Breaking News/07.24.2024
Going big: Healey administration to seek proposals to turn a grim downtown Boston “superblock” into a major new housing development
News tips? Story ideas? Email us at sbvanvoorhis@hotmail.com
With home prices and rents shattering records, Gov. Maura Healey has notably promised to “go big” in her efforts to tackle the state’s housing crisis.
On Wednesday, Healey took a step towards fulfilling that pledge.
The Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance announced plans to redevelop a large block near Government Center currently occupied by a pair of hulking, Brutalist-era government buildings.
State officials say they will seek proposals from private developers to transform the dingy superblock, made up of the Charles F. Hurley and Erich Lindemann buildings, into a major residential, mixed-use development.
The announcement puts the kibosh on a plan, initiated during the previous Baker administration, to redevelop part, but not all, of the huge block into new state offices, lab space and some housing.
As Contrarian Boston first reported back in April, that plan, spearheaded by developer Leggat McCall, is dead in the water and unable to move forward amid the collapse in the lab market and apparent financing issues.
Key Boston officials and local housing advocacy groups, in turn, have come out in support of the Healey administration’s downtown Boston housing proposal.
“Redeveloping this site into much needed housing will also add to our efforts here at the City to revitalize our downtown by bringing more residents into the neighborhood," Arthur Jemison, Boston’s chief of planning, said in a press statement.
Still, redeveloping the pair of bunker-like, concrete buildings is likely to prove tricky, with the whole site having been originally planned - and the Lindemann building designed - by renowned architect Paul Rudolph back in the early 1970s.
As a result, the developer the state picks to redevelop the downtown Boston block will likely have to incorporate significant elements of both Brutalist-era buildings into their plans.
Hi Scott - great question. It's no clear yet how much of both buildings the developer will be required to keep. That said, this is far from a teardown/rebuild. At least the facade, and probably more, will have to be preserved based on the architectural/historic value, which, of course, is hotly debated. Will add that to the story.
"Tricky" would be an understatement.