In a last minute effort to divert the State’s decision on the Haymarket Parcel 9 development, the Boston Globe is reporting that the Haymarket vendors have withdrawn support for Eastat’s proposal for 78 apartments over a ground market. Instead, the vendors are favoring the DeNormandie proposal for an office building and galleries over the marketplace.
Quoted in the Globe is Frank Fiscichella of the Haymarket pushcart board, “Having the market operate below apartments will create a war every week from here on out,’’ as a result of the noise, trash and early morning activity.
MassDOT has given the four bidders more time to make their pitches, despite previous indications that officials were in favor of the Eastat plan, as was the Mayor. The other bidders are Gutierrez (offices), DeNormandie (offices and galleries) and the Boston Museum. The next MassDOT meeting is in early January.
The Haymarket association’s effort brings back DeNormandie into the running, after it was assumed that the two finalists were Eastat and the Museum. DeNormandie’s proposal was the most extensive development with an open-air glass canopy over Blackstone St., connecting to its existing properties. Financing is supported by the Rockefeller family. DeNormandie also owns Lewis Wharf on the North End Waterfront and Hodge Boiler Works in East Boston. Full details of the proposal can be found here (pdf).
There were extensive public meetings over the past year which included the Haymarket association, so it is a bit odd that they are now interjecting their revised backing on what was expected to be the day of the MassDOT vote.
The Museum idea is a terrible one. They have no money to build it and are asking for a public subsidy, right off the bat. Tell them to come back when they have their act together. The City’s waited 380 years for a museum, it can wait a couple more.