THE YEAR IN REVIEW: # 3 STORY FROM 2014

Massive $500 Million Boston Landing Mixed-Use Project 
Footwear giant New Balance has partnered with Boston-based HYM Investment Group to co-develop the massive $500 million Boston Landing complex in Brighton. The 1.45 million square foot mega-development will include: a 250,000-square-foot headquarters for New Balance, a 345,000-square-foot sports complex with an NHL-regulation arena, a 175-room hotel and 65,000-square-feet of retail space. The project, which includes a new MBTA commuter rail station, will also build three office buildings totaling 650,000-square-feet and have parking for 1,750 vehicles.

The mixed-use project, which broke ground in September 2013, will serve as the world headquarters for New Balance, and will include a new MBTA Commuter Rail station on the Framingham and Worcester line, shuttle buses to and from Harvard and Kenmore Squares, MBTA buses that go into the city, and Hubway bike stands and designated bike lanes into Boston.

Contractors have already started work on the six-story headquarters for New Balance. That building, designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, will take 18 to 24 months to complete.

The Boston Landing master plan calls for 1.45 million square feet of development which will be completed in six phases over the next four years.

The $500 million complex will be situated next to New Balance’s current offices and the WGBH building on a 14-acre industrial property located at 38-180 Guest Street.The development site was once part of the Brighton Stockyards, the largest stockyard in the region.

Apart from New Balance’s headquarters building, the project also calls for three Class-A LEED-certified office buildings totaling 650,000 square feet, which are expected to be built by 2017.

Plans also include a 140,000-square-foot hotel with 175 guest rooms, dedicated parking for 1,750 cars and ground floor retail and restaurant space.

The developers are seeking city approval to build 295,000-square-feet of residential space on a 2-acre parcel it purchased in February at 125 Guest Street. 

A state-of-the-art, 325,000-square-foot sports complex is planned for 77 Guest Street that will feature a hydraulic-banked track, a NHL-regulation ice hockey rink, two basketball courts, as well as a fitness center and spa.

NHL’s Boston Bruins recently signed a long-term lease to use the hockey rink to prepare for games. Currently, the Bruins practice at the Ristuccia Memorial Arena in Wilmington.

The practice facility will include a large locker room and office space for the team. Construction of the sports arena is slated to begin the spring of 2015, and should be completed by the fall of 2016.

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