A rendering of the 321 Harrison Ave. office project in South Boston.

BOSTON—The Boston Redevelopment Authority has given the green light to an $80-million office building in the South End and a more than $50-million mixed-use project in Charlestown.

At its session last Thursday, the BRA approved seven projects totaling approximately $259 million. The largest development to be approved by the BRA was the 321 Harrison Avenue project, which will involve the development of an eight-story, approximately 230,000-square-foot, Class A office property atop the existing three-story parking garage at 321 Harrison Ave. According to documents filed with the BRA the project also entails the reconstruction of the lobby that will serve as a shared lobby with its adjoining 11-story, 242,000-square-foot 1000 Washington St. office building.

Affiliates of Rubenstein Partners, L.P. and Nordblom Co. acquired the 321 Harrison development site, and the adjacent existing office building at 1000 Washington St. for $75 million in January 2015. The BRA reports the development will cost another $80 million to construct.

The existing parking garage will be reconfigured to include 240 parking spaces for use by tenants, employees and visitors, with up to 50 parking spaces being designated for public use. The existing loading dock area at 1000 Washington St. will be pulled back from Harrison Avenue and reconstructed to provide additional pedestrian areas on the corner of Harrison Avenue and Mullins Way. The loading dock will also be reconfigured to create a public plaza, bringing life to the corner of Harrison Avenue and Mullins Way, according to the BRA. Nordblom and Rubenstein filed a Project Notification Form with the BRA in June and filed a letter of intent with the authority in February.

“We're pleased to receive BRA approval for this exciting project,” says Ogden Hunnewell, EVP and partner of Nordblom Co. “This is an opportunity to build a great building that will continue the strong momentum we are seeing in this up-and-coming mixed use area of Boston, adding high quality space into a submarket with limited supply.”

“321 Harrison is positioned in the midst of a transforming urban neighborhood that we believe is poised for further growth,” adds Deke Schultze, SVP of Rubenstein Partners, L.P., and director of the New England region. “We plan to create headquarters-quality corporate office space in this outstanding location and tap into the increased demand we are seeing here.”

Another significant project to get the nod from the BRA board was Berkeley Investments, Inc.'s 171-unit multi-housing development at 32 Cambridge St. in Charlestown, located adjacent to the Sullivan Square MBTA station,

The development, valued at $52 million by the BRA, will involve the leveling of the Henry Sawyer Building, renovation of the existing Graphic Arts Finishers Building at 32 Cambridge St. and construction of a new building at 572 Rutherford Ave.

The Graphic Arts Finishers building will be renovated to include three stories of loft-style residential units, with nine studios, 31 one-bedroom lofts and an additional six units. The site will also include 2,500 square feet of retail, restaurant, or other commercial space on its ground floor, along with 16 parking spaces. At the new 572 Rutherford Avenue building, there will be a mix of unit types, including studios, one and one-plus bedrooms, two- and three-bedrooms, as well as 97 parking spaces.

A revised $40-million mixed-income project for veterans in Brighton secured the approval of the BRA board via a Notice of Project Change. The project, to be developed by Brighton Marine Health Center, Inc. and WinnCompanies, will create 102 new units, up from the original 2014 proposal approved by the BRA, and will provide 87 parking spaces.

Based on community input, the developer agreed to provide 11 three-bedroom units and 11 studios in lieu of 20 two-bedroom units and one one-bedroom unit.

In addition to the creation of housing, the project will create an off-site historical exhibit highlighting the social history of the project site by constructing a memorial to honor fallen heroes from the Allston-Brighton neighborhood.

Steady gains in the US economy have resulted in net positives for the multifamily sector—will this wave continue for the foreseeable future? What's driving development and capital flows? Join us at RealShare Apartments on October 19 & 20 for impactful information from the leaders in the National multifamily space. Learn more.

A rendering of the 321 Harrison Ave. office project in South Boston.

BOSTON—The Boston Redevelopment Authority has given the green light to an $80-million office building in the South End and a more than $50-million mixed-use project in Charlestown.

At its session last Thursday, the BRA approved seven projects totaling approximately $259 million. The largest development to be approved by the BRA was the 321 Harrison Avenue project, which will involve the development of an eight-story, approximately 230,000-square-foot, Class A office property atop the existing three-story parking garage at 321 Harrison Ave. According to documents filed with the BRA the project also entails the reconstruction of the lobby that will serve as a shared lobby with its adjoining 11-story, 242,000-square-foot 1000 Washington St. office building.

Affiliates of Rubenstein Partners, L.P. and Nordblom Co. acquired the 321 Harrison development site, and the adjacent existing office building at 1000 Washington St. for $75 million in January 2015. The BRA reports the development will cost another $80 million to construct.

The existing parking garage will be reconfigured to include 240 parking spaces for use by tenants, employees and visitors, with up to 50 parking spaces being designated for public use. The existing loading dock area at 1000 Washington St. will be pulled back from Harrison Avenue and reconstructed to provide additional pedestrian areas on the corner of Harrison Avenue and Mullins Way. The loading dock will also be reconfigured to create a public plaza, bringing life to the corner of Harrison Avenue and Mullins Way, according to the BRA. Nordblom and Rubenstein filed a Project Notification Form with the BRA in June and filed a letter of intent with the authority in February.

“We're pleased to receive BRA approval for this exciting project,” says Ogden Hunnewell, EVP and partner of Nordblom Co. “This is an opportunity to build a great building that will continue the strong momentum we are seeing in this up-and-coming mixed use area of Boston, adding high quality space into a submarket with limited supply.”

“321 Harrison is positioned in the midst of a transforming urban neighborhood that we believe is poised for further growth,” adds Deke Schultze, SVP of Rubenstein Partners, L.P., and director of the New England region. “We plan to create headquarters-quality corporate office space in this outstanding location and tap into the increased demand we are seeing here.”

Another significant project to get the nod from the BRA board was Berkeley Investments, Inc.'s 171-unit multi-housing development at 32 Cambridge St. in Charlestown, located adjacent to the Sullivan Square MBTA station,

The development, valued at $52 million by the BRA, will involve the leveling of the Henry Sawyer Building, renovation of the existing Graphic Arts Finishers Building at 32 Cambridge St. and construction of a new building at 572 Rutherford Ave.

The Graphic Arts Finishers building will be renovated to include three stories of loft-style residential units, with nine studios, 31 one-bedroom lofts and an additional six units. The site will also include 2,500 square feet of retail, restaurant, or other commercial space on its ground floor, along with 16 parking spaces. At the new 572 Rutherford Avenue building, there will be a mix of unit types, including studios, one and one-plus bedrooms, two- and three-bedrooms, as well as 97 parking spaces.

A revised $40-million mixed-income project for veterans in Brighton secured the approval of the BRA board via a Notice of Project Change. The project, to be developed by Brighton Marine Health Center, Inc. and WinnCompanies, will create 102 new units, up from the original 2014 proposal approved by the BRA, and will provide 87 parking spaces.

Based on community input, the developer agreed to provide 11 three-bedroom units and 11 studios in lieu of 20 two-bedroom units and one one-bedroom unit.

In addition to the creation of housing, the project will create an off-site historical exhibit highlighting the social history of the project site by constructing a memorial to honor fallen heroes from the Allston-Brighton neighborhood.

Steady gains in the US economy have resulted in net positives for the multifamily sector—will this wave continue for the foreseeable future? What's driving development and capital flows? Join us at RealShare Apartments on October 19 & 20 for impactful information from the leaders in the National multifamily space. Learn more.

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John Jordan

John Jordan is a veteran journalist with 36 years of print and digital media experience.