Archive for March 2008

Parcel 24 - Project Notification Form Public Hearing

 Parcel 24 Aerial View

Project Name: Parcel 24 Redevelopment

Project Proponent: Parcel 24, LLC, a joint venture of Asian Community Development Corporation and New Boston Development Partners

Project Description:
Parcel 24, LLC, a joint venture of Asian Community Development Corporation and New Boston Development Partners, proposes a new construction of approximately 325 residential units, approximately 5,500 SF of commercial/ retail space, approximately 6,000 SF community space, 165 parking spaces, and related site improvements on Parcel 24, an approximately 58,000 SF vacant lot bounded by Hudson Street to the east, Kneeland Street to the north, and Albany Street to the west in Chinatown.  The total gross square footage of the Proposed Project is approximately 435,800 SF.

Meeting Date/ Place:
Thursday, March 13, 2008
6:00-8:00 PM
Doubletree Hotel, Cherry Blossom Room
821 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02111

Close of Comment Period: March 27, 2008

MAIL TO:
Tai Y. Lim
Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Square
Boston, MA 20201

FAX TO:                       617-742-7783
PHONE:                        617-918-4244
EMAILTO:                     Tai.Lim.BRA@cityofboston.gov

Chinatown Library Update

Lisette Le talks about Chinatown Library at TCC meeting
Lisette Le talks at the Chinatown Coalition meeting

The Boston Chinatown Blog had reported on a public meeting to build a Chinatown branch library. At that public meeting held in Sept 18, 2007, community participants voiced opinions from program usage to possible site locations. At the February 2008 Chinatown Coalition (TCC) meeting, Lisette Le from the Chinatown Library Committee gave an update on the progress of the work.

In 2007, Mayor Menino and the City of Boston provided seed funds to conduct a feasibility study for a branch library in Chinatown. Through a selection process, the firm Miller, Dyer, and Spears (MDS) was selected as the consultant. Since the public meeting in September, 4 sites have been narrowed down from a list of 10. The goal of the Library Committee is to get a space that would allow for 20,000 sq/ft. of usable space and preferably in one floor.

The following are 4 POSSIBLE sites for a Chinatown Library: Parcel A, Parcel 12, Tufts Parking Lot, and the Chinatown Gate/Adjacent Parcel. (These 4 sites MAY NOT be the final site.)

1. Parcel A - Land Swap Deal: Current site is occupied by the Josiah Quincy Upper School and a basketball court. The library is actually NOT proposed on this exact location because adjacent to the site is the Boston Chinese Evangelical Church. BCEC proposed 10 years ago to the City with a request to swap their existing site for Parcel A. The swap is for an equal square footage of 10,000sq/ft. If a Chinatown Library were to be built on Parcel A, the actual siting would be where the current BCEC church stands now.

Parcel A
Parcel A - Site of current Quincy Upper School
Parcel A Diagram
Diagram of possibleChinatown library built on Parcel A

BCEC Church
Boston Chinese Evangelical Church, which has proposed to the City to swap their existing site for Parcel A

2. Parcel 12 - Parking Lot Adjacent to former Don Bosco and Double Tree Inn, Currently, the Boston Arts Academy based in the Fenway neighborhood has made started proposals to acquire the land and to build a school there. The site may also be used for housing.

Parcel 12 Overview

P12 Diagram
P12 Diagram of potential site

3. Tufts Parking Lot - Tyler/Hudson Street
Site is owned by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. Currently, use as a parking lot for Tufts Medical Center.

Tufts Parking Lot
Tufts Diagram
Tufts Parking Lot Diagram

4. Chinatown Gate/Adjacent Parcels
Empty lot adjacent to the Chinatown Gate and possible combined usage of the small park next to the Gate.

Chinatown Gate Parcel
Chinatown Gate Diagram
Chinatown Gate/Adjacent Parcels Diagram