The Christian Science Church has launched an ambitious effort to revitalize its 14.5-acre plaza, but won?t reveal details of the plan that is expected to include at least one office building.
?The Boston Redevelopment Authority has asked us to start the public process and give an introduction to the church and not much more,? said Barbara Burley, senior manager at the First Church of Christ, Scientist. ?We have some ideas, but it?s premature to talk about them right now.?
Burley made her remarks at an early morning meeting of the Citizens Advisory Committee, a 16-member panel appointed by Mayor Thomas M. Menino to advise the city on development of the church?s real estate at Huntington and Massachusetts Avenue, across the street from Symphony Hall. Burley outlined three goals at the City Hall session: enhancing the public space around the church, which she called the largest privately owned open space in Boston, improving water management and new construction.
Burley was unsure about the zoning height limits, but a BRA spokeswoman said any new construction would be limited to 7-to-11 stories unless there is a zoning change. Neighborhood sources say the church wants to built a 10-to-20 story office tower.
State Rep. Byron Rushing, a Boston Democrat and CAC member, said the Christian Science Plaza Revitalization project is one of four developments in the planning stages that include a Massachusetts Turnpike Authority air-rights project above the turnpike at Massachusetts Avenue and Bostonian Street as well as Northeastern University and Berklee College of Music?s expansion.
?We?re talking about a lot of development and it?s very close together,? he said. ?There should be one permanent CAC that the community elects to coordinate review of these plans.?
