Boston, one of the first major cities in the U.S. to shut down all but emergency construction work to curb the COVID-19 outbreak, is extending its building ban “until further notice” as virus-related deaths and infections mount.
Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, a former union laborer and building trades leader, had initially announced a two-week halt when he unveiled the shutdown order on March 16.
But on March 25, with 1,838 infections and 15 deaths in Massachusetts and the number of new cases growing rapidly, he extended the ban 'indefinitely' to combat coronavirus spread.
In a press statement, Walsh noted that “large gatherings such as those at construction sites have been proven to escalate the spread of the coronavirus.”
While not offering any timetable for when Boston might reevaluate its stance, Walsh said the city is working with both construction companies and unions in the building trades to “determine protocols” so that work can safely resume.
Pennsylvania and Washington State have also instituted construction moratoriums, although Pennsylvania is exempting hospital projects.
Walsh’s decision to extend the ban comes even as other state and local officials have allowed a range of major building projects to move forward, including in Boston.
Despite Walsh’s ban, work has continued unabated in Boston’s Seaport District on a Hyatt Place Hotel and in the neighboring Ora Seaport, a 304-unit apartment building. While they are located on Boston’s waterfront, the buildings are exempt from Walsh’s order because they sit on land controlled by the Massachusetts Port Authority.
In contrast to Walsh, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) classified construction work as “essential” in his March 23 order for all "non-essential" businesses and organizations to close for two weeks.
Construction continues to operate with COVID-19 regulations in cities and towns that neighbor Boston, including Brookline.
Boston’s decision to shut down construction comes amid an epic building boom in the city.
There were 97 different active construction projects across the city before the ban went into place last week, for a total of more than 21 million sq ft of new or renovated residential, office and commercial space, according to the Boston Planning and Development Agency.
"The safety and health of construction workers and all residents of Boston is my first priority, and I am not willing to put that at risk as the virus spreads throughout our communities," Walsh said.
The new owner of the longtime home of The Skating Club of Boston has plans for a large residential project at the site.
Boston-based real estate firm The Davis Cos. intends to build a 655-unit apartment and condominium complex and a 255-room hotel at the site of The Skating Club of Boston and the Studio Allston Hotel, adding another large-scale project in the area surrounding the Harvard Business School campus and Boston Landing.
The Davis Cos. plans the project at 1240 Soldiers Field Road and 1234 Soldiers Field Road, which it acquired from the Skating Club of Boston for a combined $40.45 million in 2017 and 2018.
The firm intends to demolish both the club and the Studio Allston hotel to make way for its new residential and hotel project.
The Skating Club is building a facility in Norwood, which is scheduled to be complete this summer. It sold the Soldiers Field Road property to The Davis Cos. to finance the new facility.
The Davis Cos. plans to build a 535-unit apartment complex with 10,500 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and parking for 220 vehicles at 1240 Soldiers Field Road.
On the adjacent parcel, it’s planning 120 condominiums, a 255-room hotel, a 110-space underground parking garage and 4,000 square feet of commercial space. The parking garage will have the ability to accommodate up to 185 vehicles utilizing an automated stacker system if needed.
The company is also pitching 72,000 square feet of public open space between the two parcels.
“The Project will require dimensional and use zoning relief,” said Fallon. “We appreciate the BPDA’s assistance thus far in providing feedback in the early planning stages of the Project.”
Simon Property Group is preparing for construction of a 52-story tower at 5 Copley Place that would be one of the largest residential buildings in Boston. The project will create 542 residences, a 40,000 SF addition to the Neiman Marcus store, a glass-enclosed garden and 75,000 square feet of new retail and restaurant space at the corner of Dartmouth and Stuart streets. The $500 million private investment will put 1,700 construction workers back on the job.
Approximately 680,000 square feet of new residential space will be above the existing building, situated across from the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s Back Bay Station.
The building’s 433 rental apartments and 109 condos will be housed in a slender 52-story tower designed by Elkus Manfredi Architects, and include 71 affordable housing units.
The plans call for a lap pool on the 6th floor, a 7th floor sky lobby and deck, garage parking spaces and secure bike storage.
At 569 feet, the skyscraper will be the second tallest residential building in Boston, behind the soon-to-be constructed, Four Seasons Tower.
The project will include a large 40,000 square-foot addition to the to the Neiman Marcus store, followed by a complete renovation of the existing 115,000-square-foot store - which will not close during construction.
It will also include additional space for smaller-scale retail shops and restaurants, with a “public winter garden” at the Stuart Street plaza. The developer has also committed up to $1 million towards new public art and $250,000 to Southwest Corridor Park.
The project will build on the strengths of the existing Copley Place complex at Stuart and Dartmouth Streets and infuse an already successful retail destination with an inspired and dynamic mixed-use development.
“The expansion of Neiman Marcus and Copley Place strengthens our retail destination in the Back Bay and contributes to the City’s economic vitality,” according to a press release. “The project will enhance the urban fabric of the neighborhood and be a striking addition to the city’s skyline.”
The project attracted controversy when state representatives accused the Governor of violating a 1997 agreement by signing a revised lease with the developer before city and state regulators could review its impacts on area residents.
Some neighbors have raised concerns, for example, that the project will add to the high winds and shadows thrown off by other skyscrapers in the area.
However, the developer has stressed that the tower would not significantly increase wind in the area, and would only cast minimal new shadows on surrounding open spaces.
It also said it has rotated the tower from its initial orientation on the site and made several other design changes “to minimize environmental impacts, provide improvements to the public realm, and greatly enhance the overall pedestrian experience.”
Built by Chicago-based Urban Investment and Development, Copley Place was at the time the largest mixed-use project in the country. It was criticized by neighbors and some public officials for the way its hulking buildings towered over town houses in the South End.
The original $500 million project eventually included the Westin and Marriott hotels, four office buildings, a shopping mall, 100 apartments, and a 1,400-space parking garage.
The existing building at Copley Place consists of parking, three levels of retail and seven floors of office space.
The new design will transform the brick-paved plaza entrance to Neiman Marcus into a multi-story atrium with a glass facade
The new tower would fill out the last undeveloped parcels in Copley Place, which was initially built in the 1980s over the Massachusetts Turnpike roadway and ramps, and on a former railroad yard.
Simon initially proposed the project in June 2008, but put it on hold when the recession dried up funding for big projects.
The company resurrected the project last year and construction is expected to last 3 years.
A developer has plans to build one of Boston’s tallest buildings in downtown’s Financial District. The 740-foot glass tower will include a 300-room hotel, offices, retail space, a restaurant and 150 luxury condominium units. Costing as much as $900 million to build, the 900,000-SF skyscraper will add a new showpiece to Boston’s rapidly changing skyline.
The building would be the tallest building in the downtown area and will include a 300-room hotel, retail space, offices, and up to 150 condominiums on the upper floors.
The tower proposal comes during one of the most dynamic periods of construction in the city’s history, as numerous skyscrapers aim to alter the Boston skyline.
At 740 feet, the angular skyscraper would be Boston’s third-tallest structure, behind the 750-foot Prudential building and the 790-foot John Hancock Tower.
An office building at 133 Federal Street would be combined with the new tower at ground level to create a 72,000-square-foot lobby with restaurants and shops.
The complex, called 111 Federal Street will rise on one of the Financial District’s last major development sites, replacing the city-owned Winthrop Square parking garage presently on the site.
Before work can proceed, developer Steve Belkin must negotiate a deal to buy the property from the city.
The dilapidated garage at 111-115 Federal Street will be demolished and replaced with glass storefronts and modern lobbies for the offices and a luxury hotel.
Former Mayor Thomas Menino selected Steve Belkin to redevelop the property in 2006, but the project failed to attract enough tenants amid the economic downturn.
The original plan called for a 1,000-foot office tower, but that proposal was rejected because it would have interfered with air traffic. The new proposal calls for a tower 260 feet shorter.
The building will be one of only a few towers built in the densely packed Financial District since the 1980s. In recent years, tech companies, restaurants and retailers have brought new life to the area.
The project, designed by Boston-based CBT Architects, is expected to begin construction sometime later this year.
