Image courtesy of the Sound Museum

Boston’s arts and culture chief is asking developer IQHQ to retain music rehearsal and recording space at a Brighton property it’s planning to demolish for a 409,395-square-foot life science campus.

IQHQ should consider a mixed-use project that includes rehearsal space at the 155 North Beacon St. property, reflecting the concentration of musicians in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood, Chief of Arts & Culture Kara Elliott-Ortega wrote in a comment letter to the Boston Planning and Development Agency which is reviewing IQHQ’s proposal.

“155 North Beacon is the largest site of affordable rehearsal space in Boston and an extremely valuable and well-used cultural asset,” Elliott-Ortega wrote.

In response to a backlash from the arts community, IQHQ said this month it would hire a broker and architect to find the Sound Museum a replacement location in Boston.

But Elliott-Ortega urged developers to go a step further. The developer should pay for fitout costs associated with a relocation, secure “favorable” long-term lease terms and provide financial support for relocation and early operational costs, the letter stated.

Concerns about the displacement of arts and cultural venues has prompted the city to study new hybrid development models that incorporate them into lab projects, Elliott-Ortega noted. And Mayor Michelle Wu has suggested the city require studio, rehearsal, performance and live-work artist housing in new developments.

IQHQ currently proposes three retail spaces totaling 10,467 square feet, with offices and labs occupying the rest of the property.

The BPDA public comment period expires Feb. 4.