Boston Gets One Sumbission To Build Tallest Tower

BOSTON-Despite initial interest from international developers, only one Boston businessman has responded to Mayor Thomas Menino’s challenge to build the city’s tallest skyscraper on the site of the Winthrop Square parking garage. Steve Belkin was the only developer to submit a proposal to the city by Monday’s deadline. He proposes building a 75-story, 1.3-million-sf glass office tower on the site.

In February, shortly after Menino issued the challenge asking for proposals to build a 1,000-ft tower, the city’s tallest, city officials said they were besieged by calls from developers as far away as Europe and Asia inquiring about the project. In October, 10 local and three out of state builders picked up proposal packages from the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Chicago-based Equity Office Properties Trust was among the potential developers. The company owns a high-rise office tower next to the 115 Federal St. garage.

Belkin, however, was the only businessman to enter a proposal. Beyond the building, his plan calls for a one-acre, ground level public park and a 20,000-sf public garden on the building’s roof. Italian architect Renzo Piano designed the building. “Today’s proposal promises everything we asked for,” Menino says in a statement.