[responsive_youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtZl496V57o]
Eamon O’Marah and the development team of Jones Lang LaSalle and Normandy Real Estate Partners presented at the November 14, 2013 meeting of the North End / Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA).
The informational update included their plan to construct and operate Haymarket Square Hotel including an 8-story, 180-room hotel with attached 1-story retail market on the undeveloped parcel adjacent to the Greenway’s North End Parks and bounded by Hanover Street, Blackstone Street, North Street and the Surface Artery. Normandy/LaSalle won the right to develop Parcel 9 from the owner of the property, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, earlier this year.
The design renderings shown were from the competitive bidding process although changes are possible through the formal Article 80 process that is expected to begin in early 2014. To date, there is no specific hotel operator designated for the development. Part of the hotel meeting room of about 3,000 feet will be made available for community use. Blackstone Street will also get some attention with $2 million of promised infrastructure improvements, including regrading, stalls, trash and storage to support the Haymarket pushcarts.
According to the architects’ rendering, the surrounding streets are pedestrian walkways. No cars. No trucks. Not even a bicycle. These guys are miracle-makers, city planning magicians.