Two of the four original bidders for the Parcel 9 development project will move forward to a Best and Final Offer round, including:
- Haymarket Square Hotel (Normandy Partners) – 180-room hotel with 2-story public winter garden, a ground market, pushcart and retail space, top floor restaurant and rooftop garden. (Presentation & Video)
- Blackstone Market (Cresset & DeNormandie) – 50 rental housing units at North Street with three large restaurants on second floor, a first floor market and a green roof/agricultural center. (Presentation & Video)
The State agency property owner, Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), announced the selections on October 31, 2012. Two detailed proposals are being sought for final review prior to making a final designation. The Parcel 9 triangular plot of land created by the Big Dig is adjacent to Haymarket and the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway, bounded by Blackstone, North and Hanover Streets.
Not selected for the final round were the Boston Museum (civic contemporary museum) and Upton + Partners Market Square (rental apartments with an Italian-themed “Eataly” food market).
In a letter to the bidders, MassDOT’s William Tuttle, Office of Real Estate and Asset Development, said, “Each of the four proposals offered intriguing possibilities for the development of this area. MassDOT’s decision has been difficult, as demonstrated by the many comments we received from interested observers on how strong all four proposals were.”
The Boston Museum did not gain much support during the public meeting process other than from the Boston Globe.
The loss by developer Budge Upton is a surprise given signficant community support for his “Eataly” and “Market Square” concept by several groups, including those in the North End / Waterfront. A joint letter was submitted by members of the North End Central Artery Advisory Committee, the North End / Waterfront Residents’ Association, the North End / Waterfront Neighborhood Council, the ABCD North End / West End Neighborhood Service Center along with some individual residents. Upton + Partners was the only developer proposing a contribution of $2.1 million of public infrastructure improvements to the surrounding area.
The Parcel 7 & 9 Advisory Committee letter also appeared to favor Upton + Partners as well as the Haymarket Square hotel proposal by Normandy Partners.
Likely tipping the scales in favor of Blackstone Market (Cresset & DeNormandie) was the strong and focused support by Haymarket Pushcart Association.
Our own unscientific poll after the public proposal meetings was nearly dead even among the four options. Read past coverage of the Parcel 9 development process.
