Hood Business Park | 480-570 Rutherford Avenue | Charlestown

tysmith95

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I think this project is big enough to warrant its own thread. It's a proposed 1,168,820sf of mixed use development of Hood office park. Six buildings and three parking garages to be developed over a 15 year period.

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This is a residental building that is proposed.

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http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/projects/development-projects/hood-business-park

http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/projects/development-projects/hood-480-rutherford-avenue
 
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Cool.

Hopefully Rutherford Ave can be made into something less monstrous before this development is done.
 
Three parking garages, despite the obvious improvements to the site otherwise, seems excessive, particularly for a location between two Orange Line stops.
 
Three parking garages, despite the obvious improvements to the site otherwise, seems excessive, particularly for a location between two Orange Line stops.

Well the Orange Line only goes so far. This is right against 93 which will attract more workers from the suburbs especially if they are going for higher ups.
 
The site currently is an "Edge City" environment wedged between two ugly freeways. But, if the wide Rutherford Ave corridor were to be reconfigured to a narrower, less straight landscaped boulevard with separated bike and pedestrian paths tied to the Orange Line stops, TOD might make sense along this entire stretch.
 
I think this project is big enough to warrant its own thread. It's a proposed 1,168,820sf of mixed use development of Hood office park. Six buildings and three parking garages to be developed over a 15 year period.
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thanks for starting the thread for this. The PDA for the master plan was approved 15 years ago without any action since so no surprise there wasnt a thread before.

Three parking garages, despite the obvious improvements to the site otherwise, seems excessive, particularly for a location between two Orange Line stops.
The reuse of the existing surface parking areas would be great, but lets hope they keep going for amendments to the PDA and put any parking structures below ground. Especially P3 which is right along Rutherford Ave. That wouldnt fly with the City any longer.
 
Hood Business Park is an odd place, I worked there for a short while many years ago - 90%+ of my coworkers drove to work. The area seems to be the location to be if you want a Boston address and still be able to easily drive without actually having to go into Boston.
I certainly hope that when Rutherford Ave becomes a boulevard* that that sort of thinking in this area may change and that the area will no longer resemble a suburban office park.
*BTD Deputy Commissioner Gillooly said that the BTD desired a narrower Rutherford Ave at the North Washington Bridge meeting last night, he also mentioned the upcoming Rutherford Ave meeting.
 
The only reason you'd live there is because you wanted to be near the T and work. You can only go one way on Rutherford getting out of here and the traffic is abysmal during rush hour.
 
Why oh why could they not have put a real street grid in here... another office park... disappointing.
 
There's been sampling going on for the past couple weeks at the site. I wouldn't be surprised if they move quickly on this one.
 
Why oh why could they not have put a real street grid in here... another office park... disappointing.

It would be hard to change the street grid without tearing down the fairly modern office building in the center. I think this area deserves some retail, there aren't many restaurants and stores within walking distance of this development. As it stands it does not seem like a pleasant place to live (though it is well located).
 
I wouldn't be surprised if this building ends up being long term corporate rentals for the large office buildings in the area and up at Assembly. The first complex "fitting" the grid up at Sullivan was just approved. In ~5 years, this new apartment building will be on the edge of a nice, developing area - not the greatest placement, but clearly Hood sees demand there already. Given their planned office park expansion, I'm not surprised.
 
Boston Plans says 32 Cambridge Street a few blocks over is also u/c; (171 units). .....which i assume also includes initiating the demo of 572 Rutherford structures next door, (572 is about 800 feet up the street from the parcel for 480).

http://www.berkeleyinvestments.com/properties/32-cambridge-street-the-graphic

anyone been over that way? :D

this development area is __gging huge.
 
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anyone been over that way?

I walked by this morning and noticed that a construction fence and field offices set up on the site of 480, but no silver shovels. However I did take a few shots of 32 Cambridge as I headed into Somerville.

https://flic.kr/p/Zb3oW1

https://flic.kr/p/YuaYxE

As you can see the demolition of some structures has just been completed. I fact as I was walked by they were removing the demolition equipment and smothing out the site. You can also see that the remaining building is in the process of getting a major renovation.

https://flic.kr/p/Zux3x5

32 Cambridge
 
"The Graphic"

Everything has a name trying to be cute, lately.
 
Goddamn those cute names!

(Sorry, just channeling Charlton Heston at the ending of Planet of the Apes).
 

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