Re: Tremont Crossing in Roxbury
Timeline
May 19, 2005 BRA authorizes advertisement for RFPs
May 22, 2006 BRA receives 3 proposals, doesn't like any of them; asks respondents to resubmit proposals with financing sources identified
June 21, 2007 Tentative designation of Elma Lewis as developer for project with 1,398,889 square feet of cultural, residential, office, retail, medical, and art educational uses, and a 1,044 space parking garage, including the renovation of 34,000 square feet in the existing and former Whittier Street Health Center building, in four (4) building blocks whose heights would range from 4 to 20 stories (“Original Tentative Designation”).
October 21, 2008 Designation expired
April 28, 2009 Redesignated Elma Lewis, extended 18 months
October 28, 2010 Redesignation expires; project separated from Whittier Health Center project so that it could move forward (WHC now complete in 2014)
January 13, 2011 Designation extended for 18 months
April 24, 2012 Developer submitted a PNF for revised, Tremont Crossing, project
June 12, 2012 Designation extended for 6 months
December 13, 2012 Extended 30 days
January 17, 2013 Extended 90 days
January 17, 2013 As part of the extension, following stipulations made:
Clear articulation of the funding program and finance plan for the project;
Clear articulation of the tax program for the project;
Completion of tenant lease and project delivery date for named tenant; and
Completion of the Development Project Impact Report (“DPIR”).
April 11, 2013 Extended 6 months
September 26, 2013 Extended 6 months to June 30, 2014
It is further recommended that the following requirements be fulfilled by the Redeveloper:
Clear articulation of the funding program and finance plan for the project and completion of necessary applications/funding source requirements to respective agencies by May 31, 2014;
Clear articulation of the tax program for the project and completion of necessary materials submission and review with respective agencies by August 31, 2014;
Completion of tenant lease and project delivery date for named retail, office and commercial tenants no later than May 31, 2014; and
Completion of the Final Project Impact Report (“FPIR”) documents and submission for a Project acceptable to the BRA or completion of Article 80 process no later than May 31, 2014.
May 22, 2014 Letter to developer
“While the Boston Redevelopment Authority (“BRA”) supports Parcel P-3 Partners LLC, we remain concerned over the feasibility of the Tremont Crossing project.”
“To date, BRA staff is unclear as to an accurate description of the proposed project and the support of any such proposal by the Roxbury Strategic Master Plan Oversight Committee (RSMPOC). Base upon the September 26, 2013 BRA Board authorization for Tentative Designation, none of the requirements of the Tentative Designation have been met. Specifically, Parcel P-3 Partners LLC has not provided any evidence of firm financing for a proposed project or funding sources. In addition, the BRA is concerned that any proposal would include a request for City of Boston infrastructure investment bonds or other real estate tax relief, which neither the BRA nor City is in a position to support at this time. Finally, the BRA is concerned that the Parcel P-3 Partners LLC proposal may include a retail program with a “big box” use that has not been fully vetted by the community, may create significant traffic impacts that cannot be mitigated, and may not be the highest and best use for the site; additionally, this use and program as currently proposed was never approved by the BRA Board of Directors in connection with the Tentative Designation.”
“Progress on the Tentative Designation requirements must be met before any consideration can be given for further extension.”
Parcel-3 Partners then given an extension in June 2014 until August 14, 2014.
