"This project will further the revitalization efforts that are happening in the Bulfinch Triangle by bringing much needed hotel rooms and commercial space," Mayor Thomas Menino says, in a statement. "The removal of the elevated highway brought us the beautiful Rose Kennedy Greenway--and now we will add to that with a great mixed-use project."

The burgeoning project site is available because of the elevated Interstate 93 highway structures' recent demise and subsequent demolition. Officially, the construction will be on Massachusetts Turnpike Authority's Parcel 1B, Parcel 1C and 86-88 N. Washington St. The space is across the street from the TD Banknorth Garden, a sports arena for Boston's professional hockey-team, the Bruins, and the Boston Celtics basketball team.

The dueling hotels will total 190,000 sf, consisting of a 153-room short-term Courtyard and a 121-room extended-stay hotel from TownePlace Suites--both by Marriot. Retail will sell from 10,000 sf of ground-floor cement with 13,000 sf of ground-floor restaurant space. The Merano will also contain 206,000 sf of office space for businesses in the adjacent area. The developer, Boston Development Group, is anticipating pushing dirt by Q1 of 2009 and expects to top it off up to two years later.