By Michael Coughlin Jr.
During the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s (BPDA) September Board meeting, the proposed project at 500 Huntington Avenue, which would bring open space, connection improvements, two mixed-use buildings, life science, and retail space to a site that currently holds Wentworth Institute of Technology’s Sweeney Field and other structures, was approved.
At the BPDA’s August Board meeting, Board members had intended to vote on the proposal; however, the item was tabled at the request of an attorney representing the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) and its trustees, who mentioned concerns about “air intake, groundwater, vibration, traffic, and other matters.”
Fast-forward to the September Board meeting, and Stephen Harvey, a Senior Project Manager with the city’s Planning Department, provided an update on the situation.
“Since the August Board meeting, staff has worked closely with the development team to address all of the concerns, especially the concerns of the Museum of Fine Arts,” he said.
Moreover, Harvey indicated that the development team had provided staff and the MFA with all the information requested and stated that the MFA was grateful for the collaboration and supported the project.
“Having now addressed concerns, our confidence in the proposal has only grown, and we bring it before you once again for consideration,” said Harvey.
While there were no comments from the public during this brief portion of the Board meeting, City Councilor Sharon Durkan read a letter signed by both her and At-Large City Councilor Henry Santana earlier in the meeting.
Specifically, the letter urged the BPDA Board to vote in support of the proposal, praised the proponents for being responsive to community input and what the project would bring to the area, and communicated hopes that the developer would be responsive during the building process.
Before the proposal went to a vote, Priscilla Rojas, the Board’s Chair, commented on the proposal. “I just want to make a comment and thank the development team and Stephen and our team internally for the additional time and care that you took to resolve these items and the time and care that I know you will provide going forward during construction as we make improvements to that area of the city.”
The project was ultimately approved. To learn more about it, visit its webpage at https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/wentworth-500-huntington-avenue.