BOSTON—In the waning days of 2015, Boston Properties announced that it would be submitting plans in early 2016 for a major mixed-use project in the city's Back Bay.
The commercial developer filed a letter of intent with the Boston Redevelopment Authority on Dec. 29 for the development of four air and ground leased parcels at 145 and 165 Dartmouth St. The plan for the properties that are to include parcels in and over the existing parking garage at 165 Dartmouth St. and Back Bay Station at 145 Dartmouth St. calls for approximately 1.4 million square feet of mixed-use development.
MassDOT approved the long-term leases of the four air and ground parcels on Dartmouth St, to Boston Properties in December 2014. Boston Properties expects to spend approximately $32 million on renovations to the Bay Back Station and Concourse in exchange for the ground and air rights leases, according to a report in the Boston Globe. According to minutes from the MassDOT Board of Directors meeting on Nov. 14, 2014 that authorized the negotiation of the Back Bay term sheet with Boston Properties, the deal would allow the development of up to three additional buildings at the property that is bounded by Dartmouth, Stuart and Clarendon streets and Columbus Avenue.
The letter of intent authored by Boston Properties' senior vice president Brian Cantalupa, on behalf of affiliate BP Hancock, LLC, was filed by the authority on Dec. 30. The letter of intent signals the beginning of the approval process for the project with the BRA. The project will require zoning approvals. Cantalupa states in the letter that the company intends to file a Project Notification Form within the next several months with the BRA.
While the company did not reveal specific project details concerning the project, such as the proposed height of the tower building for example, Cantalupa did specify the new development would be a mixed-use office, retail, restaurant, commercial and residential development. The project site is located nearby Boston Properties' 100 Clarendon St. (the former John Hancock) office tower. Last month, Boston Properties reported it was spending $667.4 million to retire debt early on the tower building and adjoining garage.
"Boston Properties will invest significant capital into the 1970s era garage and the station, resulting in a transit oriented development which will integrate the project, the garage and the station into the Back Bay and surrounding neighborhoods," Boston Properties states in its letter of intent to the BRA.
The company tells the BRA its vision for the parcels also includes significant functional and aesthetic improvements to the Concourse and a contribution towards the improvement of the track-level ventilation at the station. The company recently assumed property management responsibilities for the Back Bay Station Concourse and says it has started an effort to improve the concourse's appearance.
Cantalupa ended his letter to the BRA stating, "Our vision for the redevelopment and repurposing of the garage and station air and ground lease parcels will deliver significant social, economic and public realm improvements to the heart of the Back Bay, and represent further significant commitment by Boston Properties to the City of Boston."
Boston Properties develops, redevelops, acquires, manages, operates and owns a portfolio of Class A office space, one hotel, four residential properties and five retail properties. The company's holdings are concentrated in four markets—Boston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.
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