The proposed Lewis Wharf Hotel project by JW Capital Partners continues to garner tremendous community interest, as shown on Wednesday night at the first Impact Advisory Group meeting hosted by the Boston Redevelopment Authority at the Nazzaro Community Center in Boston’s North End.
Plans include two new 5-story hotel buildings connected by a glass lobby along with a 54,000 square-foot publicly accessible park replacing the surface parking lot on Atlantic Avenue. Plans include a new public marina that would also host the existing Boston Sailing Center. The current 225 parking spaces would be accommodated by an underground 380-space garage allowing room for the added hotel-related vehicles.
Filling the Nazzaro Center to capacity, abutters and the “Save Our North End Waterfront” opposition group were well-represented and vocal at the IAG meeting. Attorney Daniel Toscano, representing the developer, noted that supporters of the project were not solicited for these IAG proceedings. The opposition group has been active in lobbying against the hotel project, including at a June 2015 meeting with State Rep. Aaron Michlewitz.
To date, only a Letter of Intent has been filed by the developer with the BRA. A formal Project Notification Form is expected in September that will kick off a formal Article 80 process as the developer seeks BRA Board approval. A second BRA-IAG meeting is scheduled for September 10th (location TBD).
Renderings and information presented by the developer can be viewed at LewisWharfBoston.com. Christopher Tracy is the BRA Project Manager for the Lewis Wharf Hotel and can be reached at 617-918-4259 or christopher.tracy@boston.gov with questions or comments.
View the complete IAG meeting presentation and discussion from August 12th in the meeting video above.
