12 Farnsworth Conversion To Life Sciences Public Meeting

updated 01/19/22 with Abutters Meeting presentation 
updated 1/13/22 with ZBA Appeal Tracker and hearing date of February 15th.
updated 1/10/22 with link to meeting broadcast and confirmation that Flour Bakery remains. 

There will be a City of Boston Abutters Meeting for proposed changes to 12 - 22 Farnsworth (most popularly known as the building housing Flour Bakery) on: 

Monday, January 10, 2022

6:30 pm

View Meeting Broadcast via Facebook
View Meeting Presentation

In the last quarter of 2021,12 Farnsworth, a six story 59,146-square-foot office/retail property, and adjacent parking lot (11 Sleeper St) sold to San Diego-based Phase 3 Real Estate Partners who plans to convert the office building to Life Sciences labs and offices. 

The proposal includes additional roof mechanical equipment related to Life Sciences and slight changes to loading dock, utility upgrades, interior renovations to floors 2 through 6. The restaurant space, Flour Bakery, will remain. 

The site is subject to Groundwater Trust Overlay District and Land Subject to Coastal Storm Flowage under Boston Wetlands Protection Ordinance administered by the Boston Conservation Commission and is within the Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District. 

To track the status, use the ZBA Appeal Tracker, which shows a Zoning Board of Appeal Date of February, 15, 2022.

On a related note, 11 Sleeper Street will be in front of the Fort Point Landmark District Commission at their January 13, 2022 public meeting for the replacement of the existing transformer and concrete pad.12 Farnsworth presented at Landmarks in September of 2021.

12 Farnsworth Street

For more information or questions regarding the Jan 10th Abutters Meeting, please contact:
Haley Dillon
Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services
Haley.Dillon@boston.gov
617-635-2680

originally published 1.6.22

Gillette Special Announcement Regarding Parking Lots 8 & 9

Gillette has a scheduled hearing with the City’ Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 at 10:30 AM  for the reauthorization of Parking Lot 8 and 9 as an ancillary use on the Campus in South Boston. The reauthorization requires a Conditional Use Permit and an Article 27P IPOD Permit, both of which require ZBA approval.

It is our [Gillette's] understanding that the Fort Point Neighborhood Association will not have another regularly scheduled meeting until January* (Please see the December 2nd save the date footnote from the FPNA.) Gillette prefers to keep the ZBA hearing as scheduled, yet we want our neighbors to be informed, and to have a chance for input. To that end we are providing this information for the FPNA to distribute to members and interested parties. Since the application in front of the ZBA does not change anything, but allows for the use of parking of 170 vehicles (88 spaces in lot #8 and 82 spaces in lot #9) to continue, we are hoping that community questions and input may be addressed through an e-mail or telephone process. We would be happy to meet informally or at a special meeting if there is significant interest.

The site plans above show the location of Lots 8 & 9. These lots have been used for parking for around 50 years. Around 3 years ago, when staffing levels were reduced, local construction generated a need for parking. Gillette has used the lots for ancillary parking over that time. Parking continues to be an issue in South Boston and the Fort Point Neighborhood. We believe that the continued operation of Lots 8 & 9 provides some relief to the ongoing parking demands. As a continuation of an existing use:

• No physical alterations or curb cuts are required;

• No new traffic will be generated on A Street.

• Lots 8 & 9 will not be open to the general public; spaces will be leased to businesses across A Street.

• There will be no increase in the number of cars parked.

Written comments or questions may be sent to Ken Fields, Gillette's Senior Project Manager at Fort Point Associates, Inc. The Fort Point Neighborhood Association requests that if you are interested in a special community meeting to copy the FPNA on your correspondence. 

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* In lieu of FPNA's November & December meetings, the FPNA is hosting a neighborhood Holiday Social on Tuesday, December 2nd. Please save the date.