Re: Fenway HoJo
Developers Seek To Replace Fenway Motel With Hotel, Retail Space
By Paul McMorrow
Banker & Tradesman Staff Writer
Boston developers Weiner Ventures have told city officials they want to replace the aging Howard Johnson motel in the shadow of Fenway Park with 350,000 square feet of hotel, residential and retail space, the Boston Redevelopment Authority said today.
Weiner Ventures filed a letter of intent with the BRA yesterday, kicking off a long permitting process. The letter proposed constructing two interconnected 12-story buildings - a 175,000-square-foot residential component and a 170,000-square-foot hotel component - more than 4,000 square feet of retail space and 280 underground parking spaces.
The Howard Johnson motel at 1271 Boylston St. has been controlled by the Sage family since 1985. The 59,000-square-foot parcel has long been viewed as a probable redevelopment site. In 2005, the Boston Globe reported that the Boston Red Sox were attempting to joint venture with the Sages to build a $140 million condominium and hotel complex on the site.
"I think there's an appetite for development there. New residents, new retail and new uses that bring positive activity are a welcome addition," said Boston City Council President Michael Ross, who represents the Fenway neighborhood. "Boylston Street is one of the more exciting streets in Boston right now. It represents good planning, good development and a good partnership with the neighborhood. The neighborhood has been a partner in the revitalization of Boylston Street. In some cases, the neighborhood has been a leading advocate for the changes you see."
The letter indicates that Weiner Ventures will seek zoning relief through a Planned Development Area, a designation that gives the BRA broader authority to modify zoning for substantial development projects.
Weiner Ventures' principal, Adam Weiner, was not immediately available for comment.
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