The Boston Redevelopment Authority board approved last month Mission Hill Neighborhood Housing Services’ (MHNHS) massive Parcel 25 proposed development.
And MHNHS has landed its first tenant for the development—the nonprofit Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership. MBHP is a nonprofit that helps low- and moderate-income individuals and families with affordable housing. It is currently located at 125 Lincoln St. in Chinatown.
“This is an important step in building the community’s vision for Roxbury Crossing and Mission Hill. NHS can now move the project into financing,” Pat Flaherty of MHNHS said about the BRA approval.
MHNHS aims to redevelop Parcel 25, which is bordered by Tremont, Gurney and Station streets, across from the Roxbury Crossing MBTA Station. The former T-owned property is now vacant.
The 305,750-square-foot project will be done in three phases, and once completed, include 88 housing units, 10,000 square feet of retail space, 196,500 square feet of office space and 1,250 square feet of community space. The project will also have 201 surface and below-ground parking spaces.
Phase 1 of the project will have 40 units of affordable housing, four retail stores, community space and office and training space for two non-profits serving youth and families.
“The largest commercial component in Phase 1 has been identified—Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership (MBHP) will be purchasing approximately 24,000 square feet in Building 1A as their relocated headquarters,” said Flaherty. “Given our mutual missions, MHNHS is thrilled to be working with MBHP and think they will be an important addition to the Mission Hill community… [We] welcome them to Roxbury Crossing.”
Flaherty said construction should start in late 2015 if the needed funding is secured.
Parcel 25 is being developed along with Parcel 29, which is located across Gurney street and will be a senior home. That project broke ground in March. Parcels 25 and 29 have been vacant since the 1960s, when the federal government proposed to extend I-95 through the area and began buying up and demolishing houses before community organizers halted the expansion.