The article talks about the developments of the latest expansion project scheduled to take place in the South End Boston area itself.
According to the latest new reports, Boston South End area residents are planning to push forward a proposal regarding the multimillion-dollar redevelopment of the Boston Herald building. When interviewed by the media at a Boston Redevelopment Authority meeting about the “Ink Block” project one resident remarked that it was a fantastic idea.
With the intention of revamping the entire landscape of the area, a Newton-based developing firm plans to construct a 6.2-acre retail-and-residential project on the existing Harrison Avenue where the current building has been since the 1950s. Through the latest expansion project, the developer hopes to turn the former industrial site into four buildings that would potentially house 85,000 square feet of ground-floor restaurants and shops, 471 apartments and a parking deck. Out of the 471 apartments, more than a quarter of that number will be set aside as Apartments for Rent Boston as the firm looks to capitalize on the growing number of apartment rentals.
The development firm had originally envisioned a smaller project of some 260 apartments and 65,000 square feet of shops. However, the firm decided to increase the expansion project after residents near the area voiced their discontent and slammed the proposal for being too small rather than too big. This led to a swift response from the firm who then proposed a total of four buildings with different architectural styles and heights, hoping to give the project more of a unique “urban” look. As the project architect remarked, the entire expansion will not only revamp the area, but will also encompass the idea of constructing an urban block to brighten up the entire citys landscape.
At the end of the meeting, the response towards the project was varied. There were a myriad of opinions offered by the residents when they were interviewed by the media. Out of the three dozen residents who attended the meeting, the majority of the people who were interviewed had voiced their support for the revised plan, thinking that the idea of project is an excellent one and would no doubt serve to thrust the South End of Boston into the limelight. However, there were a few residents who opined that there should be more public sidewalks and greenery included in the project so as to give it a more accessible, South End feel. There was a minority who remarked that the project is not desirable as it does not fit what is currently situated at the area.