HYM begins city review process for Suffolk Downs development in East Boston

The HYM Investment Group has filed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with the City of Boston to develop the 161-acre Suffolk Downs site in East Boston, which has emerged in recent weeks as a leading potential location for Amazon’s second headquarters, revealing new details of HYM’s vision for the site and formally starting the development’s official review process. HYM intends to construct active uses throughout the site, including residences, retail, office and lab space and hotel space. A 40-acre publicly-accessible open space system would be constructed, as would two new retail squares, Beachmont Square and Belle Isle Square, and a new “Main Street” retail district. The proposed development would create new connections to East Boston and Revere, and encourage use of the adjacent MBTA Blue Line with a walkable fabric. Bicycle paths and Hubway stations would also be created.

The Suffolk Downs development would be constructed in phases over a 15 to 20 year period, likely costing over $1 billion. Approximately 11 million square feet of development would be constructed in Boston alone; approximately 109 acres of the site is in East Boston, with approximately 52 acres in Revere. In the event that Suffolk Downs is chosen by Amazon as the location for its’ second headquarters, a 500,000-square-foot office building with ground-floor retail space, and related infrastructure and open space improvements, would be delivered by the end of 2019. “Redevelopment of the [Suffolk Downs] site provides a unique opportunity to create additional housing, spur economic development and improve connections between several adjoining neighborhoods,” said HYM Managing Director Tom O’Brien in a prepared statement. Through constructing a mixed-use, transit-oriented district at Suffolk Downs, O’Brien aims to make the site “attractive to employers of growing industries, which will enhance and expand job creation and economic opportunity.” The BPDA is now reviewing HYM’s proposed plans for Suffolk Downs. Additional details will be revealed in a Project Notification Form (PNF) filing in the coming months. HYM’s proposed development will also undergo review by the City of Revere.

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