Ink Block project pens new story for South End “desert”

A few years ago, it would have been difficult to imagine the abandoned Boston Herald headquarters in the South End completely revitalized into a modern and sophisticated retail and residential complex. The building, sitting mostly vacant in a less-than-desirable part of town, was hardly a draw for residents or visitors.

Today, that’s all changed. The Ink Block, a collection of urban chic apartments and condos, restaurants, retail space and the city’s largest Whole Foods, has completely transformed the formerly down-and-out area into what promises to be one of Boston’s hottest neighborhoods.

National Development, the company responsible for the project, is now introducing its newest attraction — a futuristic and eclectic hotel adjacent to the Ink Block. With so many residents enjoying the perks of amenity-laden city living, why not let visitors in on the fun?

“There is a strong need for a hotel in the area, and we think it’s a great site for one,” said Ted Tye, managing partner with National Development. “It’s in the center of all the restaurants and activity we’re creating at Ink Block with access to everything in the South End. It seemed like a perfect match.”

Mickey Northcutt, an adjunct professor in city planning and urban affairs at Boston University’s Metropolitan College, said people living, working and visiting the South End are demanding a different way of life than what’s been there historically. The hotel will fulfill a need in the market for what’s known as “select service”: access to all the bells and whistles a location like Ink Block offers.

“We’ve got the best of both worlds,” said Arun Upneja, dean of the School of Hospitality Administration. “A fantastic world class city, but not as intimidating as New York. If you increase tourism, you need places for visitors to stay. The hotel industry fulfills a very critical mission in that aspect.”

AC Hotels, the chosen hotel franchise, is a primarily European offshoot of Marriott, operating hotels in six European countries. The franchise opened its first North American location in New Orleans in December 2014, and according to its website, has plans to open hotels in Miami, Kansas City, Missouri and Washington, D.C. later in 2015.

“We think it’s a terrific addition to the Ink Block area,” Tye said. “We’re a very design-oriented project, and they really add to that. That’s their whole focus — being edgy. The two work really well together.”

Preliminary talks with the Boston Redevelopment Authority have already taken place, with formal proposal filing set for later this month. Two buildings at the site have been demolished, and National Development hopes to start construction in late summer of this year.

Before the approval process goes through, National Development must also engage with residents of the South End. While abutter impacts can be a source of heated debate in heavily occupied areas, these concerns are practically absent when it comes to the Ink Block parcel. With I-93 on one side and the Mass Pike on the other, the hotel does not present the same burdens as it would in a residential neighborhood. In addition, the development will still have a significant amount of property left when it’s totally built out.

“We also have a huge explosion of restaurants. This is an absolutely fantastic city to be in from a hospitality management perspective. Room rates are up and occupancy is up. This is a great time for the industry,” Upneja said.

So far, the project has garnered broad support, from Boston Mayor Martin Walsh to the SoWa Artist’s Guild. SoWa, which stands for “south of Washington Street,” is an area of the South End famous for its restaurants, markets, shops and artist’s galleries. Stephen Silver, director of the guild, views further development near the Ink Block as rebirth, and nothing but positive.

“It’s bringing more humanity into the neighborhood,” Silver said. “That area was very industrial. The Herald building had been semi-used for a long time, and there wasn’t much going on. It was like a desert between Chinatown and the South End. I think it’s a great thing.”