One bidder for Mayor's tower
Boston Business Journal - 5:14 PM EST Monday
by Michelle Hillman
Journal staff
Mayor Thomas Menino's dream for a tower is in the hands of one businessman -- Steven Belkin -- and world-renowned Italian architect Renzo Piano.
Responses to the Boston Redevelopment Authority's requests for proposals were due Nov. 13. Belkin's team was the only one that responded. Belkin was long considered a frontrunner for the development site at 115 Federal St. given the fact that he owns an adjacent building at 133 Federal Street.
Belkin's team has proposed 1.3 million square feet of commercial office space, 40,000 square feet of retail and restaurant uses and 55,000 square feet of public space including a one acre "Town Green" and a rooftop garden called "Lookout Garden."
In addition to benefiting from owning a neighboring site enabling him to expand the building's footprint, Belkin had earlier designs for the site -- which is currently a dilapidated, city-owned garage. In July, the Boston Business Journal reported that Belkin had hired Piano to design the tower.
The mayor's office issued a statement Monday in regard to Belkin's proposal for New England's tallest tower.
"I called for world-class architects to come up with a building that reflects all the greatness and potential of Boston," Menino said. "Today's proposal, a 1,000 foot tower from Trans National Properties, promises everything we asked for. I look forward to a working with the developer and to review in detail their plans for this historic project."
Belkin issued a similar statement.
"The Mayor has recognized the need for Boston to be well-positioned in a global economy and has raised the bar in asking for world-class architecture that reflects the Boston of the future," Belkin, chairman of Trans National Properties, said in the statement. "We commend him for his forward thinking vision, and have answered his call with a project driven by unprecedented public spaces and an innovative environmentally sustainable design."
The city and the Boston Redevelopment Authority issued a request for proposals in May. The city advertised in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal in an effort to attract national and international interest.
The site was considered particularly difficult to develop given its location and the lack of viable commercial tenants to anchor the building. The site -- bounded by Franklin, Federal, Summer and Devonshire streets -- is approximately 47,000 square feet.
The BRA will review the economic feasibility of the proposal as part of phase two of the RFP process.
Though no time line was provided, the statement said a selection committee would make a final recommendation to the BRA Board of Directors. Once an internal review of the second stage is complete a public meeting will be scheduled.
Link