One Congress – Redevelopment of Government Center Garage – Public Meeting – BRA – October 7, 2013
Video Timeline:
00:00 BRA Introduction and Process Review
04:00 One Congress Project Presentation by Thomas O’Brien of HYM Investor Group
24:10 Public Questions and Comments
“One Congress,” the Government Center Garage redevelopment project, is moving quickly toward approval by city officials and could be given the go ahead by the Boston Redevelopment Authority as soon as November 14, 2013. The 2.4 million SF development calls for 771 residential units, 204 new hotel rooms, 1.3 million SF of office, 82,500 SF of retail and 1,159 parking spaces. The BRA has accelerated its project reviews in the final months of Mayor Menino’s administration, according to the Boston Globe.
At this week’s City Hall meeting, lead developer of the project, Thomas O’Brien of HYM Investor Group, reviewed recent changes made to the One Congress proposal from the original Project Notification Form to the current Draft Project Impact Report. Specifically, height adjustments reduced the tops of the highest towers (west office parcel from 600′ to 528′ and 118′ drop in the residential / hotel tower on the east parcel from 275′ to 157′) while making up the square footage with height increases spread to the smaller buildings proposed on the project site. See also, Shadowing the Government Center Garage Redevelopment After the Tower Reductions.
A recap of an updated phased development plan is shown below. For more details, please watch the meeting video that reviews heights and massing (09:50), traffic impacts (16:00), shadow study (17:20) and public realm plan (21:00).
Public comments on the project can be emailed to the Boston Redevelopment Authority at john.fitzgerald.bra@cityofboston.gov by Wednesday, November 6, 2013. More information can be found on the BRA’s website and the developer’s site, GovernmentCenterGaragereDevelopment.com.
