NEWRA Raises Concerns on Garage and Garden Projects

RR1Approval to send comment letters to the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), related to proposed projects,  was supported by the North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) based on facts presented by the association’s Zoning, Licensing and Construction Committee meeting.

Co-chaired by David Kubiak and Victor Brogna the committee has put together a long list of possible concerns relating to the Boston Garden Project and the Government Center Garage development. Two of the major concerns were increase traffic flow and environmental control issues.

“The BRA at a public meeting committed to do a traffic study,” Kubiak said. “To date a traffic study has not even been started related to either development.”

He suggested that “both these projects be approved in separate phases with neighborhood input.” He noted, “This will allow more time to complete any studies and bring the rest of the plans back to the community.”

Kubiak said, “NEWRA has been involved with numerous large projects in the past and will continue to do so.”

NEWRA’s other concerns included, public transit capacity and impact, parking needs and impact, open space needs impacts, shadows, air quality, an affordable supermarket and affordable housing.

The 2.3 acre Boston Garden project will be divided into two blocks with a new atrium hall entrance to the facility between the blocks at the Causeway Street sidewalk.

Phase 1 includes 642,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and office space, the atrium hall entrance is a 40,000 square foot expansion of the Garden, a below grade parking garage and a hotel.

Future phases include a 600 foot tower close to the O’Neil Building with 497 residential units and a 420 foot high tower on the east side of the site with 668,000 square feet of office space.

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