125 Lincoln Street
Update
11/18/22
11-Story Lab Approved for Development in Leather District
After several hours of public input and comment, has won approval for a lab development at 125 Lincoln Street in Boston’s Leather District. The project was unanimously approved by the board. Plans call for square-feet of research floorspace as well as 50-60 affordable housing units in nearby 79 Essex Street, to be fully subsidized by the developer.
“Our proposal is a truly balanced reflection of the significant and valuable feedback we incorporated from community priorities and the need to design a project that attracts the best life sciences companies in the world,” said Mark McGowan, Vice President, Head of Development, Boston at Oxford Properties. “The project also meaningfully delivers on goals important to the City and Oxford: increasing access to affordable housing; improving connections between Chinatown and the Leather District; updating the streetscape; and expanding economic opportunity."
The project team anticipates that the 79 Essex Street site, which Oxford will transfer to the Asian Community Development Corporation, will create approximately 50 units of affordable housing. In addition, the project will contribute $2+ million in linkage funds to the Neighborhood Housing Trust.
“We are excited about the prospect of creating approximately 50 all-affordable housing opportunities in Chinatown as part of the 125 Lincoln Street proposal’s community benefits,” shared Angie Liou, Executive Director of Asian Community Development Corporation. “With the affordable housing commitment at 79 Essex, Oxford Properties showcases what can happen when property owners collaborate with neighborhoods to understand and achieve community priorities. We are all neighborhood stewards and are responsible for the wellbeing of the communities we serve.”
Located near South Station, 125 Lincoln Street is designed to the highest standards of environmental sustainability, with proposed LEEDv4 Gold certification, a 90% reduction in fossil fuel consumption (compared to baseline) and a resilient design. With 31,000 square feet of public realm improvements on site, the transit-oriented development creates both programmable gathering spaces and stronger connections between the Leather District and Chinatown. The project also supports improvements to the Essex Street Crossing, Leather District Park, Chin Park and Beach Street Plaza. Once fully occupied, 125 Lincoln is expected to draw an additional 1000 workers downtown.
