New Tower Proposed Near Hancock Building
The 33-story building would replace the Boston Common Hotel and Conference Center at 40 Trinity Place. South End Patch News
August Sales Tax Holiday Proposed Again
State Rep. Ed Coppinger recently introduced late file legislation for a statewide sales tax holiday weekend in August. “It was brought to my attention by a constituent of mine that legislation for a sales tax holiday had not been introduced for this year. It’s great to see how involved my constituents are – this bill will benefit both consumers and business owners across the Commonwealth,” said Coppinger, D-West Roxbury. “A sales tax holiday will enable individuals to save money while investing in our local businesses, which is vital for the improvement of our economy.” The proposed sales tax free holiday weekend would be Aug. 17 and 18. Coppinger pointed to past sales tax free holidays helping not only businesses during the slow summer months, but it also helps shoppers save money on large ticket items. If passed, the legislation would “apply to retail sales excluding any single item priced higher than $ 2,500.” The sales tax holiday would not apply to telecommunications, tobacco, gas, steam, electricity, motor vehicles, motorboats or meals. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Another Major Project Proposed for TD Garden Area
Just three months after the city approved a 38-story mixed-use development that will be connected to TD Garden, a second major project has been proposed in that area of Boston’s West End neighborhood, also with plans to connect to the arena. Developers Boston Properties Inc. and Delaware North Companies Inc., through the Boston Garden Development Corporation, filed a letter of intent this week with the Boston Redevelopment Authority seeking to construct a mix of retail and office space, hotel rooms and up to 500 residential units on about 2.8 acres of land at 80 Causeway Street. The proposal calls for a new entrance to the arena and MBTA station, up to 300,000 sq. ft. of multi-story retail space, 500 residential units (600,000 sq. ft.), 200 hotel rooms (200,000 sq. ft.) and 600,000 sq. ft. of commercial office space, as well as 800 parking spaces in a below-grade garage, according to a fact sheet submitted with the proposal. The developer is looking to break ground on the project as early as 2014, though the plans first will have to go through large project review with the BRA and other city agencies. The proposal is the second major project in the TD Garden area to come before the BRA within the past year—in February, the board approved plans for Nashua Street Residences, a 38-story apartment and retail tower. That development, proposed by AvalonBay Communities Inc., features 503 residential units and a two story “retail arcade” that will connect to TD Garden and North Station. Construction on this project is expected to begin later this year. The newest proposal seeks to redevelop the site of the former Boston Garden, which has been used for parking since the TD Garden opened in the 1990s, according to a Boston.com report. The building’s height is not mentioned in the documents filed with the BRA on Thursday, but Boston.com speculated that the new project could reach at least 400 feet, which would put it close to the Nashua Residences project at close to 40 stories. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
VIDEO: Arrests at State House Protest Over Proposed MBTA Cuts
Police arrested several people who were blocking Beacon Street in front of the State House as part of a protest against cuts to the MBTA’s service for disabled and elderly passengers. The protest began peacefully around noon but moved into the street 20 minutes later. After seven in folding chairs or wheelchairs stopped traffic for another 20 minutes, police moved in arrested “four to five” of them, according to an officer on the scene. The rally, organized by MassUniting and the Massachusetts Senior Action Coaltion, was called to protest the large fare hikes to the MBTA’s paratransit service The RIDE. According to MassUniting, while fares for regular MBTA service went up 23 percent, the cost of The Ride has ballooned up to 150 percent over the past year. The most recent transportation proposal calls for an addition $ 6.5 million cut to The Ride. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch