Image courtesy of Stantec and Dream Collaborative

The designated developer of the Blair lot property in Roxbury’s Nubian Square is adding possible life science tenancy to its strategy as it kicks off permitting for a 348,320-square-foot project.

Nubian Ascend Partners said it plans nearly 142,000 square feet of office-lab space on the five upper floors of the mixed-use development, which would replace a city-owned parking lot with a food hall, performance hall, artist workspaces and artist housing.

“Given the proposed project’s location midway between the Longwood Medical area and the Boston Medical Center, we anticipate that Nubian Square Ascends will become a nexus of science, academic and medical research in this key institutional corridor,” developers write in a notification letter to the Boston Planning & Development Agency.

The BPDA selected the Nubian Ascends team, led by developer Richard Taylor, in December from a list of three finalists who submitted proposals to redevelop the property and advance the revitalization of the square. The commercial component originally was anchored by 135,000 square feet of office space. Developers also are setting aside one floor of commercial space occupied by local businesses.

“Tenants of the office-laboratory space will bring substantial purchasing power to Nubian Square in support of neighborhood businesses,” developers wrote.

Other elements of the project include a 44,615-square-foot food hall and culinary arts training center, 22,030-square-foot performing arts venue, nearly 16,000 square feet devoted to artist housing, a 6,000-square-foot workspace for artists, space for the existing Black Market and Nubian Gallery.

Nubian Ascends predicts the development would generate 900 permanent jobs, including participation by women- and minority-owned businesses in all phases.