During its April meeting, the Board of Directors at the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) approved two projects in the Columbia-Savin Hill area:
- 135 Morrissey Boulevard: “The project includes a comprehensive renovation of both the inside and outside of the former Boston Globe Headquarters building. In addition, the project will include landscaping improvements throughout the project site. Overall, the improvements will result in 695,000 square feet of refurbished space meant to attract creative office, technology, light manufacturing, warehouse, retail, and life science tenants, with approximately 868 off-street parking spaces and approximately 209 bicycle storage spaces. The envisioned building program is made up of the following uses: office/business, tech flex/light industrial, retail/restaurant, food service and fitness space.
In addition, the proposed project will provide community benefits to Dorchester and Boston as a whole. These benefits include 2,500 square feet of space located at the project site to be programmed and utilized as a community job training/employment center, open to the public. This space will be provided at no cost to a local non-profit organization. In addition, a contribution of $4,772,723 in housing linkage will be made to the Neighborhood Housing Trust (NHT), along with a commitment to adopt the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR)-owned public open space known as Patten’s Cove for no less than 10 years.”
- 951-959A Dorchester Avenue: “The project will consist of a five story, mixed-use building with 38 residential rental units. As currently proposed, the units will consist of 33 market rate units and five Inclusionary Development Policy Units (IDP Units). There will be a mix of 11 studio units, 19 one-bedroom units, and eight two-bedroom units. The ground floor of the project will have 6,670 square feet of commercial retail space that provides new space for the long-existing Dorchester Market and an improved restaurant use. In addition, there will be 26 off-street garage parking spaces located on the project site. A trash and recycling room will be located within the building, as well.
The project will also provide $20,000.00 towards community benefits including $10,000 to the City’s Fund for Parks, $5,00 to the Edward Everett elementary school, $3,000 to the Dot Art nonprofit and $2,000 to the Dorchester Little League (formerly the Savin Hill Little League).”