trinity Financial Secures $54.45 Million in Financing for Courthouse Redevelopment

Trinity Financial has secured $54,452,500 in financing via Mass Housing and New Garden Park, Inc. for the redevelopment project at 2 Main Street in Worcester.

The redeveloped courthouse will feature apartments ranging from studios to three-bedrooms, with amenities including a resident club room, a fitness center, gallery and work spaces for artists and programming space. Half of the residences will be offered at market rates, and half will be designated affordable.

The Caulfield Properties Team Takes Over Sales for One of Beacon Hill’s Most Anticipated Projects: The Archer Residences

The Caulfield Properties Team at Compass has taken over sales for Beacon Hill’s hottest new condo project, The Archer. This exclusive, boutique development will convert two historic buildings into 62 luxurious condo homes. A new construction penthouse level will top off the project. Spacious homes range in size from one to four bedrooms, all blending historic character with elegant finishes and modern amenities.

This full-service building offers a highly-curated suite of amenities including a Club Room, fitness and wellness rooms, children's playroom, and underground garage parking. Residents can also enjoy amazing views of Beacon Hill from the nearly 5,000 square foot roof terrace.

Nestled on Temple Place in Beacon Hill, The Archer offers residents the charm of this historic neighborhood with many of Boston’s other great neighborhoods just a quick jaunt away. For more information on The Archer contact the Caulfield Properties Tema at 617-501- 3685 or visit https://thearcherresidences.com/.

Interior Finishing Underway for Apartments at Clippership Wharf

Interior Finishing is ongoing for the two apartment buildings at Clippership Wharf as leasing has started for the project. The buildings at 55 Lewis Street and 15 Jacobbe Road will feature a total of 248 luxury apartment homes ranging in size from 500 square foot studios through 1300+ square foot 3 bedroom, 2 bathrooms. Rents for this East Boston development are starting at $2329 and go up to $5944. 

Also within the development site, construction on the already sold out Slip65 condos is ongoing and framing for the 2nd condo building, Slip45 is underway.  Luxury amenities will be featured throughout the apartment and condo projects. The most unique amenity of Clippership Wharf will be the Living Shoreline, featuring saltwater marshes, rocky beaches and plentiful wildlife habitats integrated into the site with a variety of access points, including a kayak center, allowing residents to interact with the harbor.

First Units in Alexan Wrentham Nearing Completion

Construction is rapidly moving forward on all three buildings at Alexan Wrentham, the 240 unit rental development that will anchor the Ledgeview Way project just off 495. Alexan Wrentham features a mix of 1, 2, and 3 bedroom luxury apartments, most with a private balcony. Resident amenities will include a 7,000 square foot clubhouse with lounge, business center, and fitness space.  The property will also offer a large pool, outdoor lounge, and a pet park. First units are expected to be complete in June with the final stages of the project wrapping up in the fall of this year.

Developers Pitch Residential Towers at 75 Morrissey Boulevard

The owners of several key Morrissey Boulevard parcels floated a plan for two 20-plus-story towers at the former Channel 56 site at the Columbia-Savin Hill Civic Association’s planning commitee meeting Tuesday. 

Center Court Partners purchased the 2.23-acre site from car magnate Herb Chambers in June 2017 for $14.5 million. The group has since acquired two adjoining parcels and now owns all the property between the Hub 25 buildings and the site of the Boston Globe’s former headquarters, including the Star Market parcel and the Beasley Media Group building.

Citing restrictions on long-term leases that would stop them from fully controlling the Beasley site until at least 2032 and the Star Market site until 2040, the Center Court group proposed a 23- and 26-story tower on the one parcel they can move forward on: 75 Morrissey. The Reporter first published a story on their preliminary plans for the site in September 2018.

Developer and architect David Raftery said he and his team are “trying to stay within the spirit of the master plan,” pointing to the 2011 BPDA-published Columbia Point Master Plan, drawing from two years of work from a local task force looking to envision growth around the Point.

Near the JFK/UMass station, the land-use plan envisioned buildings as tall as 17 stories. Building heights would drop as they moved south, down to around four stories at the Globe site, which is adjacent to the residential section of Savin Hill and the environmentally sensitive Patten’s Cove.

Several at the meeting noted that the master plan is still a valuable guide, but represents an era prior to the sprawling Bayside Expo center deal and the five-story Hub 25 building built next to the T.

Raftery said their concept for around 750 units is “a highly residential program here to complement essentially what’s happening at the BEAT next door.” 

The BEAT is the innovation campus, office space, and brew hall planned for the former Globe site. Owners Nordblom Co. opted not to include residential as part of that plan, keeping the bones of the existing Globe structure. “We think it’s a great opportunity to kind of migrate residential to this,” Raftery said as disapproving muttering began filling the room’s edges.

Michael Binette, with The Architectural Team, presented some conceptual images to the assembled civic members. He, too, referenced the master plan, calling for a break-up of the area’s “super blocks” into more of an orderly neighborhood grid including large amounts of residential units.

“We think there’s still a way to maintain that kind of vision of a vibrant mixed use community within this parcel,” Binette said. To “amenetize” the site, Binette said, calls for density. 

The early plans, which have not been filed with city officials, show a 23-story residential tower over 3,800 square feet of retail and a 26-story tower over 7,600 square feet of retail. Multi-story parking garages would sit beneath each building, for a parking ratio of about 0.5 to the total unit count, which Binette said seemed “reasonable given the trends” toward using transit and reduced driving.

The reception to the conceptual plan was mixed. 

Planning committee chair Eileen Fenton politely echoed some of the aesthetic objections, asking if the group had similar height plans down the line from the other parcels. “That looks weird to me right now,” she said of the lone towers.

Though some felt that 300-plus parking spaces were inadequate and worried about traffic flows into Savin Hill, Paul Nutting wished the team had banked more on the nearby T.

More destiny was “called for at JFK station,” Nutting said. “They could walk downstairs, take the elevator downstairs to the train, as opposed to all I’m hearing here about driving and circulation and Howard Stein Hudson. This should really be more transit-oriented and focused on that.”

Columbia-Savin Hill civic president Desmond Rohan noted that the Red Line is already often overburdened. With around 20 stories also planned for the nearby Mary Ellen McCormack development, Rohan wondered, “How’s the Red Line going to handle that?”

Don Walsh, who led the master plan task force, asked the Center Court team to think down the line, to try to work with the civic association and city to create a cohesive area. They got on board with density in the master plan because there were promised community benefits, he said, “and I’m not seeing any of that right now.”

“It seems like we’re coming full circle,” Walsh said. “We started the Columbia Point master plan with four, five, six projects going about their merry way by themselves. Now we’re back at where we started before: the Globe doing its thing, you’re doing your thing, 20 acres at Mt. Vernon, UMass is expanding and expanding… everybody is dealing by themselves.”

Bisette said they have reached out to some of the other landowners like Nordblom and they are trying to “think about how they’ll all work together even if they don’t all work together today.” Next steps are to meet with the BPDA to see if it is appropriate timing-wise to file a Letter of Intent to get the city process underway.

via Jennifer Smith, News Editor - Dorchester Reporter

Structure Beginning to Take Shape for Veteran's Housing in Brighton

Brighton Marine, located just off Commonwealth Avenue, is beginning to take shape. The project will include 102 mixed-income apartments for veterans. The development will combine a new six-story building with a renovated historic structure with units ranging in size from studios through three bedrooms. Brighton Marine will also feature common amenity space for residents.

Building Permit Issued for East Boston Development

A building permit has been issued for the development project at 125 Sumner Street in East Boston.

The approved mixed-income, a transit-oriented mixed-use development which will replace the East Boston Waterfront's aging 1.1-acre, 20-unit Clippership Apartments public housing development with 52 new residences. Two new 3-story wood-framed buildings will be constructed; one building will contain approximately 22 affordable rental apartment residences, and the other will contain 30 mixed-income condominium residences.

Apartments will include 3 and 4-bedrooms, and condominiums will include studio, one-, two- and three bedrooms. 14 condominiums will be designated affordable.

Construction Set to Begin Next Month on Worcester Courthouse Redevelopment

After sitting vacant for more than 10 years, Trinity Financial tells BLDUP they expect to begin construction on the redevelopment of the Worcester County Courthouse sometime in March. The historic building, originally built in 1843 was purchased by Trinity in December 2017 and will be converted to 117 mixed-income apartments. Resident amenities within the building are set to include a clubroom, fitness center, and gallery workspace.
The project has already received two rounds of historic tax credits worth $800,000 each and is awaiting an additional grant from the state Department of Housing and Community Development. Once underway, construction is set to last around 16 months with occupancy expected in Summer 2020.

Fenway Center to Utilize View Smart Windows

Structural steel is nearing completion for the first phase of The Fenway Center. Two new residential buildings are rising that will feature a total of 312 apartments and 200 underground parking spaces. The project will also include ground floor retail and a landscaped pedestrian walked over Yawkey Station. The development team is expecting occupancy of Phase 1 in the first quarter of 2020.

The Fenway Center will be one of the first projects in Boston to utilize View Dynamic Glass. This game-changing technology creates a comfortable environment for residents by bringing in more natural and light while minimizing heat and controlling glare. The 37,000 square feet of View Dynamic Glass will provide a unique amenity for the project. Matt Edlen of Gerding Edlen, the project developer told BLDUP “View is an opportunity to partner with an incredible emerging company providing a world-class technology that has not only a substantial impact on reducing building energy consumption but is designed to provide long term resiliency as it adapts with changing climate trends. It is a reflection of the core values of our entire partnership team and our continued efforts to develop impactful, highly sustainable real estate.”

South End Development Receives $105 Million in Construction Financing

The development project at 112 Shawmut Avenue in Boston's South End has received $105 million in construction financing via M&T Bank.

The Shawmut Avenue/Washington Street Block project will include three new buildings and represents a collaborative effort between the developer and two Chinatown community organizations, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (CCBA) and Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC).

The first building, 112 Shawmut Avenue, will be a maximum of 13 stories and consist of 139 residential units, associated residential amenity spaces, and a three-level enclosed garage containing 110 parking spaces, as well as related site and landscape improvements.

The second building, 120 Shawmut Avenue, will include the expansion of the BCEC building to consolidate BCEC’s services onto one site. The improvements at 120 Shawmut Avenue will consist of either the demolition of a portion of the existing facility and the construction of a vertical addition, or the new construction of up to a 12-story structure to house two religious sanctuaries with combined seating for 1,130 people, a gymnasium, fitness rooms, offices, classrooms and meeting spaces for religious education, recreational and social services uses, a small ground floor commercial space, and 84 residential units on the upper floors of the building.

The third building, 50 Herald Street, is currently owned by the CCBA. The 50 Herald Street building will be nine stories and set back at the corner of Herald and Washington Streets, rising to 14 stories further south along Washington Street. The building will contain 313 residential units with ground floor retail, commercial, cultural, and/or community space along Washington Street. In addition, there will be an underground garage with 120 parking spaces.

Hyde Park Development Under Official Review

Residence at Readville Station located in Boston's Hyde Park neighborhood is now under official review. 

The proposed redevelopment program consists of the construction of approximately 305 residential units in two buildings providing a mix of rental and homeownership, with accessory garage parking for 221 vehicles. Including 4,200 square feet of restaurant/retail space with other amenities and services for building residents.

Construction is expected to start in the fall of 2019 and take 18-months to complete.

MassHousing Provides $50 Million for Renovation of Chestnut Park Apartments in Springfield

MassHousing has provided $50 million in financing for the renovation of Chestnut Park Apartments in Springfield, MA.

MassHousing financing will allow Related to preserve affordability at the 489-unit housing community, while making a significant capital investment in the property. As part of the transaction, Related will create 77 workforce housing units that will be affordable to moderate-income households.

The Chestnut Park Apartments were built in the 1970s under the HUD 236 financing program. The development includes a 33-story tower with a connected four-level parking garage, an 18-story building, a nine-story building and a five-story building with a connected two-level parking garage. The property also includes 19,000 square feet of commercial space. The Chestnut Park Apartments are within walking distance to the MassMutual Center and MGM Springfield Casino and near Springfield’s Innovation, Downtown Business and Museum districts.

Framing Begins for Final Building at Clippership Wharf: Apartments Set to Open Soon

Construction on all phases of Clippership Wharf in East Boston is ongoing with framing beginning for the fourth and final building of the development. The 12-acre project is set to feature a total of 478 residences and 30,000 square feet of retail and community space, including a cafe and a restaurant. 

The first phase of the project featuring 284 rentals is set to open in the next few months. Exterior and interior finishing is wrapping up on these buildings.

Residents will have access to an array of amenities including four acres of waterfront open space with ridiculous views of Boston.

Ropewalk Apartments Financed for $38.52 Million

The development in Charlestown at 317 Fifth Street has been financed via East Boston Savings Bank, The Life Initiative, and Massachusetts Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Program for $38.52 million.

The redevelopment of the former ropewalk factory located in the Charlestown Navy Yard will transform into 97 townhouse-style apartment residences including studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms. The granite facade of the factory building, which is over 1,300 feet long and has been vacant since 1971, will be fully restored. 20% of residences at Ropewalk Apartments will be designated affordable.

Parcel U Phase B Mortgaged for $10.797 Million

Phase B of Parcel U | Forest Hills has been mortgaged by Urbanica Development for $10.797 Million via Wellesley Bank.

This development will feature 78 apartments along with 1,600 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. Resident amenities at A.O. Flats will include a fitness center, a common lounge and bicycle storage.

CO Issued for 48 Boylston Street

A temporary certificate of occupancy has been issued for the redevelopment of 48 Boylston Street. The renovations include 46 new affordable housing units a mix of studios and one bedrooms. The project also features office space that will be occupied by The Saint Francis House the project's co-developer.

Building Permit Issued for Conversion of Ropewalk Building in Charlestown to Apartments

A building permit has been issued for the renovation of the ropewalk factory in the Charlestown Navy Yard into 97 apartments. Work will include masonry repairs, new windows, and mechanicals. The project will also include public space dedicated to the history of the building.

Framing Begins for The Fenway Center

Two tower cranes are in place and framing has started for the first phase of the Fenway Center. This part of the project will include 2 mixed-use buildings to hold 312 apartments and around 37,000sf of ground floor retail space. Construction on Phase 1 is expected to be complete in early 2020.

The $600M project will also add significant green spaces, pedestrian-friendly walkways, and an elevated streetscape,  enhance this corner of the Fenway neighborhood. Fenway Center will also feature one of the largest private solar power plants in MA, and the MBTA's first net-zero-energy train station. 

Foundation Work Underway for Veteran's Housing in Brighton

Foundation work is ongoing for the upcoming 100 rental unit building along Commonwealth Avenue on the Brighton Marine Health Center Campus. The project will include a mix of studios through three bedrooms, all will be leased with a preference for veterans including 11 units reserved for formerly homeless vets. The building will also include over 5,000sf of amenity space and parking for 87 cars.

Construction is expected to be complete in Summer 2019.

CO Issued for First 4 Floors of The Treadmark in Dorchester

A Certificate of Occupancy has been issued for floors 1-4 of the Treadmark in Dorchester. This certificate covers 51 of the 83 residential units. This project also includes around 5,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail and parking for 30 cars. Completion of the project is a long time coming after a notorious fire destroyed the under-construction building in summer 2017.

Exterior Work Ongoing for A.O. Flats at Forest Hills

Exterior work and window install are ongoing for A.O. Flats at Forest Hills, part of the Parcel U development in Jamaica Plain.  This development will feature 78 apartments along with 1,600 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. Resident amenities at A.O. Flats will include a fitness center, a common lounge and bicycle storage.

Construction is expected to be complete in Summer 2019.

Notice of Project Change at The Archer Residences in Beacon Hill

The project change calls for the redevelopment of existing Suffolk University Archer and Donahue buildings into 62 (originally 67) residential units with 54 (originally 50) parking spaces.

The Archer Residences will restore two existing historic buildings and construct a new penthouse level. Amenities at The Archer Residences will include concierge service, a fitness center, a children's room, and a common roof deck. 

Phase III of Old Colony Redevelopment Approved

The third phase of Beacon Communities and Boston Housing's rehab of the Old Colony Housing development in South Boston has been approved. Last week the BPDA approved the project which will replace 250 dated units with 4 new buildings to include 301 residences in total.  Phases One and Two of the redevelopment, which include 285 units and a community learning center are fully complete and reoccupied by residents.

Electrical Permit Issued for The Archer Residences

An electrical permit has been issued for The Archer Residences in Beacon Hill.  The luxury condo development along Temple Street will feature 67 condo units in two restored historical buildings. Resident amenities will include concierge service, a fitness center, a children's room, and a roof terrace.

Construction Continues on Clippership Wharf in East Boston

Construction is ongoing at the upcoming mixed-use project on the East Boston waterfront. The 12-acre site with amazing Boston Harbor views will feature a total of 478 residences along with around 30,000sf of retail and community space. The Slip 65 condos on the site are already soldout.  The 284 apartment units are set to open early next year.

Facade Repairs Underway for Redevelopment of 48 Boylston Street

Facade repairs and interior work is ongoing for the redevelopment of the historic building located at 48 Boylston Street. The renovation of the building will make way for 46 units of affordable housing along with 3,800 square feet of retail. The project will also include 11,000 square feet of office space to be used by the Saint Francis House.

Letter of Intent Filed for Hyde Park Site

The proposed redevelopment program includes the construction of approximately 300 residential units in two new buildings, providing a mix of rental and homeownership, with accessory parking spaces, amenities, and services for building residents.

The property is a 119,034 square foot industrial-zoned parcel currently occupied by Orleans Packing Company.

The owners of the former Channel 56 property on Morrissey Boulevard are weighing the concept of razing the old television studio building and erecting two towers housing 758 apartments in its place. The buildings — if the plan proceeds— would add a dramatic new look to the Dorchester skyline, rising 22 stories and 25 stories in height respectively, over the Southeast Expressway.

According to preliminary plans reviewed by the Reporter, the buildings would be built over two underground garages with a total of 374 parking spaces over three levels. A surface street would separate the buildings, which would each have retail space in the lobby area.

The property is owned by Center Court Partners, which purchased the 2.25 acre site from car magnate Herb Chambers in June 2017 for $14.5 million.

Last month, Center Court added to its Morrissey Boulevard holdings, buying the Star Market building, the next-door Beasley Media Group Boston buildings, and adjacent land for a combined $56 million. Both the supermarket and radio station building are under long-term lease agreements, which Center Court’s David Raftery has said will be honored.

Center Court was also in talks to buy the former Boston Globe building, but that deal— worth a reported $80 million— was never consummated. The Globe has since been sold to a different company— Nordblom— which is advancing its own plan to renovate the old newspaper plant to house a mix of high tech businesses.

Representatives from Center Court Partners have briefed a select number of public officials on their concept for 75 Morrissey, but have not yet formally submitted any plans to the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA), the city of Boston’s planning arm that would have direct oversight over a building project of this scale.

The height and density outlined in the current Center Court proposal would be taller and denser than anything that has been previously envisioned for the Columbia Point peninsula. But, it does conform in most ways to existing planning documents created in the last decade by city and community leaders.

In 2011, the BPDA published a “master plan” that synthesized the work of a task force that had met over two years to anticipate and guide future growth on the peninsula, including the stretch of Morrissey Boulevard from the JFK-UMass Red Line station to the Boston Globe parcel.

The land-use plan envisioned buildings as tall as 17 stories rising from the northern edge of the boulevard— closer to the T station— and cascading down to a smaller height, perhaps four stories, at the Globe site, which is adjacent to the residential section of Savin Hill and the environmentally sensitive Patten’s Cove.

While the 2011 master plan is considered a general guide for redevelopment in the area, it has not been adhered to closely. Hub 25, a five-story, 278-unit apartment complex built on two acres next to the T station and completed in 2015, was considerably shorter than the 17 stories outlined as the community’s preference in the 2011 plan.

via Dorchester Reporter

Garage Foundation Work Begins at Fenway Center

Matt Edlen of Gerdling Edlen tells BLDUP via email that they have completed earthwork on the site and have started working on the garage foundation.  The $240 million Phase 1 of the project will feature 2 residential buildings totaling around 340,000 sf.  The underground garage now in process will include 200 parking spaces. Construction on Phase 1 is expected to be complete in early 2020.

In total, the Fenway Center development will cost around $600 million and contain 1.1-million-square-foot of mixed-use space including approximately 550 residential units, 160,000 square feet of office space and over 50,000 square feet of retail.

Interior Finishing Underway at Treadmark 2.0 in Dorchester

Interior finishing is underway for the 83 residential units coming to Dorchester Avenue across from Ashmont Station. Treadmark 2.0 is expected to open in November 2018 after a fire destroyed the project last summer prior to initial opening. Of the 83 units, 51 are designated as affordable rentals and 32 will be condos. The ground floor of the project will include a 5,000 sf commercial space to feature specialty food market, American Provisions. 

Construction Continues on The Archer Residences at Beacon Hill

Construction is well underway on this upcoming luxury condominium development featuring 67 residences. The Archer Residences will restore two historic buildings and construct a new penthouse level. The penthouse unit, at nearly 6,000 sf is currently listed for $18 million and features a 2,300 sf terrace with an infinity edge pool.
Amenities at The Archer Residences will include concierge service, a fitness center, a kids room and a common roof deck. An underground parking garage will contain 54 spaces.  Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2019.

Notice of Project Change for Parcel U in Jamaica Plain

Located on an approximately 126,070 square foot former MBTA site in Jamaica Plain and bound by Hyde Park Avenue, Ukraine Way, Tollgate Cemetery, and the MBTA Commuter Rail tracks, Parcel U will create 54 homeownership units, over the course of two phases.

Originally approved in 2014, the approval of this NPC will increase the number of units in Phase B of the project from 24 to 30. The project will also create two new pocket parks for the public. 

Site Work Begins on Phase 1 of the Fenway Center

Site work is underway on Phase 1 of the Fenway Center in Kenmore Square.  This first phase of the $600 million project is set to include two residential buildings containing 312 units and around 37,000 sf of retail space.  Construction on Phase 1 is expected to be complete in early 2020. 
Three additinoal buildings will then be constructed for phase 2 including a 27 story mixed-use building, a 111K sf residential building and a parking garage.  In total the Fenway Center project will bring around 550 residential units, 160,000 sf of office space, and 50,000 sf of retail to the neighborhood.

Framing Started at A.O. Flats in Forest Hills

Framing is underway for the A.O. Flats, phase three of the development at Parcel U in Jamaica Plain.  This part of the project will include 78 apartments along with 1600sf of ground floor retail. Resident amenities at A.O. Flats will include a fitness center, a common lounge and bicycle storage.

Construction Ongoing at 48 Boylston Street

Construction continues on the redevelopment and restoration of this historic building near the Boston Common.  The of 48 Boylston Street will include 46 affordable rental housing units, approximately 11,000 square feet of office space and 3,800 square feet of retail space. There will be a mix of 10 studios and 36 one-bedrooms within the building. Office space will be occupied by project co-developer and local homeless shelter Saint Francis House.

Construction Continues at The Village at Barnstable

Callahan Construction Managers advances exterior work on the first phase of The Village at Barnstable, an all-new senior housing community, developed by Greystar and designed by The Architectural Team, located on Cape Cod. During the month of June, Callahan continued work on wood framing, roof installation; exterior element installation, and began gas line installation. 

This first phase of the project will include 225 independent style residences in a four-story building. All residents will have access to a clubhouse, pool, and underground parking. The articulated façade will include balconies at each unit.

For the second phase of the project, Callahan will be completing two smaller buildings set to specialize in assisted living. Upon completion, The Village at Barnstable is set to include 340 total units.

Approval of Shawmut Avenue/Washington Street Block in South End to create 536 residential units

The Shawmut Avenue/Washington Street Block project will include three new buildings and represents a collaborative effort between the developer and two Chinatown community organizations, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (CCBA) and Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC).

The first building, 112 Shawmut Avenue, will be a maximum of 13 stories and consist of 139 residential units, associated residential amenity spaces, and a three-level enclosed garage containing 110 parking spaces, as well as related site and landscape improvements.

The second building, 120 Shawmut Avenue, will include the expansion of the BCEC building to consolidate BCEC’s services onto one site. The improvements at 120 Shawmut Avenue will consist of either the demolition of a portion of the existing facility and the construction of a vertical addition, or the new construction of up to a 12-story structure to house two religious sanctuaries with combined seating for 1,130 people, a gymnasium, fitness rooms, offices, classrooms and meeting spaces for religious education, recreational and social services uses, a small ground floor commercial space, and 84 residential units on the upper floors of the building.

The third building, 50 Herald Street, is currently owned by the CCBA. The 50 Herald Street building will be nine stories and set back at the corner of Herald and Washington Streets, rising to 14 stories further south along Washington Street. The building will contain 313 residential units with ground floor retail, commercial, cultural, and/or community space along Washington Street. In addition, there will be an underground garage with 120 parking spaces.

Construction Ongoing at Elan Union Market in Watertown

With its first building open and available for rent, construction continues on the second building at Elan Union Market in Watertown.  In total the project will include 282 residential units with just over 10,000 sf of retail space. A glass walkway will connect the two buildings for residents and a small parcel of land at the back of the project will be made into a park.

Exterior Work Continues at Treadmark in Dorchester

The Treadmark in Dorchester has once again reached its full height of six stories after a fire last year forced the demolition of most of the original wood framing.  Exterior work now continues on the 83 unit project. Directly across from the Ashmont, MBTA Station, the development will include a common roof deck, underground parking, and around 5,000 square-feet of ground floor retail.

Development Looks to Add to Boston's Roaring South End

The proposed development at 112 Shawmut Ave in Boston's South End is still under review but looks to add to the roaring Boston neighborhood that shows no signs of slowing down. 

112 Shawmut Ave would total 192,568 square feet and would include 124 parking spaces provided across three levels, including one below grade. Bicycle storage space would be provided on site. 112 Shawmut Avenue is located steps from The Lucas, an upcoming luxury condominium development set in a historic church, and near multiple recently completed, under construction and approved mixed-use developments including National Development’s Ink Block, Related Beal’s 370-380 Harrison Avenue and UDR’s 345 Harrison.

The project remains on schedule using Touchplan, a construction software that allows developers to plan, implement, and monitor projects in their entirety. The innovative software gives developers the ability to see the full spectrum of their project down to every last detail. Touchplan has let developers keep their projects on or ahead of time leading to lower costs and more efficient construction.

Ground Breaking Held for Brighton Marine Residences

Earlier this week Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Governor Charlier Baker helped break ground for the upcoming Brighton Marine Residences.  This project will create just over 100 units of affordable housing for veterans in the Boston area.

The six story building positioned along Commonwealth Avenue, with easy access to the MBTA Green Line, is expected to be completed by Fall 2019.

Construction Underway at Wingate Residences

Callahan Construction Managers, teaming together with the Architectural Team, is building the Wingate Residences at Haverhill, consisting of a 3-story assisted living and memory care facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The ground and 1st floors are comprised of common space, seating and dining spaces, and a commercial kitchen. The second floor consists of the living area, primarily residential units. The facility is intended to serve two types of residents, limited and minimal supervision patients. With musical performances, art classes, yoga and guest lectures, the Wingate Residences have both high-quality living spaces and amenities.

Construction is ongoing: roofing is nearing completion with only roof pavers and standing seam remaining. All windows have been installed with siding and trim ongoing. In the interior, insulation is ongoing, while drywall began last week.

The first mixed-use Raffles property in North America coming to the Back Bay

Illustrious hospitality brand Raffles Hotels & Resorts, part of AccorHotels, in partnership with hoteliers Gary and Jeffrey Saunders of Saunders Hotel Group and developer Jordan Warshaw of The Noannet Group of Boston, today announced the signing of definitive agreements to debut the first mixed-use Raffles property in North America. Scheduled to open in 2021, Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences promises to be a welcoming oasis of refined elegance comprised of a distinctive hotel as well as exquisitely appointed residences, located in the heart of Boston, Massachusetts.

“We are proud to announce the introduction of Raffles Hotels & Resorts, one of our portfolio’s most iconic and beloved luxury brands, to Boston, an American city with a powerful history of cultural significance and landmark events,” said Kevin Frid, COO of AccorHotels North & Central America. “As the only Raffles property on the continent, the hotel will bring to North America the unparalleled standards of excellence for which the Raffles brand is celebrated. We are certain that Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences will become a legendary address for unsurpassed service, extraordinary style and distinctive experiences for years to come.”

Joining a prestigious collection of 12 individually unique and timeless Raffles properties around the world, the mixed-use development project will set the standard for refined hospitality and residential living in Boston. The property will include 147 guestrooms and 146 branded residences in a striking new 33-story building. Catering to the most discerning travelers and residents, Raffles Boston Back Bay will offer the impeccable and bespoke service, intuitive charm and extraordinary adventure that are synonymous with the Raffles name.

Hotel highlights include a mix of signature hotel services such as the Raffles Butler, and elegant and lively public spaces including a two-story sky lobby perched high above Copley Square, five distinct food and beverage venues, a state-of-the-art Raffles Spa with  a 20-meter indoor pool, a stunning rooftop garden terrace and lounge, and expansive meeting and pre-function space. Located at the corner of Stuart Street and Trinity Place, the project is destined to reinforce the Back Bay as a first-class international neighborhood.

Raffles Boston Back Bay Residences will be a sophisticated urban sanctuary that includes a unique collection of pied-a-terre suites, one- to three-bedroom homes and magnificent penthouses. In an unrivaled residential experience, residents will have preferred access to all the elegance, charm and attentive services provided by Raffles Boston Back Bay, including exclusive membership in the resident-only tier of the company’s guest recognition and loyalty program, which features VIP status and access to special benefits within the AccorHotels portfolio. There will also be a variety of intimate residents-only gathering places and exclusive offerings to be announced closer to the official unveiling.  

For more than 130 years, Raffles Hotels & Resorts has celebrated the individual personalities and stories of its hotels, each featuring a design aesthetic that embraces and reflects the culture of the destination and community in which it resides. A team of award-winning architectural and design firms has been carefully selected to bring the Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences to life, with an inimitable personality that is uniquely “of Boston.” Raffles Boston Back Bay Hotel & Residences will boast an impressive and dramatic exterior designed by Boston-based architectural firm The Architectural Team, Inc.; as well as elegantly appointed hotel interiors fashioned by Stonehill Taylor; and stylish and sophisticated residential interiors created by Rockwell Group.

Located in the heart of the Back Bay, Boston’s most prestigious neighborhood, Raffles Boston Back Bay is conveniently adjacent to the Boston Back Bay Train Station and is within a block of Copley Square, Fairmont Copley Plaza, Trinity Church and high-end shopping at Copley Place. It is also within a short walk to other primary attractions such as the world-renowned shops and galleries of Newbury Street and Prudential Center, Fenway Park, the Museum of Fine Arts, and dozens of fine dining restaurants.

The hotel and residential project will provide many public benefits, including an affordable housing package worth in excess of $20 million plus an additional $2 million in significant improvements to the local streets and pedestrian environment. It will create approximately 700 construction jobs and provide hundreds of permanent jobs.

Alexan Wrentham Breaks Ground

Trammel Crow Residential ("TCR"), America's premier multi-family real estate company and the only national group with nearly 40 years of experience in apartment development, today announced that it has broken ground on Alexan Wrentham, a 240-unit project in Wrentham, MA.

Phase One of Whitter Choice public housing redevelopment in Roxbury breaks ground

The first phase of the $44 million redevelopment of the Whittier Choice public housing complex in Roxbury Crossing has broken ground. A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday (March 1st), during which a building was ceremonially demolished to make way for a new five-story building containing 83 residential units, which will be the redevelopment's first building. In total, the redevelopment will create approximately 387 affordable and market-rate apartment and condominium residential units, 187 more than are currently located at the development, as well as a new 7,680-square-foot retail component. A total of three new buildings will be constructed. The following are photographs from the groundbreaking ceremony:

Thanks to all who came to the groundbreaking ceremony and shared these exciting times with residents and partners. The future looks bright! @marty_walsh @POAHCommunities @MadisonParkDC @HUDNewEngland @SoniaChangDiaz @MassEOHED @MassHousing #Boston #WhittierChoice #Roxbury pic.twitter.com/ghQP7pgGtq

— Boston Housing Auth. (@BHA_Boston) March 1, 2018

Financing secured for 102-unit Brighton apartment development

A 102-unit apartment development in Brighton that will be aimed towards veterans has secured financing and is expected to break ground this Spring. The $43 million building, developed by Brighton Marine Health Center and WinnCompanies, will open by Fall 2019 and include 11 apartments reserved for homeless veterans. Residents will have easy access to Brighton Marine’s existing medical and social services campus, which will remain on site. Financing partners for the development include Bank of America, Boston Community Capital, the City of Boston and the State of Massachusetts.

$160 million construction financing secured for The Archer Residences luxury condominiums on Beacon Hill

The Archer Residences, an upcoming luxury condominium building located on Beacon Hill at 33-61 Temple Street, has secured $160 million in construction financing, allowing the project to proceed. Financing has been provided by a joint venture of GTIS Partners, Golden Tree Asset Management and The Union Labor Life Company. “We were attracted to this investment principally because The Archer Residences Beacon Hill is destined to become a much sought-after development in one of Boston’s most elite areas,” said Herb Kolben, Senior Vice President of Union Labor Life's Real Estate Investment Group, in a prepared statement. “There’s nothing else comparable to it in the neighborhood.”

The Archer Residences is Beacon Hill’s largest luxury condominium development currently under construction. Developed by Center Court Partners, the building will feature 70 residences anticipated to be available for sale by the end of this month. Amenities at The Archer Residences will include on-site parking, concierge service, a fitness center, a kids room and a common roof deck.

Structural framing underway at Clippership Wharf residences on East Boston Waterfront, opening this Fall

Wood framing of Clippership Wharf’s main apartment building closest to Maverick Square is nearing completion, with four floors fully framed and sections of the building having reached full height of six stories tall. The concrete base podiums of a second apartment building and Clippership Wharf’s sold-out Slip65 waterfront condominiums have both been erected, and wood framing of the buildings’ upper floors will begin in the coming weeks. A fourth waterfront building will be constructed at Clippership Wharf where Slip65’s sales center currently stands; this building will contain 114 apartments and will entail Clippership Wharf’s second phase.

In total, the 555,000-square-foot Clippership Wharf will feature 478 residences, including 398 apartments dubbed Dox and the 80 Slip65 condominiums, with approximately 30,200 square feet of retail and community space including a cafe and a restaurant. Clippership Wharf’s first phase is expected to open this Fall. The following is an aerial photograph of Clippership Wharf:

Redevelopment of former Downtown Worcester courthouse moves forward with developer’s acquisition of property

Trinity Financial has acquired the long-vacant former Worcester County Courthouse in Downtown Worcester’s Lincoln Square for $1.3 million, allowing the developer to proceed with redevelopment of the property into 114 mixed-income apartments. With Trinity's acquisition, the building has become a taxable property for the first time since its' completion in 1843. Apartments at the redeveloped courthouse will range from studios to three-bedrooms, with 50% designated affordable, and will include amenities such as gallery and work spaces for artists. Construction of the redevelopment is anticipated to commence in Fall 2018, with completion expected in 2020.

Ropewalk Apartments in Charlestown Navy Yard move forward with long-term ground lease closing

The restoration of the Charlestown Navy Yard’s historic ropewalk factory, which spans over 1,300 feet in length and has been vacant since 1971, has taken a step forward with developer Frontier Enterprises’ closing on a long-term ground lease for the City-owned property. With the lease closing, the proponent will be able to move forward with construction of the development, which will feature 97 studio, one- and two-bedroom townhouse-style apartments. As part of the project, public interior and exterior exhibition space dedicated to ropewalk manufacturing history will also be constructed. Construction site preparation work on the Ropewalk Apartments property is expected to begin in the coming months. The Ropewalk Apartments will be located in the heart of Charlestown's historic Navy Yard, minutes from Downtown Boston.

Construction start imminent on 46 affordable housing units in Chinatown

Construction is expected to start imminently on 48 Boylston Street, a 46-unit affordable housing development located in the heart of Chinatown. 48 Boylston Street will feature apartments on upper floors of the existing historic building, which will be fully renovated and restored. Residences will be rented to low and moderate-income households; 20 residences will be rented to formerly homeless individuals, and 26 apartments will be rented to households earning less than 30% of area median income (AMI).

48 Boylston Street will also include approximately 11,000 square feet of office space for project co-developer St. Francis House and 3,800 square feet of retail space. The $22.9 million project, developed by St. Francis House and the Planning Office for Urban Affairs, has been granted funding by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) and the City of Boston. The developers have been issued a permit by the City of Boston to construct the 48 Boylston Street development, allowing the project to proceed.

Rebuilding of Dorchester's fire-ravaged Treadmark mixed-use development begins

Trinity Financial has commenced rebuilding its' Treadmark mixed-use development across from Ashmont Station in Dorchester, after a fire destroyed the nearly-completed building last summer. Following the demolition of prior wood framing atop the building's base podium, new wood framing materials have been delivered onto the site to re-frame Treadmark's five upper floors. Upon completion, Treadmark will feature 83 residential units, including 51 affordable rental units and 32 ownership condominiums, as well as approximately 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space anchored by South Boston-based specialty food retailer American Provisions. The following is a photograph of Treadmark:

The framing materials delivered to @livetreadmark to rebuild its 51 affordable LIHTC rentals; 32 condos (4 affordable, 16 "workforce" priced); & 5K sf commercial space as seen from @CarruthCondos roof #TOD #smartgrowth #greatneighbhorhoods #completestreets pic.twitter.com/6kGWwtdmSM

— Greater Ashmont MS (@greaterashmont) December 19, 2017

Construction of 78 mixed-income apartments begins at Parcel U in Forest Hills

Construction of A.O. Flats, a five-story mixed-use building at the corner of Hyde Park Avenue and Ukraine Way in Jamaica Plain’s Forest Hills neighborhood, has begun. Developed by The Community Builders, the LEED Silver-sustainable A.O. Flats will feature 78 mixed-income apartment residences, including 38 designated affordable to middle-income households and 40 designated affordable to low-income households, with 1,620 square feet of ground-floor retail and 1,040 square feet of community space. Initial site excavation at the A.O. Flats site is now underway in order to construct the building’s 42-car underground parking garage.

A.O. Flats will be the third phase of the Parcel U development; the first phase, 24 energy-efficient townhouse condominium residences known as Tilia, is now complete, and the second phase, 24 additional townhouse condominiums, will soon begin construction. Phases One and Two are developed by Urbanica in partnership with Luzern Associates. The 2.9-acre Parcel U is located steps from the Forest Hills transit station. The following are photographs of work underway at A.O. Flats:

Exciting construction started at A.O. Flats at Forest Hills, a 5 story mixed use, transit-oriented affordable housing development at in #JamaicaPlain. This development will create 78 new units of mixed-income,energy efficient LEED-Silver “certified” housing & commercial space. pic.twitter.com/0jVByHprBf

— Boston's DND (@BostonNeighbor) December 7, 2017

Fenway Center secures ground lease and construction financing, groundbreaking planned mid-January

Fenway Center joint venture partners Gerding Edlen, TH Real Estate and Meredith Management have signed a $21 million long-term ground lease with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for Phase I of the project and secured over $136.5 million in construction financing through The Union Labor Life Insurance Company, allowing construction of the project to begin after years of delays. Construction of the $240 million Phase I is scheduled to begin immediately, with a groundbreaking ceremony planned for mid-January. Starting the week of Monday December 11th, logistics for Phase I’s construction will begin to be put in place on site.

Phase I of Fenway Center will take two years to construct, with completion expected in early 2020. Phase I will feature two buildings with 312 apartments, 37,000 square feet of ground-floor retail and 200 underground parking spaces. A 12,000-square-foot air rights deck and landscaped pedestrian walkway will also be constructed over Yawkey Station as part of the project.

Fenway Center’s much-anticipated groundbreaking represents the culmination of years of work. The project was first proposed in 2002 by Meredith Management. “We are very pleased that this important project for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the City of Boston will finally be realized,” said Kelly Saito, a Partner at Gerding Edlen, in a prepared statement. “Fenway Center’s phenomenal location, the vibrancy of the surrounding neighborhood and the continued demand for housing in the Boston market make this a great time to start construction.” “It is extremely gratifying to achieve this milestone for the project,” said co-developer John Rosenthal of Meredith Management in a prepared statement. “I could not have asked for better partners than Gerding Edlen and TH Real Estate to bring Fenway Center to life.” “Boston is thriving and remains a target for institutional investors around the globe,” said Pamela West, TH Real Estate’s Regional Head of Multifamily Transactions, Northeast, in a prepared statement. “The city’s live/work environment has attracted companies from the suburbs and increased demand for housing and mixed-use properties, and we are pleased to join our partners on this project.”

Upon full completion, Fenway Center will represent a $600 million investment in the Fenway neighborhood, generating $5.7 million in property taxes per year. The project will feature a total of approximately 550 residential units, 160,000 square feet of office space and over 50,000 square feet of retail, in addition to over 30,000 square feet of park and green space. Discussions are ongoing between Fenway Center's developers and MassDOT regarding the lease agreement for Phase II of the project. The developers are required to close the Phase II lease by December 2020.

Construction of exclusive Archer Residences condominium development on Beacon Hill begins

Work has begun on The Archer Residences, an exclusive 71-unit luxury condominium development on Beacon Hill. Set within two historic buildings, The Archer Residences will be located across from the State House and steps from the Financial District. Demolition of existing finishes within the two buildings, former Suffolk University academic buildings located at 33-61 Temple Street, is now underway. The buildings will be improved with state-of-the-art luxury finishes, a new penthouse level, a renovated facade and underground garage parking. Sales of condominiums at The Archer Residences are expected to begin before the end of 2017. The following are photographs of work underway on The Archer Residences:

Construction complete at Hancock Estates apartments in Chestnut Hill

Construction of Hancock Estates, a new luxury apartment community located in Chestnut Hill featuring 88 one- and two-bedroom apartments, is complete. Hancock Estates provides a tranquil suburban living experience just minutes from Downtown Boston. The property is surrounded by protected conservation land and features exterior amenities including a children’s playground, a putting green, a dog run park, a community garden with raised planting beds, a barbecue area, a Bocci court, exterior patio space and a fire pit. Inside the building are amenities including garage parking, concierge service, package acceptance, a fitness center, a theater/gaming room, a private activity room, an internet café, a business center, a resident lounge and a dry cleaning kiosk. The following are photographs of Hancock Estates:

Early 2018 groundbreaking expected for 31-story 40 Trinity hotel and residential tower in Back Bay

Proponents of an approved 31-story condominium and hotel tower at 40 Trinity Place in the Back Bay, which will replace the existing Boston Common Hotel, are progressing towards an anticipated early 2018 groundbreaking. The existing hotel’s last day of service will be November 18th, clearing the way for demolition of the existing eight-story building and construction of the tower. 40 Trinity Place will contain 146 condominium residences above 154 hotel rooms, with an expansion space for the adjacent University Club and ground-floor restaurant space.

Dellbrook | JKS completes adaptive reuse transformation of long-vacant Ludlow mill into mixed-income housing

General contractor Dellbrook | JKS has completed the transformation of a long-vacant historic brick mill building located in the center of Ludlow, MA into Residences at Mill 10, 75 mixed-income residences developed by WinnCompanies reserved for individuals 55 years old and above. The $19.3 million project is providing Ludlow and its’ surroundings with an important mixed-income option; almost 90 percent of residents are from Ludlow and surrounding communities. “People began asking to be put on the waiting list for apartments in Mill 10 almost as soon as we began construction, so there is no doubt that the desire for quality housing for seniors in this region is strong,” said Larry Curtis, president and managing partner of WinnDevelopment, in a prepared statement. Construction of Residences at Mill 10 took 14 months and involved restoration of the building’s exterior brick work, installation of new insulated windows in almost floor-to-ceiling window spaces and sandblasting and restoration of the mill’s original beams.

Tilia condominiums, first phase of Parcel U development in Forest Hills, nearing completion

Construction of Tilia, a 24-unit condominium development across five new-construction buildings that is the first phase of the 200,000-square-foot Parcel U development in Jamaica Plain's Forest Hills neighborhood, is nearing completion. Exterior finishes have been just about fully installed along all five buildings' facades, and finishing touches are being placed upon kitchens, living areas and exterior roof decks and porches. 

Completion of Tilia is expected in November 2017. Residences are now on sale starting at $499,000 ranging from 1+bed, 1 bath to 3 bed, 2.5 bath configurations. The development, named after the Jamaica Plain neighborhood's abundance of flowering Tilia trees, is built to top sustainable standards. Each building features double insulated walls, triple pane windows, and high efficiency heating and cooling systems.

In total, the Parcel U development will construct 124 residences, including 48 condominiums and 76 apartments, as well as 1,620 square feet of ground-floor retail and 1,040 square feet of community space. The following is a photograph of Tilia, courtesy project general contractor Kaplan Construction:

Just a couple more months left of construction @ #TiliaJP. Thanks for the #drone shots @coolspacestv. #sustainablebuilding #transitcommunity pic.twitter.com/GOJKyyMZbT

— Kaplan Construction (@KaplanConstruct) October 17, 2017

Renderings revealed of Mattapan Station mixed-use development

Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation and Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) have revealed renderings of their proposed 211,670-square-foot mixed-use development in Mattapan Square. The latest renderings are posted above. The development would be located adjacent to the Mattapan train station and feature a total of 144 mixed-income residential units, including 135 apartments and 9 condominiums, and 10,000 square feet of retail. 51% of apartments would be designated affordable. Two separate buildings would be constructed for apartments and condominiums; the apartment building would also contain ground-floor retail. Pending receipt of city and state financing in the first half of 2018, construction of the proposed development would commence in Spring 2019 and would be complete within 18 months. An Expanded Project Notification Form (EPNF) has been submitted to the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) formally proposing the project; the BPDA is now reviewing the project.

Ground broken on 178 new-construction apartments in Billerica

Trammel Crow has broken ground on Alexan Billerica, a 178-unit garden-style apartment community located in Billerica. Alexan Billerica will open in December 2018 and feature 6,000 square feet of recreation and amenity space; leasing of apartments will commence in August 2018. "Alexan Billerica is designed specifically with residents in mind – well-appointed, modern units located on a tranquil setting that offers discerning residents the 'best of' luxury living, such as a private fitness center, business center, pool and indoor/outdoor leisure space," said Andy Huntoon, Managing Director at Trammell Crow Residential, in a prepared statement. "Residents will also benefit from proximity and access to a business corridor with numerous suburban offices, shopping outlets and lifestyle venues." Alexan Billerica is located just off of Route 3 and Interstate 495 and within walking distance to the MBTA Commuter Rail, a short drive or transit ride to Burlington, Lowell, Cambridge and Boston.

South End proposal would yield up to 517 housing units, including newly revealed 143-unit development

A 1.9-acre Planned Development Area (PDA) proposal by The Davis Companies (TDC), Boston Chinese Evangelical Church (BCEC) and Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) could yield 517 new residential units in the South End’s rapidly developing New York Streets neighborhood. With the proposed PDA, the three proponents would be able to construct buildings up to 150 feet tall, superseding existing zoning. The three proponents would also collaborate to construct streetscape improvements such as a new east-west pedestrian connection providing through-block pedestrian connectivity between Washington Street and Shawmut Avenue. The PDA is now under review by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA).

Per the PDA proposal, TDC would construct a new 13-story building at 112 Shawmut Avenue featuring 143 apartments and a 980-square-foot ground-floor cafe. TDC’s building, which is now under review by the BPDA, would be prominently located at the intersection of Herald Street and Shawmut Avenue, incorporating the historic facade of an existing six-story, 70,000-square-foot brick-and-beam building. TDC anticipates to start construction of 112 Shawmut Avenue in the first quarter of 2018, with completion expected in the third quarter of 2019. The latest 112 Shawmut Avenue renderings and information are posted above.

BCEC, owner of the existing three-story building at 120 Shawmut Avenue, would construct an 11-story building with 72 residences, religious space and approximately 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, and CCBA, owner of the existing one-story supermarket at 50 Herald Street, would construct a 14-story building featuring 302 residences and 14,200 square feet of ground-floor retail. BCEC and CCBA will file plans with the BPDA formally proposing their respective projects when they are ready to move forward with construction.

Slip65 condominiums at Clippership Wharf sold out, concrete base construction underway

Slip65’s 80 East Boston waterfront condominiums, which reached 95%-sold in just six weeks of sales, are now fully sold out, with the last two condominiums sold last weekend. Slip65 condominium sales began over the weekend of Friday, June 23, during which time 40 condominiums were made available over 36 hours and all were sold. Overall, Slip65 sold out in just over two months, reflecting the extraordinarily strong demand for condominiums on the East Boston Waterfront. “[The] extraordinary success at Slip65 confirms the emergence of East Boston as an ‘in-demand’ location – minutes to Boston with million dollar views,” said Sue Hawkes, Managing Director of The Collaborative Companies, in a prepared statement.

Construction of the two-story concrete base of the first phase of Clippership Wharf, a 555,000-square-foot mixed-use development on the East Boston Waterfront, which includes Slip65 is nearing completion. The base of Clippership Wharf’s two Phase One apartment buildings is nearly fully poured up to the second floor, and pouring of the two-story base of the waterfront Slip65 condominium building is about to begin with the ground floor slab fully constructed. Phase Two of Clippership Wharf will entail construction of a fourth waterfront apartment building along Lewis Street, where Slip65’s sales center currently stands. In total, Clippership Wharf will feature 478 residences, including 398 apartments and the 80 Slip65 condominiums, with approximately 30,200 square feet of retail and community space, including a cafe and a restaurant. The following is an aerial photograph of Clippership Wharf:

$1.6 billion redevelopment set for McCormack public housing development in South Boston

WinnDevelopment has been selected by the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) to redevelop the 1,000-unit, 27-acre Mary Ellen McCormack public housing development in South Boston into a 3,000-unit mixed-income residential community, an initiative estimated to cost $1.6 billion. All existing buildings, which date back to the 1930s, will be demolished, and new buildings will be built in their place; all units will be of identical quality and integrated evenly throughout the development. All 1,000 existing public housing units will be rebuilt, and 2,000 new middle-income apartments and market-rate apartments and condominiums will be introduced throughout four phases. All existing McCormack residents will have the right to return to the development following its’ redevelopment, and will be offered relocation options including housing at other BHA properties and Housing Choice/Section 8 vouchers.

WinnDevelopment was one of five development companies who responded to a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the BHA for the redevelopment; the RFP selection committee consisted of both existing McCormack residents and BHA staff. The McCormack redevelopment will now undergo standard development review by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA). ”We are grateful for the chance to partner with the McCormack residents, the BHA and the City of Boston to redevelop this community into a first class mixed-income neighborhood," said WinnCompanies CEO Gilbert Winn in a prepared statement. "We recognize the property is old and therefore requires a major redevelopment effort. Our goal then, is to move through the formal approval process as quickly as possible while paying close attention to resident and community input." Preserving housing developments by creating partnerships with developers who understand the value of community is key to maintaining our housing stock in this city,” said BHA Administrator Bill McGonagle in a prepared statement. “I am pleased with the selection of Winn and look forward to working with the residents and the development team."

Mattapan Station transit-oriented development proponents file Letter of Intent with City of Boston

Developers Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation (Nuestra) have filed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) to commence construction of a $57 million, 166,750-square-foot transit-oriented development at Mattapan Station in partnership with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), kicking off the project’s city review process. The proposed project would transform a 2.57-acre surface parking lot into a two-building mixed-use project. The project’s Phase One building would feature 135 mixed-income apartment residences, 10,000 square feet of commercial/retail space and a 2,000-square-foot community room. The Phase Two building would feature nine condominium residences. The proponents will file an Expanded Project Notification Form (EPNF) with the BPDA in the coming months with additional project details.

Slip65, luxury condos opening Fall 2018 on East Boston Waterfront, 95%-sold in six weeks

Slip65, the East Boston Waterfront’s first luxury condominium building featuring 80 residences, has reached 95%-sold over a year before the building’s anticipated Fall 2018 opening after just six weeks of sales. Slip65’s remarkably quick sell up represents the very strong demand for housing, in particular ownership options, on the East Boston Waterfront. Seeking to capitalize upon the neighborhood’s sweeping waterfront views and one-stop subway commute to Downtown Boston, a number of developers have recently switched East Boston apartment project programs to condominiums. The Davis Companies received approval last month to construct 119 condominiums at 99 Sumner Street, which will be the second condominium option directly on the East Boston Waterfront; originally, The Davis Companies had proposed to construct 119 apartments.

Just four residences remain for sale at Slip65, with 76 residences under agreement. All one-bedroom residences at Slip65 have been sold; all remaining available residences are two-bedrooms. Prices for Slip65’s sold condominiums range from $700- to over $1200 per square foot, some for prices topping $1.5 million. Residences currently listed for sale range from $780 to just over $900 per square foot, including:

• Unit 415, a 1,075-square-foot two-bedroom/two-bathroom residence, listed for $840,000 ($781.40 per square foot)
• Unit 214, a 1,082-square-foot two-bedroom/two-bathroom residence, listed for $875,000 ($808.69 per square foot)
• Unit 308, a 1,051-square-foot two-bedroom/two-bathroom residence, listed for $935,000 ($889.63 per square foot)
• Unit 510, a 1,066-square-foot two-bedroom/two-bathroom residence, listed for $965,000 ($905.25 per square foot)

Slip65 is part of the first phase of the Clippership Wharf development, which will feature 478 residences with approximately 30,200 square feet of retail and community space, including a cafe and a restaurant, when complete. Residences at Clippership Wharf will include 398 apartments and 80 condominiums.

Fenway Center developers finalizing air rights lease, construction launch expected this Fall

Developers John Rosenthal and Gerding Edlen have been granted an extension through the end of September to finalize their 99-year state lease for the Massachusetts Turnpike air rights necessary to build the 1.1-million-square-foot Fenway Center, which is now expected to start construction work this Fall. Initial preparation work could commence as early as September on the $230 million first phase of the $590 million, two-phased project. The first phase will be constructed next to the Massachusetts Turnpike on existing parking lots bounded by Beacon Street, Maitland Street and Yawkey Way.

The developers and the state had originally faced a June 30th deadline to finalize the lease; however, appraisals of the property took longer than expected. In an interview with the Boston Herald, State Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said the state agreed to extend the deadline to September given that the developers have been “meeting milestones and getting things done,” and that there has been “a lot of progress in recent months.” The developers will pay the state $21 million once the lease is finalized. Fenway Center will feature five buildings containing approximately 550 residential units, 160,000 square feet of office space and over 50,000 square feet of retail, in addition to over 30,000 square feet of on-site park and green space and 1,290 parking spaces.

Slip65 luxury condominiums on East Boston Waterfront achieve 50%-sold benchmark in just 36 hours

Slip65, the 80-unit condominium component of the $225 million Clippership Wharf mixed-use development on the East Boston Waterfront, is now 50%-sold, achieving record East Boston prices. Prices for Slip65’s sold condominiums, the East Boston Waterfront’s first ownership option, range from $700- to over $1200 per square foot, some for prices topping $1.5 million. Condominiums at Slip65 were made available in a 40-unit block over the weekend of Friday, June 23; all 40 condominiums were quickly reserved over just 36 hours, speaking to East Boston’s high desirability. “This weekend’s extraordinary success at Slip65 confirms the emergence of East Boston as an ‘in-demand’ location – minutes to Boston with million dollar views,” said Sue Hawkes, Managing Director of The Collaborative Companies. “To sell 40 units in 36 hours is just an amazing response, and we anticipate similar demand for the second block when it is made available.”

Slip65 is part of the first phase of the Clippership Wharf development, which will feature 478 residences with approximately 30,200 square feet of retail and community space, including a cafe and a restaurant, when complete. Residences at Clippership Wharf will include 398 apartments and 80 condominiums; Slip65 is currently planned to be Clippership Wharf’s only condominium component, and is currently the only planned waterfront ownership option in East Boston. “We are proud to see how Slip65 has been embraced by the market and are especially satisfied to be selling condos for over $1.5 million in East Boston,” said Nick Iselin, General Manager of Development for Lendlease in Boston. “The demand for Slip65 has been overwhelming across all price ranges." Construction of Slip65 is well underway; occupancy of Slip65, as well as Dox, Clippership Wharf’s apartment component, is expected in Fall 2018.

Center Court Properties and POB Capital acquire 2.25-acre Dorchester parcel for $14.5 million

Center Court Properties of New York, who recently backed out of a deal valued at upwards of $80 million to acquire the 16.5-acre Boston Globe headquarters in Dorchester, has acquired the 2.25-acre parcel at 75 Morrissey Boulevard, located adjacent to the Globe's site, in partnership with POB Capital of Chicago for $14.5 million. The sale amounts to nearly $6.5 million per acre. The site's seller is automotive dealer Herb Chambers, who had proposed to construct a new Jaguar-Land Rover dealership on the site. Chambers acquired 75 Morrissey Boulevard for $3.8 million, or around $1.7 million per acre, in 2011. Center Court is the developer of Archer | Donahue in Beacon Hill, a luxury residential development that is expected to break ground this year.

Foundation pouring underway at Clippership Wharf mixed-use development on East Boston Waterfront

With structural pile driving complete, foundation concrete pouring is in full swing at the 555,000-square-foot Clippership Wharf mixed-use development on the East Boston Waterfront. Large foundation sections have been poured, and assembly of vertical concrete anchors has begun in order to construct the walls of the development’s first floor and a podium to support upper wood-framed floors. A total of four buildings will be constructed at Clippership Wharf featuring 478 residences and 30,200 square feet of retail and community space across over four waterfront acres. Residences at Slip65, Clippership Wharf’s 80-unit condominium building, are now on sale. Clippership Wharf is scheduled for completion in Fall 2018. The following are photographs of Clippership Wharf:

Slip65, East Boston's first waterfront luxury condominiums, starting sales in early June

Slip65, the East Boston Waterfront's first luxury condominium development, will begin sales in early June. Part of the first phase of the 555,000-square-foot Clippership Wharf mixed-use development, which will include apartments, condominiums and retail, Slip65 will feature 80 one-bedroom and two-bedroom residences with top-of-line finishes and sweeping waterfront views. Occupancy of Slip65 is scheduled for Fall 2018. “Slip65 presents a rare opportunity for buyers looking to position themselves on the waterfront in a luxury residence with unbeatable views and amenities at a refreshingly affordable price,” said Sue Hawkes, President & CEO of The Collaborative Companies. “East Boston is experiencing a resurgence unlike any other neighborhood in the city right now. For those who want to be a part of it, this is the perfect occasion.”

13-story, 155-residence development proposed in busy South End district

The Davis Companies proposes to construct a 7-story addition to 112 Shawmut Avenue, a six-story, 70,000-square-foot brick-and-beam South End office building located in the rapidly-developing New York Streets neighborhood, creating a 13-story, 155-residence development with a 975-square-foot ground-floor cafe. Davis has not yet disclosed whether residences would be apartments or condominiums. Davis acquired 112 Shawmut Avenue in July 2015 for $26.2 million, or $374.29 per square foot; the building last sold in 1996 for $2.2 million, or $31.43 per square foot. Davis has filed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to construct the 112 Shawmut Avenue project with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), who is now reviewing the project. Additional project details will be revealed in the coming months.

Finishing touches underway at The Point @ 180 apartments in Malden Center, opening in July

Exterior and interior finishing touches are underway at The Point @ 180, a new 68-unit luxury apartment building in Malden Center, in anticipation of the building's opening this July. The last exterior finish panels are being installed along The Point @ 180's facade, with windows fully installed and brickwork complete along the building's ground floor. Inside the building, premium finishes including quartz countertops, european style cabinets, stainless steel appliances and track lighting are being installed in apartments, and common spaces are being finalized as well. Apartments at The Point @ 180, which include studios, one-bedrooms and two-bedrooms, are now available for lease. The following are photographs of The Point @ 180:

125 Sumner Street, 52 waterfront mixed-income residences with ground-floor retail, approved in East Boston

125 Sumner Street, which will replace the aging Clippership Apartments public housing development with 52 waterfront mixed-income residences and 3,400 square feet of ground-floor retail, was approved at last night (May 11th, 2017)’s Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board Meeting. The building can now proceed with construction, which is anticipated to commence in the 4th quarter of this year and last approximately 15 months

Sales start at Tilia condominiums, first phase of Parcel U development in Forest Hills

Sales have launched at Tilia, a 24-unit sustainable luxury condominium development located in Jamaica Plain’s Forest Hills neighborhood. Tilia is the first phase of the 200,000 square foot Parcel U development, which will construct 124 residences, including 48 condominiums and 76 apartments, as well as 1,620 square feet of ground-floor retail and 1,040 square feet of community space. Tilia condominiums start at $499,000 for an 828 square foot, 2-bedroom/1-bathroom unit, with units available up to 1,825 square feet in size.

Tilia is developed by a joint venture of Urbanica and Luzern Associates. Eastern Bank is providing $8.545 million of construction financing for Tilia, on which the development team closed in October 2016. Expected completion of Tilia is in late 2017. Renderings of Tilia, as well as more information, are posted above.

Slip65 luxury condominiums at East Boston’s Clippership Wharf unveiled

Slip65, the 80 waterfront luxury condominiums at Clippership Wharf in East Boston, have been unveiled. A new website for Slip65 has been launched, and a new rendering of Slip65’s waterfront resident lounge overlooking the Boston skyline has been revealed. Opening in Fall 2018, Clippership Wharf will feature 478 residential units, 30,200 square feet of retail and community space and over 4 acres of waterfront open space. The following is the latest Slip65 rendering:

Facade finish installation underway at Treadmark in Dorchester

The first exterior facade finishes are being installed at Treadmark, a $45 million mixed-use development located across from Ashmont Station in Dorchester. Treadmark's 6-story frame has been nearly fully weatherproofed, with window and fireproofing installation just about complete. Treadmark is slated to open this summer; luxury residences are now on sale, and apartment leasing will commence in the coming months. The following is an aerial photograph of Treadmark:

New view of the progress at Treadmark! pic.twitter.com/2GAeKCOR2L

— ResCo Homes (@ResCoHomes) February 14, 2017

East Boston Waterfront public housing redevelopment proposed

Lend Lease and WinnCompanies propose to redevelop the 20-unit Clippership Apartments public housing development on the East Boston Waterfront, constructing 50 new mixed-income residences with new public space and retail. All existing buildings would be demolished; the existing 20 public rental housing units would be replaced, and an additional 30 mixed-income condominiums would be constructed. Construction of the redevelopment, located at 125 Sumner Street, would commence in the 4th quarter of 2017 and last approximately 15 months. The developers have filed plans for 125 Sumner Street with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), who is now reviewing the proposed project.

Structural pile driving underway at East Boston's Clippership Wharf

Structural pile driving has commenced at the 555,000 square foot Clippership Wharf mixed-use development on the East Boston Waterfront in order to construct foundations for four new buildings. The first piles have been driven, and dozens of new piles are being loaded onto the project site. Remediation of the Clippership Wharf site's soil is now complete. Clippership Wharf will open in Fall 2018 and will feature 478 residential units, 30,200 square feet of retail and community space and over 4 acres of waterfront open space. The following are photographs of pile driving underway at Clippership Wharf:

Interior finishing underway at Lowell’s Counting House Lofts Phase II

Dellbrook | JKS is now installing interior finishes in Counting House Lofts Phase II’s 75 apartments, located in the heart of Downtown Lowell. New windows have been installed throughout the facade, and interior walls of the building's future apartments have been plastered. Interior HVAC and electrical systems have also been installed. Finishes are now being installed in the building’s lobby. Foundation work is also underway to reconstruct a deteriorated section at the front of of the historic, 1846-built building. The following are photographs of Counting House Lofts Phase II:

Weatherproofing underway at Dorchester’s Treadmark

Weatherproofing has begun at the $45 million Treadmark mixed-use development, opening Summer 2017 in Dorchester across from Ashmont Station. Windows and fireproofing have been installed along a large section of the building’s facade. Framing of interior spaces is also underway. Treadmark has reached its’ final height of six stories. Luxury residences at Treadmark are now on sale. The following is a photograph of Treadmark:

#Treadmark is really beginning to take shape. Windows are in for north side phase! Units still available! #Ashmont #Dot #newconstruction pic.twitter.com/jQKIslMwyM

— ResCo Homes (@ResCoHomes) January 19, 2017

American Provisions opening market at Dorchester’s Treadmark in Summer 2017

South Boston specialty food retailer American Provisions has received official approval to construct a new retail location at Dorchester’s new Treadmark mixed-use development across from Ashmont Station. The new 2,500 square foot American Provisions store will open in Summer 2017 and will feature 1,500 retail square feet with a 1,000 square foot kitchen. American Provisions is now seeking a license to sell beer and wine at the new store.

Clippership Wharf site preparations near completion, slurry wall work underway

Initial foundation excavation and soil remediation are nearly complete at East Boston’s Clippership Wharf, and work is now underway to construct the 555,000 square foot waterfront development’s slurry wall. The slurry wall will reinforce the foundations of Clippership Wharf’s four buildings as well as the project’s over four acres of open public waterfront space. Clippership Wharf is scheduled to open in Fall 2018. The following are photographs of Clippership Wharf:

Quincy Tower Chinatown affordable housing rehabilitation project approved

The Quincy Tower Rehabilitation Project was approved at Thursday (December 15th)’s Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board Meeting. Located in Chinatown, the $71 million project will rehabilitate the existing 16-story Quincy Tower, which will continue to contain 162 age-restricted affordable housing units. Construction is expected to commence imminently and will last approximately 11 months.

$30 million grant awarded to redevelop Whittier Choice public housing in Roxbury

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has awarded a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods grant to help fund the approved $44 million Whitter Choice public housing redevelopment in Roxbury. The redevelopment will include both affordable and market-rate housing units, creating new affordable units and introducing new market-rate units. Construction of the first phase of the project could commence in September 2017.

"As we shape Boston's growth, we must make sure our progress benefits everyone, especially long-term residents of the City," said Mayor Walsh at a ceremony held Monday to announce the grant. "I'm extraordinarily proud of the dedication of our partners who have come together to create a brighter future for the residents of Whittier Street and the surrounding neighborhood." "These game-changing investments will breathe new life into our neighborhoods and offer real opportunities for the families who call these communities home," said HUD Secretary Julián Castro at the ceremony. "What we do today will leverage private investment and bear fruit for generations of families looking for an opportunity to thrive in neighborhoods that are connected to the economic and social fabric of their communities." "This is great news for the City of Boston and the Lower Roxbury neighborhood," stated Congressman Mike Capuano at the ceremony. "The Choice Neighborhoods federal grant will help transform the Whittier Street Housing Development by renovating existing affordable housing units and creating additional housing opportunities." The following is a photograph from Monday's ceremony:

This is one of the best announcements I’ve ever made in my political life: Whittier St housing development will receive a $30M @HUDgov grant pic.twitter.com/MvUYhrVUxl

— Mayor Marty Walsh (@marty_walsh) December 12, 2016

Mixed-income Gateway Residences in Downtown Lynn breaking ground Tuesday

Gateway Residences on Washington, the first development funded under the State of Massachusetts’ $100 million Workforce Housing Initiative, will break ground Tuesday (December 13th) morning. The $31 million building, located in Downtown Lynn across from North Shore Community College steps to the MBTA Commuter Rail, is expected to open in Spring 2018. The Workforce Housing Initiative is creating new housing for working families who do not qualify for existing affordable housing.

Hearth at Four Corners, 54 new Dorchester affordable senior apartments, approved

At Thursday (November 17th, 2016)'s board meeting, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) approved Hearth at Four Corners. Located in Dorchester steps to the Four Corners/Geneva commuter rail station, the $17.6 million project will construct a new four-story residential building containing 54 affordable senior apartments.

Clippership Wharf site work underway, new renderings released

Initial site work is underway at Clippership Wharf, a $225 million project opening Fall 2018 that will construct 478 residential units with ground-floor retail and restaurant space on the East Boston Waterfront overlooking the Boston skyline. The construction team is performing initial foundation excavation and soil remediation to prepare for construction of Clippership Wharf’s foundation. New renderings of Clippership Wharf have been released; these can be found above. The following are photographs of Clippership Wharf site work underway:

MassHousing closes $21 million financing for Lynn's Gateway Residences on Washington

MassHousing has closed on a $21 million loan for the Gateway Residences on Washington, a mixed-use building under construction in Lynn's Central Square featuring 71 residential rental units and approximately 2,000 square feet of retail. The loan is MassHousing's first loan through its' $100 million Workforce Housing Initiative, which strives to create increased middle-income housing opportunities. 10 units at Gateway Residences on Washington will be reserved for households earning 70% to 100% of Area Media Income (AMI). 

Gateway Residences on Washington is creating middle-income housing in a rapidly developing urban core convenient to frequent public transit service and a short distance to Downtown Boston. "As housing costs continue to rise, middle-income residents are being priced out of communities where they want to live, and the Gateway Residences is a prime example of how new housing can accommodate a range of residents' incomes," said MassHousing Executive Director Tim Sullivan. "When you consider the tremendous need for housing that middle-income residents and working families can afford," said Sullivan, "we are very pleased to complete this first transaction of our Workforce Housing Initiative through our Housing Opportunity Fund." Gateway Residences on Washington is built by a collaboration of developer Hub Holdings and the City of Lynn's Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development.

Hancock Estates in Newton reaches construction midpoint, opening Early Summer 2017

The 88-unit Hancock Estates apartment development in Newton has reached its' construction midpoint, reports general contractor Nauset Construction in an official press release. Nauset most recently completed the three-story Hancock Estates building's roof and framing. Hancock Estates is scheduled for completion in Early Summer 2017.

Surrounded by conservation land, Hancock Estates will provide a peaceful living environment with a plethora of amenities located a short distance from Downtown Boston and major roads. “Hancock Estates was envisioned as a way to provide a desirable housing alternative for established Newton and west suburban residents who are looking to transition from larger single-family homes, but wish to remain within the Newton community,” says Edward Zuker, CEO of Hancock Estates developer Chestnut Hill Realty, “this is a luxury apartment community that will be able to compete with anything you would find in Boston.” The following is a photograph of Hancock Estates, courtesy Nauset Construction:

BPDA approves minor changes to Fenway Center, Phase 1 financing secured

At last night's board meeting, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) approved minor changes to the $580 million Fenway Center development project in the Fenway neighborhood. Approved changes include increasing Building 1 by 6,000 square feet, reducing Building 2 by 6,000 square feet and 17 residential units, increasing Building 3 by 58,000 square feet, decreasing Building 4 by 2,000 square feet and decreasing 6,000 square feet of above-ground parking garage space.

Universal Hub reports that the Fenway Center development team has secured financing for the $230 million Phase 1 of Fenway Center, comprised of Buildings 1 and 2, and that the two buildings are expected to start construction in Spring 2017. "We are truly ready to go," said developer John Rosenthal at last night's board meeting.

Treadmark wood framing rising, concrete base poured

Treadmark's concrete foundation is fully framed, and a large concrete section of the building's ground level has been poured. A PERI Skydeck system is being used to frame the concrete pour and support the poured slabs as concrete hardens.

Wood framing of levels two through six has begun above the concrete base, with a large section of level two fully framed and level three framing rising. Located in Dorchester's Ashmont neighborhood across from the Ashmont MBTA station, Treadmark will span a full block along Dorchester Avenue between Fuller Street and Mercier Avenue.

Opening Summer 2017, Treadmark will feature 83 new residential units, including 51 new affordable rental units and 32 ownership condominiums, as well as approximately 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Treadmark's anchor retail tenant will be American Provisions, a South Boston-based specialty food retailer. Visit LiveTreadmark.com for condominium sales information. The following are photographs of Treadmark:

Frame

PERI Skydeck

Foundation

Fenway Center moving forward, project changes proposed

Fenway Center developers Meredith Management and Gerding Edlen submitted a Notice of Project Change (NPC) to the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) earlier this month proposing changes to the approved Fenway Center development plan; the following is a link to the NPC. Fenway Center would now be constructed in two phases. Phase 1 would include two residential buildings (Buildings 1 and 2) of 7 and 13 stories, respectively, containing a total of 339,000 square feet. Phase 2 would include a 27-story, 375,000 square mixed-use office and residential tower (Building 3) and a 7-story, 111,000 square foot residential building (Building 4) that would be built on an air rights deck above the Massachusetts Turnpike. All four buildings at Fenway Center would have ground-floor retail space. Phase 2 would also entail the construction of a 7-story, 274,000 square foot parking garage on the air rights deck.

With the most recent NPC, minor changes in planned square footage have been made since the NPC approved in September 2011; building heights have not changed. Most notably, 58,000 square feet have been added to Building 3 (part of Phase 2), which would be built atop the air rights deck, and Building 2 (part of Phase 1) has been reduced by 56,000 square feet. Altogether, Phase 1 has been decreased by 50,000 square feet, and Phase 2 has been increased by 50,000 square feet. After the proposed changes, the entire project’s proposed square footage remains at 1,099,000 square feet as approved in 2011.

Per the NPC submission, the development team hopes that the proposed square footage changes will make Fenway Center more readily financeable, allowing for the completion of Phase 1 financing and commencement of construction in Spring 2017. The development team hopes that the proposed increase in Phase 2's density will make Phase 2 and the associated air rights deck more financeable and attractive to future equity partners and hopes to commence construction of Phase 2 in 2018-2019. The NPC is currently under review by the BRA.

1485 Commonwealth Avenue approved, construction could commence Q2 2017

At last night's board meeting, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) approved 1485 Commonwealth Avenue for construction. Located on the Brighton Marine Health Center campus in Brighton steps to the MBTA Green Line, 1485 Commonwealth Avenue will feature 102 new residential rental units. 101 units will be located in a new six-story building, and one unit will be located in a restored existing building. All units will be leased with a preference for veterans. Construction of 1485 Commonwealth Avenue is anticipated to commence in the second quarter of 2017. Additional information about 1485 Commonwealth Avenue can be found above.

DSF Group acquires 480 Main, new 195-unit Malden Square apartment building, for $73.75 million

This past Friday (July 29th, 2016), Waltham, MA-based real estate investor DSF Group acquired 480 Main, a new 195-unit, 243,611 square foot Malden Square apartment building with 9,600 square feet of ground-floor retail, for $73.75 million as recorded in the Middlesex South Registry of Deeds. The sale equates to approximately $303 per square foot and approximately $378,205 per residential unit. Units at the 100% occupied 480 Main range from studios to two-bedrooms and 526 to 1,050 square feet. Rents range from $1,855 to $2,950 per month per the 480 Main leasing website.

480 Main opened in April 2015; an official ribbon cutting for the building was held in October 2015. The building features an outdoor patio with a swimming pool and grilling stations, 171 underground parking spaces, a media room and a fitness center. The Malden Center MBTA Orange Line station is located steps away.

480 Main's developer and seller is Priderock Capital Partners of West Palm Beach, Florida, who acquired the approximately 61,869 square feet of land on which the building is built for a total of $3.15 million last decade. Approximately 10,433 square feet at 450-464 Main Street were acquired for $1 million in June 2003. Approximately 25,792 square feet at 466-490 Main Street were acquired for $1.4 million in  July 2003. A third plot, 33 Dartmouth Street, was acquired for $750,000 in foreclosure in February 2006.

Priderock Capital Partners invested $54 million to develop 480 Main and secured $34 million in project financing in July 2013 through PNC Bank. DSF Group, 480 Main's buyer, invests in residential and office space in a number of markets and acquired the 433-unit former Avalon Danvers, since renamed Halstead Danvers, in Danvers, MA for $108.5 million in June 2014. Halstead is DSF Group's signature brand for residential communities.

The following is the deed for DSF Group's acquisition of 480 Main this past Friday for $73.75 million:

MBTA releases new details and renderings for Mattapan Station development

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) has released new details for Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation (Nuestra)'s mixed-use development project proposed for an existing Mattapan Station surface parking lot. The following is a link to the MBTA's full presentation for the project. As previously reported, the project would construct 135 residential units in the heart of Mattapan Square across two new five-story buildings. 69 units (51% of total) would be designated affordable. The buildings would also contain 12,000 square feet of retail, up from previously reported 10,000 square feet. The project would create 25-41 full-time and 6 part-time job opportunities in Mattapan Square. A total of 173 parking spaces would be located on site, including 50 for MBTA commuters. A connection to the new Neponset River Greenway would also be constructed. The project will now undergo review by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA). The following is a rendering of the proposed project:

View along River Street

The following is a locus graphic:

Locus graphic

POAH and Nuestra will enter a 99-year lease with the MBTA for the parking lot and will make annual rent payments for the lease's first 20 years starting at $210,000 in 2017 and increasing annually by 1.5%. A total of $4,885,970 in rent will be paid to the MBTA. The project has a Net Present Value (NPV) of $2,954,307.08 calculated with a 5% discount rate. The MBTA designated POAH and Nuestra as the developers of the lot earlier this year, rejecting a second proposal by Trinity Financial (Trinity) and Codman Square Neighborhood Development Corporation (CSNDC) that would have constructed 267 residential units, including 195 affordable (73% of total), and 8,000 square feet of retail. Trinity and CSNDC would have purchased the parking lot under a fee-simple sale, generating $2 million of revenue for the MBTA.

Ashmont’s Treadmark by Trinity Financial officially breaks ground

We had the honor and privilege of attending the official Treadmark groundbreaking ceremony this past Monday, July 11th. We would like to extend huge congratulations and thanks to Trinity Financial on this important milestone. Treadmark will further enliven the Ashmont neighborhood of Dorchester with 83 new residential units, including 51 new affordable rental units and 32 ownership condominiums, as well as approximately 5,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Treadmark's anchor retail tenant will be American Provisions, a South Boston-based specialty food retailer.

The following is a link to the official press release announcing Treadmark's groundbreaking. The following are the latest renderings of Treadmark, formerly known as Ashmont Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) 2. Treadmark's architect is The Architectural Team, and the building's interior designer is Taniya Nayak Design. Exterior rendering is by Neoscape.

Exterior (Courtesy The Architectural Team/Neoscape)

Lobby (Courtesy Taniya Nayak Design)

Living room (Courtesy Taniya Nayak Design)

Living room (Courtesy Taniya Nayak Design)

Bedroom (Courtesy Taniya Nayak Design)

Speakers at the Treadmark groundbreaking ceremony included Trinity Financial Senior Project Manager Mathieu Zahler, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, Massachusetts Senator Linda Dorcera Forry, RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Craig Wagner, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation President and CEO Joe Flatley, Boston Private Senior Vice President Peter Hollands and Greater Ashmont Main Street Board President Philippe Saad.

Opening remarks by Trinity Financial Senior Project Manager Mathieu Zahler

Trinity Financial Senior Project Manager Mathieu Zahler

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh

Massachusetts Senator Linda Dorcera Forry

RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Craig Wagner

Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation President and CEO Joe Flatley

Boston Private Senior Vice President Peter Hollands

Greater Ashmont Main Street Board President Philippe Saad

Speeches stage

Speeches were followed by a ceremonial groundbreaking on the construction site and a celebratory reception at Tavolo Risorante in Trinity Financial’s neighboring Carruth transit-oriented building.

Shovels ready to fly

Shovels fly

Shovels prior to groundbreaking

Treadmark branding

Shovels after groundbreaking

The sales center for Treadmark’s 32 market-rate condominiums is now open in the Carruth building, and condominium pre-sales have begun. Visit LiveTreadmark.com for more information. A model unit has been installed at the sales center. After the ceremonial groundbreaking, Treadmark interior designer Taniya Nayak gave a tour of the model unit and finishes.

Taniya Nayak tours Treadmark model unit

Treadmark model unit

Treadmark model unit

Treadmark branding

Construction of Treadmark’s foundation is well underway, with concrete poured along a large vertical section fronting Fuller Street. At the Mercier Avenue end, a FlexiROC T40 tophammer drill rig is being used to assist with foundation excavation by breaking rock. A sheet pile wall is built along the building’s entire perimeter, and wooden shoring is installed to reinforce Treadmark’s foundation during construction. Steel and wood forms are being set up along the foundation’s base for concrete pouring.

Site view from Fuller Street

Completed concrete foundation section

Preparing a foundation section for concrete pouring

Site view from Fuller Street

FlexiROC T40 tophammer drill rig breaking rock

Site view from Mercier Avenue

Site view from Mercier Avenue

More information about Treadmark is posted below.

Archer | Donahue on Beacon Hill approved for construction

The Boston Redevelopment Authority approved Archer | Donahue on Beacon Hill for construction at last Thursday’s board meeting. Developed by JDMD Owner, LLC of Dedham, the $162 million Archer | Donahue will feature 71 residential condominiums with approximately 5,700 square feet of undetermined resident amenities. The project will fully restore two existing buildings at 33-61 Temple Street and construct a new penthouse level. Construction of Archer | Donahue could commence this summer. A rendering of Archer | Donahue is posted above.

Since the project's Expanded Project Notification Form (EPNF) filing, Archer | Donahue's penthouse level height has been reduced and will not exceed the height of the existing structure. Residential unit count has decreased by four; 75 units were originally proposed. Parking space count has been reduced to 54 from 60. More information about Archer | Donahue is posted below.

Whittier Choice redevelopment team seeks federal funding for 387-unit project

The Bay State Banner reports that the Whittier Choice redevelopment team has applied for a $30 million Department of Housing and Urban Development federal funding grant that, if awarded, will help the team realize full buildout of the approved $44 million Whittier Choice public housing redevelopment project. The team was one of 34 applicants for the grant last year and made it to the final contestant round but did not secure a grant. Funding has been secured for Phase One of the project, which could start construction in September 2017.

Approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority for construction in October 2015, the project will replace the existing Whittier Choice public housing development in Roxbury with three new buildings. Approximately 387 mixed-use residential units and 7,680 square feet of retail will be constructed across three phases. The following is a link to the Expanded Project Notification Form (EPNF) for the Whittier Choice redevelopment project. The following is a landscape plan showing the project's full buildout:

More information about the Whittier Choice redevelopment project is posted below.

Financing raised to build 313 new residential units at Fenway Center

The Boston Globe reports that the Fenway Center development team has raised funding necessary to construct two new apartment buildings at Fenway Center containing 313 residential units. Financing deals have been signed with two large investors, and a total of $230 million has been raised. Construction of the two buildings could start by the end of 2016. A total of five new buildings are planned for Fenway Center; the project will cost nearly $600 million to build.

The development team is now proposing to construct Fenway Center in two phases. The first phase would include the two new apartment buildings and would be constructed on the existing surface parking lots along Beacon Street. The second phase would include three additional buildings and would be constructed above the Massachusetts Turnpike on a new decking. Construction of the first phase would take approximately two years. The development team hopes to start construction of the decking above the Massachusetts Turnpike towards the end of construction of the first phase.

The new two-phased approach would require approval from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT). The current agreement between the development team and MassDOT calls for construction of the decking over the Massachusetts Turnpike as part of the project's first phase. Per project developer John Rosenthal, MassDOT officials have been receptive towards the proposed change. Rosenthal hopes that successful completion of Fenway Center's first phase will raise capital and attract investment necessary to construct the second phase over the Massachusetts Turnpike.

An aerial rendering of Fenway Center is posted above. The following is a rendering of Fenway Center frontage along Beacon Street:

More information about Fenway Center is posted below.

Demolition by J. Derenzo Companies in full swing at Ashmont TOD2

J. Derenzo Companies' JDC Demolition division is hard at work demolishing the former Ashmont Tire building to make way for the Ashmont TOD2 mixed-use development.

Demolition underway

Demolition underway

Demolition underway

Demolition underway

JDC Demolition has nearly fully demolished the Ashmont Tire building:

Ashmont Tire

Ashmont Tire

Ashmont Tire

On our visit, we got to watch Mahoney Oil refuel JDC Demolition's demolition excavator:

Refueling

LM Heavy Civil Construction has also begun digging up existing utilities on site. Cranshaw Construction is the project's general contractor.

The Ashmont TOD2 team secured financing for the project earlier this year, as reported by The Dorchester Reporter. The team hopes to open the building to residents in 2017.

Construction starts on mixed-use Clippership Wharf on East Boston Waterfront

Construction has started on the highly-anticipated Clippership Wharf mixed-use development project on the East Boston Waterfront. An orange containment boom has been deployed surrounding the waterfront construction site in anticipation of foundation construction:

Survey marker posts have also been deployed across the development site to prepare for initial site excavations:

New signage and construction equipment has also been installed on site:

A total of four new buildings will be built at Clippership Wharf. The project will feature sweeping views of the Boston skyline and direct access to public transit service to downtown Boston:

More information about Clippership Wharf, including project renderings and site plans, is posted below.

Approved Downtown Crossing affordable housing project moves forward

The approved 46-unit affordable housing project at 48 Boylston Street in Downtown Crossing took a key step forward today as developers Planning Office for Urban Affairs and Saint Francis House completed the acquisition of the building. The Boston Redevelopment Authority approved the 48 Boylston Street project for construction in December 2015. More information about the project is posted below. The following is the deed for today's sale:

Developer buys 119,034 square foot Hyde Park parcel next to Readville transit station for $2.1 million

Local developer Ad Meliora has acquired 1717 Hyde Park Avenue, a 119,034 square foot parcel in Hyde Park located next to the Readville transit station on the MBTA Fairmount Line. Sale price was $2.1 million.

UPDATE: Universal Hub reports that Ad Meloria recently held an informal community meeting in which preliminary plans were presented for a 240-unit apartment building at 1717 Hyde Park Avenue. 31 units would be designated affordable and rented to households making no more than 70% of area median income (AMI).

Three buildings rising up to five stories are currently proposed along with a five-deck parking garage with 400 parking spaces. The buildings would have special insulation to buffer noise from passing trains. A formal Letter of Intent has not yet been filed for the project. The following is a preliminary rendering by project architect Prellwitz Chilinski:

Ad Meliora is currently co-developing Washington Village, a major proposed South Boston development project that would bring approximately 650 residential units and 98,600 square feet of retail space to Andrew Square across 217,800 square feet of land. The following is an aerial view of the proposed Washington Village:

Ad Meliora also owns 511 Dorchester Avenue, a potential development site in Andrew Square totaling approximately 279,050 square feet.

Ad Meliora is the third developer to invest in Hyde Park of late. G. Greene Construction Co. recently bought an 87,780 square foot parcel at 1591-1619 Hyde Park Avenue, steps from 1717 Hyde Park Avenue, for $2.1 million. HP Properties LLC recently bought two adjacent parcels in Hyde Park's central business district totaling 18,685 square feet for a combined $1.2 million.

The following is the deed for the sale of 1717 Hyde Park Avenue to Ad Meliora:

More information about 1717 Hyde Park Avenue is posted below.

New details and renderings for proposed condominium conversion of former Suffolk University buildings

JDMD Owner, LLC has submitted an Expanded Project Notification Form (EPNF) for the proposed Archer | Donahue project on Beacon Hill. The development team hopes to start construction in late summer 2016; Consigli Construction is the project's construction manager.

The following is a link to the full EPNF. The following are EPNF renderings of Archer | Donahue:

A Notice of Project Change (NPC) was submitted recently for the approved development at 40 Trinity Place in Copley Square. Developer Trinity Stuart LLC now proposes a 31-story tower with 154 hotel rooms and 146 residential units. The number of proposed hotel rooms has been reduced by 73, while the number of proposed residential units has been increased by 31. Previously proposed on-site affordable housing units have been eliminated; instead, 39 affordable housing units would be built off site. A total of 17 on-site affordable units were previously proposed.

A two-story parking garage previously proposed for floors 4 and 5 has been eliminated; under the previous proposal, 40 Trinity Place would have risen 33 stories. The building's height has been reduced by seven feet to 393 feet tall under the current proposal. Trinity Stuart LLC has entered long-term agreements with area parking garages to supply parking to building residents and hotel visitors.

An approximately 11,300 square foot expansion for the existing Boston Common Hotel's University Club on the proposed building's third floor has been retained under the current proposal. Amenities previously proposed for the building's 18th and 19th floors will now be located on the 15th and 16th floors. Minor changes have been made to the proposed building's ground floor.

An exterior rendering of the latest proposal is posted above. Renderings of the proposed 15th and 16th floor amenities are posted below along with a second exterior rendering.

Parcel U construction start expected in five months

A deed was recorded today in the Suffolk County Registry of Deeds transferring the Parcel U approved development site from JP Parcel U Phase 1, LLC to Parcel U Phase A LLC for $1. Both limited liability companies are registered to Urbanica, who is the developer, design manager and contractor of the Parcel U project.

A representative of Urbanica was available for comment. Today's deed was in order to bring a partnership together for investment and financing; Urbanica is raising capital for the Parcel U project. The project is expected to start construction in five months; shovels should be in the ground by early fall 2016. The project will be built in three phases. Today's deed is posted below:

Letter of Intent submitted for condominium conversion of two Suffolk University buildings

Ashmont TOD2 fully approved for construction

Ashmont Tire at Fuller Street

Ashmont Tire along Dorchester Avenue