Paul J. Gannon PC

Final Meeting: Community Input Meeting, MCCA/BCEC Parcels

by Rick Winterson

Athird and final meeting was held concerning the potential development of three parcels of land on D and E Streets, across from the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (the BCEC). These are owned by the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (the MCCA). Parcel A at 371 D is 2.6 acres; parcel B at 351 D is 1.7 acres; and parcel C at 410

E is 1.7 acres – a total of six acres. The meeting was opened by Arthur Fritch from the MCCA, and was then conducted by Brian Golden, who is a partner of Keegan Werlin LLP and their Chair of Real Estate Development. The common themes that arose from the two prior Community Input sessions included a list of potential benefits – accessible green space, traffic management (especially parking!), and crowding along Cypher Street. A grocery store was listed among possible community benefits. In response to a question about affordable housing, it was felt that was not likely to occur because of other needs and due to the neighborhood involved, which is mostly commercial. It is now time to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) from prospective developers that incorporate the community inputs. This will be issued on Monday, June 26; proposals from developers are due back within 90 days. After that, thoroughly analyzing these responses in terms of Article 80 will take well into 2024. And this project will involve a private concern developing public land.