Chelsea Infill and Small Developments

danielp

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http://www.chelsearecord.com/2012/1...sing-development-breaks-ground-on-vacant-lot/


New $40 Million Housing Development Breaks Ground on Vacant Lot
December 13, 2012
By Record Staff

One North of Boston, a 230-unit, market-rate, rental housing development has broken ground in the City’s urban renewal district on Sixth and Heard Streets, which is currently vacant property.

The $40 million project will feature 48 studio, 123 one-bedroom and 59 two-bedroom units, and amenities like a lounge, cyber café, club room, media room, fitness room and outdoor pool and deck.

“It’s another great day with another terrific project getting underway here,” said City Manager Jay Ash, the chief architect of the City’s efforts to transform the formerly blighted urban renewal area into a showpiece of higher end development. “This residential project fits into our master vision for the greater Everett Avenue area and will be another significant signal to the world that something very special is happening here in Chelsea.”



Ash praised the Chelsea Economic Development (ED) Board for its focus and creativity in bringing another project to the urban renewal district.

“Yes, it’s been an interesting ride,” reflected Rick Pantano, the chairman of the ED Board. “We thought we had this parcel developed six years ago, only to be served a major setback by the economic downturn that caused so many projects to fail. We’ve persevered, though, and found a way, despite less than favorable economic conditions, to get this project going.”

Developer Mark Robinson of One North praised the City for making the project possible.

“There aren’t very many of these types of projects happening, so, when they do, you have to ask ‘why here and why now?’ The answers are that Chelsea is a great place in which to invest, and City Manager Ash, the Economic Development Board and all those in support roles have done incredible work helping us to find a way over the many hurdles that are holding projects in other communities back,” said Robinson.

“And right back at him,” responded Pantano. “The One North team, particularly Mark and his partners, Mark White, Kyle Warwick and Damian Szary, have met and exceeded our every challenge and are promising to bring a truly outstanding project to us in a most important and visible area of the city. We can all be grateful to have such a team focused on a great project and helping to enhance our great community.”

Prior to the City’s 2006-08 acquisitions of the eight parcels that comprise the One North development, marginal industrial uses, half-full warehouses, contractor yards and vehicles sales, parts and storage services occupied the site.

The buildings had asbestos or wrinkle tin siding, and almost all were in such a state of disrepair that they were officially deemed to be “substandard” during a consultant’s review of the properties.

The One North project that is replacing those blighted properties is expected to be completed in 18 months. The building will be a 5-story building, including 1-story of podium parking and 4-stories of wood framed residential construction. The exterior will be modular masonry panels and metal elements, primarily comprised of blue, tan and white colors. It is being financed by East Boston Savings Bank, a lender for which Ash had high praise.

“Plain and simple, this project is not happening right now if not for East Boston Savings,” said Ash. “They financed the One Webster project before this one, and saw what a good bet Chelsea is. With that project being a success, they stepped up and are making an even bigger financial commitment to Chelsea, frankly when no other lender would. They know what they’re doing and understand what the developer and the City is seeking to accomplish.”

While recognizing contributors to the project’s groundbreaking success, Ash said the City Council, the city’s legislative delegation and the Patrick-Murray Administration also came up big.

“This is a razor thin project with very little room to carry any offsite costs. Yet, anyone who has driven around that area knows how tough the infrastructure is. So, public infrastructure dollars were necessary to seal the deal, and the City Council provided CIP (capital improvement program) support, while Reps. (Eugene) O’Flaherty and (Kathi-Anne) Reinstein and Senator (Sal) DiDomenico made sure an already favorable Patrick-Murray Administration committed state grant money to augment what the City was bringing to the table,” said Ash.

The result is that $2.5 million will be spent on streets, sidewalks, drains, water and sewer pipes to support the new construction. In return, the City anticipates receiving nearly $700,000 in one time fees and $400,000 in annual tax revenues. Additionally, the developer is paying $3.8 million for the land.

“We spent a great deal to acquire and demolish the various properties, so it will take us eight years or so to make all that we spent back. However, from that point forward, we’ll be generating hundreds of thousands of dollars more annually than the old warehouses were providing, and will be creating even more momentum for real change in that neighborhood and elsewhere in the city,” said Ash.

In the end, Ash said, the revenues will balance the budget and the new investment in the area will improve home values and forever remove a blighting industrial presence that was hovering over the neighborhood.

“This is a big winner for all of us,” concluded Ash.
 
http://www.chelsearecord.com/2012/1...y-on-central-avenue-for-economic-development/

By Seth Daniel

The City Council has appropriated close to $1 million for the possible purchase of a piece of land on Central Avenue that could become a hotel.

City Manager Jay Ash requested that $825,000 be set aside from the Free Cash account for the potential purchase of a vacant piece of property owned by the MWRA.

The property is at the corner of Central Avenue and Marginal Street – directly across from the Chelsea Street Bridge and the State Parking Garage.



Ash told the Record that the City is in negotiations with the MWRA to purchase the property, but those negotiations are not completed.

He said they have identified the property for potential economic development, and Ash hinted that it could possibly be a hotel.

“We do see the property as a chance for potential economic development,” said Ash.

If it were a hotel, it would be only minutes away from the potential casino development at Suffolk Downs and even closer to Logan Airport.
 
^ Just what we need. More Logan-ification of Chelsea. East Boston has been oversaturated already.
 
Can this be merged with the existing Chelsea thread?
 
It's a vacant lot sandwiched between a bridge and a parking garage in Chelsea. I don't get the complaint.

As someone who lives right down the street from this empty lot. Trust me, a hotel here would be a great benefit. Not only to Chelsea but to the people who would stay there. If the shuttle to and from the hotel uses the bypass road, people could be at the airport in 7 minutes flat from that hotel.

Marginal/Eastern Ave is a wasteland of oil tanks, parking lots, and car rental companies. A hotel is a very welcome addition. Lets hope it spurs growth in that area..
 
It's a vacant lot sandwiched between a bridge and a parking garage in Chelsea. I don't get the complaint.

I don't see the hotels and rent-a-car facilities in Eastie doing that neighborhood any benefit. Or maybe I'm just not seeing it.

Sure, it is economic growth. But what is it doing for the neighborhood? (Or in this case: what will it do for the city of Chelsea?) Nothing.
 
Should be a great improvement over Chelsea's current hotel:

 
Should be a great improvement over Chelsea's current hotel:


lol to be fair there is also this:

Chelsea_Residence_Inn_3_of_3328ab72.jpg
 
..and the Wyndham next to it. I can see people having an issue with the rental car and parking lots, but I'm not sure how the hotel is hurting anyone. Wouldn't it at least mean tax income for Chelsea?
 
Neither Google nor Bing maps will show me the Residence Inn. Is it brand new? I do see the Wyndham on both maps.
 
They are building a new building behind the Planet Fitness in Chelsea. Apparently it is going to be retail on the ground floor with modular pre-made housing units piled on top, or at least that's what it looks like. I can't kind much of anything online about it. All I've found is this article:

http://www.prweb.com/releases/energyefficient/homes/prweb9857671.htm

I think they have the pre-made units sitting in the parking lot in front of Save-a-lot.
 
interesting... any one know what they're building near the Market Basket, at Williams and Spruce?
 
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Not sure how I feel about the salt pile expanding, but that park is going to be awesome.
 
The pre-fab building is pretty fab. I wonder about the economics ... is it a bit cheaper or a LOT cheaper. Or, is it just convenience. Also, if the quality is anywhere as good. Or, better.
 
The pre-fab building is pretty fab. I wonder about the economics ... is it a bit cheaper or a LOT cheaper. Or, is it just convenience. Also, if the quality is anywhere as good. Or, better.

I'm curious about this, too. A pre-fab apartment building recently went up in West Roxbury. It actually looks pretty good compared to some of the cinder block jobs nearby.

71477696.jpg


More info and pics.
 
interesting... any one know what they're building near the Market Basket, at Williams and Spruce?

I'd like to know myself.. its an odd shaped building. its round. Knowing that end of town its probably manufacturing related.

Maybe I'll ping Jay Ashe and ask.. (yes I'm on a first name basis now with the city manager)
 

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