Friends of Fort Point Channel recently hosted a meeting with local business leaders to hear the latest plans to add offices and retail space to the Stillings Street office-and-garage complex.
Boston-based Berkeley Investments, which proposes adding two floors of office space above the 580 parking spaces, addressed 30 members of the group at the newly-opened Committee restaurant last week.
“It’s always been our vision to try to do what we can to be a good neighbor, developer and partner in this district,” said Daniel McGrath, vice president and senior asset manager of Berkeley Investments.
The extra 50,000 square feet of collaborative office space would be surrounded by glass on three sides, giving tenants an unobstructed view of the Boston skyline and Q Park, McGrath said. The addition would sit above the existing six-story garage and two floors of office space.
“The building reflects a natural transition between the surrounding brick, historic, and modern buildings in South Boston,” McGrath said.
On the ground floor, Berkeley Investments plans to open two new retail spaces. John M. Karoff, senior vice president of Berkeley Investments, said they hope to attract local service-oriented retail such dry cleaners and pharmacies that the area lacks.
A new spiral staircase and entryway would be added to the Stillings Street garage and offices, which would remain open during construction.
“Berkeley (Investments) worked hard to help create the vibrant and livelier streetscape you see today in Fort Point,” Karoff said.
Karoff mentioned opportunities to create programming for the community including movie screenings in the park, art installations and food trucks.
“We want to activate both newer retail spaces and parking garage spaces by looking for opportunities that can showcase the innovation of the community,” Karoff said.
The plans are subject to a large project review by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA). A formal application is expected to be filed with the BRA by the end of June.
“We are always excited for more retail that can open up that side of Fort Point,” said Rachel Borgatti, executive director of Friends of Fort Point Channel.
