South Boston is extending its two-decade-long overhaul.
Real estate developers Oxford Properties and Pappas Enterprises are joining forces to launch a 1.7-million-square-foot, eight-building mixed-use project in the area, transforming a predominantly industrial area near Summer Street and the Reserved Channel, the Boston Globe reported.
The venture was recently documented in filings submitted to the Boston Planning and Development Agency, outlining plans for a large campus at 300 West First Street and 647B Summer Street.
The proposed development includes two residential buildings with 205 units, four laboratory buildings covering 1.3 million square feet, and additional retail and commercial spaces.
The project’s aims to address both current and future needs in the area by incorporating new public spaces, housing and flexible commercial areas, Oxford’s Mark McGowan and Timothy Pappas wrote in a letter to the BPDA.
While the filing did not specify whether the residential units would be available for rent or sale, it indicated that the project team is exploring various options with potential development partners.
The eight buildings will vary in height, ranging from 89 to 209 feet, with Skidmore, Owings & Merrill serving as the master plan architect.
The project seeks to revitalize an underutilized stretch of industrial land, fostering activity in an area that has historically lacked extensive development.
Across Summer Street, recent years have brought a transformation with developers converting the entrance to the Raymond L. Flynn Marine Industrial Park into a hub for lab, office and hospitality buildings.
Simultaneously, ongoing efforts are underway to repurpose the decommissioned former Edison power plant at 776 Summer for an expansive mixed-use project.
While Oxford’s and Pappas’ timeline for construction was not specified in the filing, it noted that the commencement of construction is contingent upon the receipt of full project entitlements from the local government.
The proposed development is now poised to undergo community and BPDA review.
— Ted Glanzer