Fenway Center (One Kenmore) | Turnpike Parcel 7, Beacon Street | Fenway

Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

atlantaden said:
What's the reason the neighborhood doesn't want BU as a tenant? Also find it interesting that the neighborhood wants veto power over who can rent out the office space in the building.
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They don't want the students around.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

But the students won't be around, unless it is a dormitory.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

BRA Requests Less Parking At Kenmore Square Project
By Thomas Grillo
Banker & Tradesman

The Boston Redevelopment Authority wants the developer of One Kenmore, a mixed-use project above the Massachusetts Turnpike near Fenway Park, to consider fewer parking spaces for his project.

The long-delayed redevelopment of Boston?s Kenmore Square moved closer to reality last week as the city issued its findings on a $450 million project.

After months of public hearings that raised questions about the amount of parking for the mega-development, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) has asked the developer of One Kenmore to consider fewer parking spaces. The issue of parking for downtown projects is often a flashpoint with residents arguing that more spaces encourage automobiles while fewer spots promote public transportation.

Earlier this year, Meredith Kenmore/Fenway Development Group proposed a transit-oriented development within steps of Fenway Park that would include four buildings from 7 to 22 stories and feature 338,734 square feet of office space, 100,685 square feet of retail, 282 apartments and 1,360 parking spaces. The project would be centered around a new Yawkey MBTA Commuter Rail Station, and a portion would be built above the Massachusetts Turnpike at Beacon Street and Brookline Avenue.

The 1.3 million square-foot project has the support of the Fenway neighborhood, as well as members of the Citizens Advisory Committee, an 11-member panel appointed by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, the BRA and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority. But several CAC members and residents question the need for what they call ?excessive? parking.

?There are many good things about the project,? said Marc Laderman, a CAC member. ?But parking and traffic are nightmares. I understand that people who live in the apartments or shop in the stores need parking. But that?s about 650 spots. Why does the developer think they need another 700 non-accessory parking spaces??

While Laderman said he understands that 250 spaces will be lost because some of the project will be built on parking lots, the developer has not made the case for more spots above that number.

William Richardson, president of the Fenway Civic Association and a CAC member, said the Boston Red Sox and the developer have failed to deliver on a promise to justify the number of parking spaces. He?s still waiting for an explanation of how many spots exist today versus how many will disappear to make way for One Kenmore and future developments.

?I have yet to get the call that says, ?We will sit down and show you,?? he said. ?I keep getting told they can justify it, but they don?t. The idea of building a commuter rail station and slapping 700 spaces over it seems counterproductive. I am open-minded to what they have to say. It?s a fantastic and well-designed project overall, and parking seems to be the only sticking point.?

?The Right Mix?

In response to the parking concerns, the BRA has asked John Rosenthal, the project?s developer, to consider about 100 fewer spaces. The original number of spaces in the proposal was based on a 700-car garage shared by the neighborhood, businesses, Red Sox fans and the Longwood Medical Area, he said. The remaining parking is reserved for the residential and commercial uses, he added.

?We are trying to balance the concern in the neighborhood with the project?s economics and the physical constraints of the site,? Rosenthal noted. ?The Red Sox have the lowest number of parking spaces of any major league ball club so the team would like to see as much parking as possible. That said, the Red Sox are willing to accept a cap on the number of parking spaces in and around the park that are not greater than what exists now, but not less. The neighborhood would love to see all these improvements with no parking, so it?s a give and take.?

Meg Mainzer-Cohen, president of the Back Bay Association and a CAC member, said having enough parking is essential. ?If there?s a lack of parking, then people circle around looking for parking and that causes more traffic problems,? she said. ?It?s a matter of finding the right mix. But I don?t think the developer should be asked to just have spaces for his development. There is a benefit for having additional parking for Red Sox games. It?s important to get the right ratio.?

Rosenthal expressed confidence that a compromise can be reached.

?The BRA?s request to examine our program with 100 spaces less for the commercial portion of the project is very reasonable,? he said. ?We are taking a hard look at it because we may be able to propose the alterative. We think it can be done.?

The development team, which includes Rosenthal?s Newton-based Meredith Management Corp. and the Red Sox, expects to file project changes with the BRA as early as June. At that point, another round of public hearings would be scheduled. After a decade of delays, Rosenthal said the revitalization of Kenmore Square is becoming a reality.

?We are feeling good about the project,? he said. ?The Sox have been a great partner and the BRA has been a part of the process and has helped us design the site to meet the needs of the civic vision.?

Despite the credit woes that have dragged down construction nationwide, Rosenthal said he is convinced he can get financing for the development. While he declined to reveal potential funding sources, he said lining up financing would not be a challenge.

?Everyone is rocked by the capital market, but I am not worried about securing the financing,? he said. ?We are adjacent to the No. 1 tourist attraction in Massachusetts, Fenway Park, and within a mile of the largest economic engine in the state, the Longwood Medical Area. The funders we are talking to are very excited about One Kenmore.?
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Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

They bring up a good point, 1,300 extra cars in the Fenway and Longwood would be a nightmare.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

"The Red Sox have the lowest number of parking spaces of any major league ball club..."
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This is a good thing. More parking = more traffic.

Meg Mainzer-Cohen, president of the Back Bay Association and a CAC member, said having enough parking is essential. ?If there?s a lack of parking, then people circle around looking for parking and that causes more traffic problems,? she said.
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Or they take the T because they know parking is difficult and expensive. I don't know of many people who drive to Fenway, only to be shocked that it's difficult to park there and drive around in circles. If she wants to eliminate the circling, she should encourage the city to charge market rates for on-street parking. Most of the time when people circle, they are looking for CHEAP parking, since there are almost always garage spaces available nearby.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

If the parking lot were to say, free up the other parking lots in the area for development, It would be a good thing (since the gain would be offset by loses elsewhere in the neighborhood). However, most lots are now owned by the sox, and they have no desire to build on them I suspect (yeah, I'm beating a dead horse).

In addition, the CAC is only asking for a lessening of 100 cars if I read that right, but we have to go through another lengthy review process if they make that *one* change? absurd.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

The Back Bay Association seems to come out in favor of things I like. So, I like them.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

I'd like to see this site developed, but the fewer parking spaces, the better. There is plenty of public transit nearby.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

Sure, who likes parking spaces. But, if there's going to be any new parking added, better to be in the Fenway near Kenmore Square than on the other side, near Jersey and Boylston, which is becoming more residential, every day.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

I disagree that transit adequately serves the area.....look at Kenmore after a game ends......capacity needs to be doubled during these peak times (4 car train sets?)

That said, parking isn't really the answer either, unless they could have the carage have dedicated on/off-ramps to the Pike.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

But aren't they adding a commuter rail also?
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

If the MBTA added some later commuter rail trains to their schedules, then people would actually be able to use them to get home from sox night games. Of course, that would likely add to the congestion at Kendall...
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

All the way to lowly page 4...

Courant has new article. In sum: so far so good; residents okay with number of parking spaces (split between two garages). There is also a rendering.

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Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

the braintrust at the courant posted a rendering of the prudential office proposal...
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

Can anyone upload the renderings on to the forum? I am too far away to see the courant...
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

^Are those the same ones the courant recently showed? Because I have already seen those.
 
Re: One Kenmore (Mass Turnpike PARCEL 7)

Are you referring to sidewalks' post about the Pru (post 136)? If so, no one's posted anything new.
 
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