Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, in conjunction with Boston Mayor Martin Walsh, announced a venture Tuesday that will redevelop facilities to foster financial growth and reasonably-priced housing options in Downtown Boston, according to a Tuesday press release.
The goal of the venture is to redevelop the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s District 6 Headquarters, as well as a Veolia North America facility, according to the release.
“A broad set of goals will be developed for the site with the engagement of community leaders and residents, which could include economic growth and development, job creation and the addition of more open space and affordable, workforce and transit-oriented housing,” the release stated.
Baker said in the release that the venture will act as a catalyst for economic growth and a better community.
“Identifying prospects to redevelop and repurpose underutilized state property to advance economic growth and affordable housing is a valuable avenue to building stronger communities and opportunities for the people of Massachusetts,” Baker said in the release. “We look forward to working with Mayor Walsh, Veolia, the City of Boston and its residents to optimize this land’s impact and contribution to the neighborhood and city at large.”
The release also stated that MassDOT’s District 6 Headquarters “will be relocated or replaced and a scaled-down version of Veolia North America’s steam plant will be included as part of the redevelopment.”
According to a statement from Veolia North America, the property to be redeveloped is part of Veolia’s district energy system.
“Kneeland Street Station has been an integral part of Veolia’s district energy system in Boston since the 1930’s,” the statement said. “The re-development offers an exciting opportunity for Veolia to build a new, highly efficient steam plant on the re-developed land, supporting Veolia’s district energy network.”
The statement also expressed Veolia’s excitement for the redevelopment, as well as the partnerships with Baker and Walsh.
“In our continued commitment to Boston and Cambridge, Veolia is pleased to partner with Governor Charlie Baker, Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack, and Mayor Martin J. Walsh on the re-development of a parcel of land currently home to Kneeland Street Station,” the statement said.
MassDOT Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack said in the press release that the redevelopment will improve the surrounding community and increase revenue.
“This location is ideal for transit-oriented redevelopment and we look forward to the community process which will help determine how the property will be used in the future,” Pollack said in the release. “We know the site can be put to better uses which will enhance the vitality of the surrounding neighborhood and spur economic growth in the adjacent business district while generating own-source revenue that MassDOT can reinvest.”
According to the release, the redevelopment is a part of the Baker-Polito Administration’s “Open for Business” Real Estate Leveraging Strategy, which focuses on redeveloping state-owned land to be used for various purposes in order to bring in state revenue.
Gregory Vasil, CEO of the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, told The Daily Free Press on Oct. 21, 2015 that programs similar to the REAL Strategy have been used to bring in revenue for years.
“If you look at some of our successful projects that are out there, some of our state hospital sites like Northampton [and] Lakeville, those were all state surplus land that were disposed of through that process,” Vasil told The Daily Free Press. “So there is a track record of putting state land out in the marketplace.”
Vasil also said the strategy is likely to be successful, as similar programs have shown success in the past.
“It will potentially allow and make land available to developers and to people in the real estate community that can use that land to create things that we need as a society, whether it’s affordable housing or other types of development,” Vasil said. “It makes all the sense in the world.”
Several Boston residents were pleased with Baker and Walsh’s efforts regarding the local economy.
Ryan Kim, 37, of Back Bay, said he was glad local officials are continuously working to improve the city.
“I’m always happy to hear that officials are constantly coming out with new ways to make the city better and improve the lives of residents,” he said.
Mary Cortell, 66, of the North End, praised the work Walsh is doing in Boston.
“Mayor Walsh is always trying to improve the city,” she said. “It’s always nice to hear of more initiatives and more projects he’s doing to help.”
Holly Sands, 32, of Allston, said she appreciated that Boston’s capacity for producing entrepreneurs has been recognized.
“I think Boston is a great city for entrepreneurs,” she said. “I’m glad they’re trying to encourage that even more.”
Kennedy serves as a city associate for the Daily Free Press. A freshman, she studies English with a minor in philosophy. As a journalist, Kennedy shows special interest in crime and local politics. You can follow her on Twitter at @stellarkenn.
