Connolly Wants Developers to Get Fast Track For Schools
Boston At-Large City Councilor and mayoral John Connolly proposed allowing a fast track permitting process for large developers, if they agree to build a school or fund any of the $ 1.8 billion in construction projects identified as needed for Boston Public Schools. “We look at large school development projects and offer an option to developers to give them a fast-track permitting process. Keep it to six months, and still do the full-robust process, but get it done in six months – in exchange for building a new school or the adoption of a major school project,” said Connolly during the Boston City Council’s Wednesday meeting. He added that projects would still get rejected, and those developers would not have to build a school or adopt a project. Through recent budget hearings, Connolly said that Boston Public School (BPS) long-term facilities plan “is in development”, and that $ 1.8 billion in new construction needs have been identified, as well as $ 640 million in needed renovations and repairs, and $ 500 million in deferred maintenance costs. Connolly said that New York City has built schools on the site of developments through the NYC Department of Education Educational Construction Fund. He added that wasn’t supporting that idea, but that it was an option. He added he’s talked to some developers who loved the idea of being able to go through a six-month process compared to a three- to five-year process, whether they get the project greenlit or not. “…and red lights will still be given. And if given a ‘yes’ – they get a new school or a major renovation. That’s the way we should be doing partnerships with schools,” said Connolly. The matter was referred to the Committee on Education for a future hearing. The Boston Redevelopment Authority, Department of Neighborhood Development, BPS families and staff, as well as developers, will be invited to speak at the hearing, said Connolly. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Developers Win Air Parcel Rights to Build 32-Story Tower
Samuels & Associations and Weiner Ventures won the rights to build a 32-story hotel, apartment and retail complex near the Hynes Convention Center stop in the Back Bay. The state Department of Transportation announced Monday that it awarded the air rights parcels above and along Interstate 90 at the intersection of Boylston Street and Massachusetts Avenue for a mixed-use tower. The 99-year lease agreement is valued at $ 18.5 million in rent for the two parcels. In one spot, the developers will build a 400-foot high-rise hotel and residential building, which will be set back from Boylston Street with a low-rise retail building along the street. In the other, they will construct a mid-rise residential building on Boylston Street and a two-floor retail building that will cross the Turnpike along Massachusetts Avenue. Altogether, the $ 360 million project will create a total of 230 residential units, a 270-room hotel, and 50,000 square feet of retail space. “We believe the (developer’s) proposal provides the best overall value and long-term benefit to the City of Boston by transforming this critical Back Bay intersection along the Turnpike,” MassDOT Secretary Richard Davey said. “The proposal’s rent offer also provides the best financial benefits to the citizens of the Commonwealth.” MassDOT judged the project on design, community benefits, community and city input, and on the developer’s financial proposal, capacity, and experience. The process began in 2008 but was put on hold during the financial crisis; it restarted in 2011. The Samuel-Weiner team has developed several prominent properties in the Back Bay and Fenway area over the past several years, including the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Boylston Street and the Fenway Triangle Trilogy. South End Patch