Jan Karski Way Extension/Image courtesy of Stantec
Boston Planning & Development Agency officials approved proposals to build 544 housing units and conversion of a pair of commercial buildings in South Boston and the South End into laboratory space.
BioMed Realty will complete construction of the 235,000-square-foot building at 321 Harrison Ave. in South End as lab space, after acquiring the site and the adjacent 1000 Washington St. office building this spring for $314 million. Under terms of the approval, 321 Harrison is approved for biosafety levels 1 and 2 activities under Centers for Disease Control guidelines. The developer will be required to receive additional approval if tenants want to perform biosafety level 3 activities, which include research on potentially lethal infectious diseases.
The lab conversion approval had been delayed since April after BPDA board members asked developers to provide additional community outreach to non-English speaking neighborhood residents, including the Chinatown Neighborhood Council and the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association.
“There’s been an increased consciousness of what has been perceived as certain types of environmental injustices that have taken place over the years. Part of our job as board members is to represent the public interest in that regard,” board member Ted Landsmark said.
Another lab project will be built at 69 A St. in South Boston, an office building that will be retrofitted by developer Phase 3 Real Estate Partners into 47,500 square feet of R&D space.
The largest residential project will bring 343 market-rate units and 60 income-restricted units to Jan Karski Way Extension in Dorchester. Located on a 3.9 acre parcel, the project by Bass Realty LLC includes a five-story development spanning 341,176 square feet, including 14,566 square feet of retail space and 268 parking spaces.
Designed by Stantec, the $150 million project will set aside 15 percent of housing units as affordable, including 53 units for households earning 70 percent or less of the area median income. Another seven units are designed for households earning a maximum 100 percent of AMI.
In Roxbury, developer Rina Enterprise Inc. received approval for a five-story building containing 28 apartments and 5,072 square feet of commercial space. The $10.4 million project at 190 Dudley St. will include four income-restricted units for households earning a maximum 70 percent of AMI.
In the Fenway, a former Boston University office building bordering the Massachusetts Turnpike received approval for expansion and conversion into 71 compact living apartments. Developer William Thibeault plans to build a 4-story addition to the 3-story building at 601 Newbury St. for 50 studios and 21 one-bedroom units. Under the guidelines of the city’s compact living pilot, which encourages larger common areas to offset smaller living spaces, the project would include a fitness room, dining room, conference room, media room and patio totaling 4,176 square feet.
Another compact living project received approval at 69 Bailey St. in Dorchester, where a development team plans 21 units at a former VFW Post property. Braintree-based Ace Carpentry and Mainsail Management of Boston are partnering on the $8 million project which would provide 50 percent transit subsidies to residents.
And in Hyde Park, developer Thompson Square Partners LLC received approval for 21 condominiums to be developed on a parking lot at 555 Metropolitan Ave. The $6.75 million project also requires variances from the zoning board of appeals for minimum off-street parking, off-street loading, first floor residential use, front yard setback and building height.
