Boston Convention and Exhibition Center officials framed their plans for commercial development on 6.2 acres of nearby parcels as a necessary lifeline to hotels in the neighborhood.

Hotels in the Seaport District cannot survive on convention center business alone, prompting the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority to seek proposals for three parcels on D and E streets, former Boston Planning and Development Agency Director Brian Golden said at a community meeting. 

“Those parcels aren’t doing much of anything,” said Golden, who joined Boston-based law firm Keegan Werlin LLP as head of its permitting practice last fall. “It’s job creation. It’s taxes. It’s economic development.”

The Massachusetts Convention Center Authority held a pair of community meetings in South Boston after rejecting two development teams’ proposals amid criticism from some elected officials.

In a presentation this week at District Hall, Golden noted the COVID pandemic disrupted travel and revenues for local hotels. The transformation of the largely vacant lots and surface parking would activate the D Street corridor and present opportunities for community uses such as daycare, Golden said.

The 6.2-acre development site includes parcels at 510 and 520 E St. and 371 D St. acquired by the MCCA by eminent domain in 2012 and 2013.

The MCCA cancelled the original RFP for the development sites in April after some elected officials pushed for projects that will support the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. State Sen. Nick Collins, D-South Boston, warned that the Legislature could curtail the MCCA’s eminent domain powers.

Two development teams had submitted proposals for mixed-use developments with a major life science component.

Boston Global Investors, partnering with RISE Together, Bastion Cos. and Walker Group, proposed three buildings totaling 550,000 square feet including lab space and a grocery store. Cronin Group proposed 1.9 million square feet of office and lab space, a food hall, grocery store and performing arts hall.

Respondents also were required to include office space for the MCCA.

MCCA Executive Director David Gibbons said this week a new request for proposals will be issued in June and submissions will be due in September.