Development News This Week

The South Boston Dorchester Avenue Corridor draft plan comment deadline is June 22, 2016.  To view the revised draft plan and submit your comments click here. The Dorchester Ave. Corridor Plan community planning process began in September 2015 with a tour and monthly workshops. Read earlier articles. 

Pier 4 Phase 3

Pier 4 Phase 3 Public Meeting
June 23, 2016
6:30pm - 7:30pm
All Seasons Gathering Room, 100 Pier 4 Boulevard

The Boston Redevelopment Autority (BRA) is hosting a public meeting to discuss Tishman Speyer's (the "Developer") proposal, as submitted in the Fourth Amendment to Planned Development Area # 64 and the First Notice of Project Change to Pier 4 Phase 3 to remove 33,767 square feet of under water land from Planned Development Area # 64 and facilitate the off-site construction of approximately twenty-two units of affordable senior housing at 5 Major Michael J. O'Connor Way in South Boston. A public comment period will be open until July 8, 2016 to facilitate discussion of these changes, 

BRA To Launch New Website 
The BRA will be launching a new website to define the future of the agency and to reflect reforms identified under the Walsh administration.  Over the course of 14 weeks with the assistance of Continuum, a locally-based leading global design consultancy, the BRA will be gathering feedback from all stakeholders including residents. More details at nextbra.org and on Twitter #nextBRA. 

Dot Avenue Corridor: The Strategic Plan

Join the Boston Redevelopment Authority at an Open House to celebrate the presentation of the strategic plan for the Dorchester Avenue Corridor plan area on: 

Thursday, May 19, 2016
 Open House

5:30 - 8:00 pm

Mass Bay Credit Union 

147 W. 4th Street

The PLAN: South Boston Dorchester Avenue initiative is an opportunity to think about what to “preserve, enhance, and grow” in the study area. Working with the community, over the past nine months, the City planning team developed a vision and framework for new types of uses, improved mobility and connectivity, and scale of development best suited for the future of this transit corridor. The outcome of the planning initiative is a Strategic Plan outlining guidelines to be used towards zoning that will be presented for community feedback. At this event, all are invited to review and comment on the Strategic Plan, its guidelines and recommendations. In addition, there will be opportunities to make further comments about the Strategic Plan on the BRA website after the workshop.

Related posts

Springing Into Action

Updated 4/5/16
Fort Point is getting cleaner this spring. Street cleaning starts today on A Street street. In addition, Binford Street (from A Street to the Fort Point Channel) will have street cleaning every Tuesday 9 am - 1 pm from April through November. The odd side of the street (closest to Gillette) will be the first and third Tuesdays starting April 19th due to the April 4th snowfall and the even side is the second and fourth Tuesdays starting April 12th. 

The Fort Point Neighborhood Association is holding Fort Point's 12th annual Boston Shines April 29th - April 30th. Fort Point businesses are invited to participate on Friday, April 29th from 11 am - 2 pm and Fort Point Residents on Saturday, April 30th from 10 am - 3 pm. Boston Shines Fort Point style creates a living tapestry of flowers, vines, and community along A Street. Volunteer today and help beautify your neighborhood. No green thumb required. If you have any questions, please contact FPNA.

Are your New Year's resolutions a distant memory? If getting more involved with your community is still pending on your list, there is plenty to offer on Civic Engagement Tuesday, April 5th, There are public meetings to envision a new Dot Ave Corridor, discover whether the South Boston Bypass Rd could re-open to non-commercial traffic and talk about the benefits and impacts of the Boston Grand Prix.

Civic Engagement Tuesday: April 5, 2016

Boston Grand Prix City Council Hearing: Councillor Linehan called for a hearing to be held on the Boston Grand Prix stating the importance for City Council to give residents a voice in the process and examine the impacts on the neighborhood. The Committee of Arts, Culture & Special Events will be holding the public meeting (docket # 0442) at  City Hall, Iannella Chamber, 5th Floor at 3 pm. You may also submit written comments and questions to CCC.AC@boston.gov and Councilor Linehan prior to the hearing. Councilor Michelle Wu is taking questions beforehand on twitter. Tweet #QsforIndyCar @wutrain. Written comments may be part of the public record and are available to all City Councillors in advance of the hearing. Attend or watch live on Comcast 8/RCN 82 or on the web.

South Boston Bypass Road & HOV Pilot Program Results & Feedback Meeting: The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) invites the public to attend a meeting to provide South Boston Bypass Road and HOV Pilot program results and gather public feedback. The public meeting will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, room 154 from 6 pm – 8 pm.

Dot Ave Corridor: Draft Plan Elements & Implementation Strategies The Dot Ave Plan is an opportunity to think strategically about the types of uses and scale of development best suited for the future of this transit corridor. The goal of the planning study is to create a vision with the community and to establish guidelines that will result in a comprehensive plan that informs new zoning for future development. This is the seventh in a series of workshops. The workshop will take place at Iron Worker Local 7 located at 195 Old Colony 
from 6 pm – 8 pm.   

originally posted 4.1.16

Dot Avenue Corridor Plan: Placemaking & Mobility Workshop

Join the Boston Redevelopment Authority on Wednesday, January 27, 2016 from 5:30 - 6:00 PM for networking and an open house on the Dorchester Avenue Corridor Plan. Then from 6:00 - 8:00 PM participate in a Placemaking and Mobility workshop, which will focus on the future character of the study area and various components of the emerging plan. The meeting will take place at the Mass Bay Credit Union located at 147 West Fourth St in South Boston. This is the sixth workshop of the Dorchester Avenue Corridor planning process. More details on the Dot Ave Corridor Plan.

Dot Avenue Corridor Plan: Design Workshop

Join the Boston Redevelopment Authority on:

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

5:30–6:00 PM: Open House and Networking

6:00–8:00 PM: Design workshop

195 Old Colony Rd

The workshop will focus on the future character, density and open space within the study area.

This workshop is the fifth and final workshop in this phase of public planning meetings for the Dorchester Avenue corridor in South Boston.

A Dot Ave. Design Recap Session & Dialogue will be held on Monday, December 14th at 6PM at the same meeting location. There will be also be a conversation about the elements and components of a draft plan.

More details on the Dot Ave Corridor Plan.

originally posted 11.10.15

Dot Avenue Corridor Plan: Streets & Blocks Workshop

Update: Next meeting dates are November 17, Tuesday 6 pm - 8 pm "Draw with Us" Workshop and December 14, Monday 6 pm - 8 pm "What we Heard" - Recap Session.

In a follow up to October 1st's Dorchester Avenue Corridor Plan Visioning Workshop, the Boston Redevelopment Authority is holding a Streets & Blocks Workshop on:

Monday, October 26, 2015

6 pm - 8 pm

Iron Workers Local 7

195 Old Colony Road

The community is invited to come together to begin creating planning scenarios that will include new streets and blocks, and future land uses in the study area.

This is the fourth in the series of Dot Ave Corridor Plan public events, which have included a Visioning Workshop, a Walk & Bike Tour and the Open House launch. 

originally posted 10.20.15, updated 10.26.15

Dorchester Ave. Visioning Workshop

The Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) invites you to attend a visioning workshop to prioritize feedback received from the Walk/Bike Tour and Open House, and to begin shaping a vision statement for the plan on: 

Thursday, October 1

6:00 pm

Iron Workers Local 7, 195 Old Colony Ave

orginally published 9.23.15

Walk or Bike Dorchester Ave With The BRA

UPDATE: Due to Thursday's rain forecast, tour will be Monday, September 14th at 5:30 pm.

Grab your walking shoes or bike and join Boston Redevelopment Authority staff for a tour of the Dorchester Avenue study area to continue the dialogue about priority items that the Dorchester Avenue Corridor project plan can address. 

Both tours will leave from the parking lot at 195 Old Colony Avenue at 5:30 PM on September 10th. Participants should register for one: either the walking tour or the bicycle tour. Register now.

Please check the project website for updates on weather-related cancellations.Rain date will be September 14th, 2015 at 5:30 PM, departing from 195 Old Colony Avenue.

What to learn more about the Dorchester Avenue Corridor project? Read this related article.

South Boston - Dorchester Avenue Corridor Open House

Update: Open House notes available here. 

The BRA is launching a process to create a new vision and plan for the Dorchester Avenue corridor area in South Boston. Residents, property owners, business owners, community and civic groups are invited to this open house event to learn more about the study, the area, and how to get involved.

July 30, 2015

5pm - 8pm

Iron Workers Local 7 Building

195 Old Colony Avenue

In South Boston, the Dorchester Avenue corridor from Andrew Square to Broadway Station is undergoing a shift away from traditional manufacturing and industrial uses, as demand for residential and mixed-use development increases. Situated between two major Red Line stations and bus hubs, the corridor is ripe for transit-oriented development. The goal of the South Boston study will be to create new zoning that aligns the aspirations of the community with predictable development conditions.

Dorchester Avenue’s underutilized light industrial buildings will be the primary focus. The BRA will look to residents for ideas on how such properties could be transformed to contribute more positively to the corridor in the future. The study will suggest strategies for improving access to retail and developing affordable housing to meet the needs of local families, in addition to public realm improvements, traffic mitigation, and other economic development opportunities.

The Dorchester Avenue study area encompasses a portion of South Boston’s largest residential zoning district. The so-called H-1-50 zone, which touches Andrew Square, will be analyzed in hopes of updating antiquated zoning to allow for reasonable increases in density that would accommodate population growth. 

Based on resounding feedback from neighborhood residents and South Boston’s elected officials, Mayor Walsh has asked the BRA to work with the community so that any new zoning recommendations maintain the character of this residential district and place a renewed emphasis on architectural continuity.

originally posted 7.16.15