Boston Approves $171M Harvard Campus Project

The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) approved six different development projects valued at $224 million, capping a year in which 7.1 million square feet of new construction were approved throughout the city. The largest approval went to Harvard Business School’s $171.1 million two-phase development of Klarman Hall and the G2 Pavilion. The first phase covers the construction Klarman Hall, which will feature a 1,000-seat auditorium designed by William Rawn Associates built adjacent to the site of Burden Hall, including new space for conferences and other Business School events; the second phase calls for replacing Burden Hall with meetings and classroom space. An underground connection to Spangler Center will be built as well. Plans for the project were originally filed in October of this year, with construction expected to finish by August of 2018. Walsh Brothers Construction is charged with managing the project.

Additionally, the BRA approved a $20 million, 127-room loft-style hotel in a former industrial building at 175 Orleans Street in East Boston, and a $22.9 million renovation of the historic Boston Young Men’s Christian Union building at 48 Boylston St. in Chinatown into 46 affordable apartment units. The BRA also approved $100,000 from the Harvard Allston Partnership Fund to support community organizations with grants.

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New Plans Revealed for Downtown Crossing Development in Boston

Millennium Partners unveiled new developments plants this week to build a 600 foot tower, filled with apartments and condominiums, while revitalizing the Burnham Building that once held Filene's, according to a CBS Boston report. Handel Architects designed the new plan for the property, renovating the original 1912 building, conceived by architect Daniel Burnham, and setting it against a new 55 story glass tower.

In February, New York-based Millennium reached a deal to buy into the project — the terms call for Vornado Realty Trust to remain an investor, while other investors would sell their stakes — and come up with a new development plan according to a WSJ article. "The project intends to present the simultaneous and harmonious pairing of new and old, and will consist of uses that will ensure a vital, 24/7 city-sector," Millennium said in a prepared statement.

In a statement Monday, Mayor Thomas Menino of Boston offered support for the new design. "Millennium Partners has always been a real partner of the City of Boston," he said. "They continue to do excellent work leading the way in the building of an exciting new day for the area of Downtown Crossing."

The 1.3 million square foot, $615 million development will be called Millennium Tower/Burnham Building and include 200,000 square feet of office space, 230,000 square feet of retail, 500 condo and rental units plus an underground parking garage. Millennium has held a number of pre-permitting meetings with the Boston Redevelopment Authority to review the proposal, and has already begun the required environmental impact studies for the project under Article 80, expecting to have the results of the studies ready for public review and comment within 60 days, the company said. Millennium says it hopes to start construction by the end of the year, pending approvals.

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Fenway Development Decision Expected This Week

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is deciding Thursday night this week whether or not to approve plans for a new $315 million project near Fenway Park in Boston. Samuels & Associates, led by real estate developer Steven Samuels, plans for the Boylston Street corridor would add two new buildings at 1325 Boylston Street and 132 Brookline Avenue replacing existing low-rise buildings and parking lots. The company would like be begin construction on the project in spring of next year.

The $250 million dollar Boylston Street development will feature two towers up to 168 and 178 feet, with one planned for commercial use and one for residential use with approximately 150 rental units. The plans include 25,000 square feet of ground floor retail, in addition to 140,000 square feet of anchor retail, and a maximum of 575 underground parking spaces.The $65 million dollar Brookline Avenue site proposal calls for a 17-story building with 5,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and approximately 150 rental units.

Peter Sougarides, executive vice president of development for Samuels & Associates, told the Boston Globe that the firm is in final discussions with Target about opening a store on two floors of the multitiered building, which would have offices in an 11-story brick section and residences in a 13-story glass part of the structure.

If approved, this project would be the company's third in the area in the past decade; Samuels also developed the shops and residences at 1330 Boylston Street and a larger mixed use complex call Trilogy. The company also recently purchased the Landmark Center retail and office complex, and, according to The Boston Globe, is considering an expansion on that property.

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