The Boston Redevelopment Authority gave the go-ahead to nearly a half-billion dollars worth of new development including Samuels & Assoc.’s 30-story residential tower in the Fenway.
The projects approved Thursday represent a combined 1.1 million square feet of development, including 787 new housing units.
Boston-based Samuels proposed a 22-story tower containing 319 apartments in 2013. Since then, estimated project costs have risen $25 million, prompting Samuels to file amended plans for a 30-story building containing 240 apartments and 109 condos.
Neighborhood groups and housing advocates recently objected to Samuels’ plans for only 35 affordable units on-site. Following a meeting with community groups, Samuels agreed to include 41 affordable units on-site. The developer also will pay $4.7 million to the city’s inclusionary development fund that supports generation of affordable units.
Wendy Nicholas, acting director of the Fenway Community Development Corp., spoke in favor of the revised plans. But Nicholas raised concerns about the city’s policy of allowing developers to satisfy affordable housing requirements outside of the impacted neighborhood, warning it has the potential to increase segregation.
The complex will contain 20,500 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Samuels also will pay $5 million for construction of a plaza, public walkway and art installation on the 0.6-acre site at the corner of Boylston Street and Brookline Avenue.
Other projects approved at Thursday’s board of directors meeting:
• 81 new housing units, including 53 affordable units, in a six-story building at 1971-1977 Dorchester Ave. and 4 Fuller St. in Dorchester near the Ashmont MBTA station. The project by Trinity Financial of Boston will include 3,950 square feet of ground-floor retail.
• 33 apartments and 4,400 square feet of retail in a six-story development at 248 Dorchester Ave. in South Boston by Canton-based Evergreen Property Group.
• Rehabilitation of 9 Channel Center in Fort Point with 65,857 square feet of offices and 6,687 square feet of ground-floor retail and restaurant space by Boston-based Berkeley Investments.
• 32 units of affordable housing at 191 Paris St. in East Boston by East Boston Community Development Corp.
