Re: Copley Place plan calls for condo tower
Tent City eyes low-cost condos in toney project
By Scott Van Voorhis
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Tent City, a major South End affordable housing complex, wants a piece of Boston?s newest luxury skyscraper.
Simon Property Group Inc. is pushing ahead with a controversial plan for a 47-story condo tower at Copley Place, next door to the sprawling Tent City complex.
Ken Kruckemeyer, a Tent City board member and MIT professor, contends the landmark mixed-income project, born out of a legendary 1960s neighborhood protest for affordable housing, should have a role in the city?s latest luxury development.
Simon Properties, like other developers, is faced with a city requirement that 15 percent of its units be ?affordable.? If that can?t be done on site, the developer is required to make a payment to the city for the construction of lower-cost units elsewhere.
But Kruckemeyer, in an e-mail to fellow neighborhood activists, says the mall owner should include those affordable units in its condo tower, which will include a luxury day spa, health club, library and concierge service.
Kruckemeyer also wants Tent City Corp., which has had a track record of managing and developing affordable housing, to be the one to develop the units.
Kruckemeyer could not be reached for comment yesterday.
But at a recent meeting of a city-appointed neighborhood panel reviewing the project, Kruckemeyer argued the project ?is an opportunity for real greatness, but also disaster,? according to minutes of the meeting.
Rick Stockwood, a spokesman for the project, said the developer plans to fully comply with the city?s affordable housing requirements. He said it is too early to say whether that will include affordable units in the Copley Place tower itself.
Simon ?intends to do what it needs to do to advance the city of Boston?s goals for sustaining and advancing affordable housing,? Stockwood said.
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