Haymarket Hotel and Market Pavilion rendering view from Blackstone Street and Haymarket vendors. (Image: Normandy / Harbinger)
Jockeying continues around the long-debated development project at Parcel 9 along the Greenway, currently undergoing regulatory review. The Haymarket Hotel proposal by developer Normandy Partners/Harbinger has been designated by land owner MassDOT and has most recently received support from the North End’s three primary elected officials: State Senator Anthony Petruccelli, State Representative Aaron Michlewitz and District 1 City Councilor Sal LaMattina.
“We are writing to express our strong support for the Haymarket Hotel Project on Central Artery Parcel 9 being developed by Normandy Real Estate Partners and Harbinger Development,” said the three elected officials in the letter. “The project, consisting of up to 225 hotel rooms and approximately 25,000 square feet of retail, will greatly enhance the area with a well-designed building that will fit in and complement the surrounding neighborhood,” they added.
In addition to stipulating previously disclosed accommodations for the Haymarket Pushcart Association, the letter also cites a meeting room in the building for North End / Waterfront community groups (at no charge) and annual financial contributions towards the North End Beautification Program. The latter program valued at $10,000 is to be managed by the existing Beautification Committee in the North End. In addition, a release by the Rose Kennedy Greenway Conservancy announced $25,000 of funding from the developer toward North End Park improvements on the Greenway for horticulture and bench swings.
The support by local elected officials comes after a strongly worded objection letter from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. The MHC took issue with the proposed 103 feet height (versus 55′ zoning) and “adverse effect†of the proposal being out of character with the historic Blackstone Block. The developer is expected to negotiate with the Commission in order to move forward with its project.
Adding to the objections of the Historical Commission, one member of the Parcel 9 Advisory Committee, Victor Brogna, reacted negatively to the officials support, raising questions about the changes in the developer’s proposal from when it was originally presented as part of a competitive bidding process.
“The letter [by elected officials] takes a position opposed to the position I have taken, by supporting the project with the substantial changes made by the developer after having been selected as the successful bidder, changes which the unsuccessful bidder was not given the opportunity to make. The unfairness has apparently been overlooked by the signers of the letter,” said Brogna.
A meeting is expected to be scheduled regarding the objections by the Massachusetts Historical Commission and potentially a follow up meeting by the Boston Redevelopment Authority as part of their development review.