UMass Boston seeks development partner for 20-acre Dorchester waterfront site, envisions modern-day Harvard Square

UMass Boston is seeking a development partner to construct a modern day Harvard Square on the 20-acre former Bayside Expo Center site in Dorchester, situated on Columbia Point overlooking Boston Harbor. The university has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather information from prospective developers; all responses are due by October 6th, 2017. Development plans are to include academic, research, retail, residential, dining, entertainment and cultural uses, and be complementary to and integrated with the existing UMass Boston campus. Public waterfront access must be maximized, and new buildings must feature state-of-the-art energy efficiency and be LEED certified.

The Bayside Expo Center site is located steps from the MBTA Red Line and minutes to Interstate 93, a short transit ride or drive to Downtown Boston. A number of large developable plots of land surrounding from the site were recently acquired by developers. Nordblom Company is anticipated to close this Fall on the acquisition of the 16.5-acre former Boston Globe Headquarters parcel. Beacon Capital Partners acquired 13.6 acres at 2 Morrissey Boulevard for nearly $73 million in March 2017. Center Court Properties and POB Capital acquired 2.25 acres at 75 Morrissey Boulevard for $14.5 million in June 2017.

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