Image courtesy of Gensler

National Development and Mount Vernon Cos. are moving ahead with plans for a replacement studio for WBZ-TV in Allston, freeing up portions of the 8-acre Soldiers Field Road property for additional future projects.

The first phase of development would include the demolition of an 18,500-square-foot office building at 1200 Soldiers Field road and the WBZ radio tower at 1170 Soldiers Field Road to make way for the replacement studios. Designed by Gensler, the plans call for a 3-story, 63,000-square-foot building with updated technology, developers said in a project notification form submitted to the Boston Planning & Development Agency.

WBZ’s existing studio will remain in operation during the construction of the new facilities, developers said.

The proposed 55-foot height of the new building will require a variance from the zoning board of appeal.

The studio redevelopment is the first phase of a potential larger redevelopment of the 8-acre site, located in a neighborhood that has attracted recent proposals for office, lab and multifamily projects.