Institutional Master Plan Amendment received by the BPDA from Northeastern University

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Boston Redevelopment Authority d/b/a the Boston Planning & Development Agency (“BPDA”), pursuant to Section 80A-2 and Article 80D of the Boston Zoning Code (“Code”), hereby gives notice that an Institutional Master Plan Amendment (“IMP Amendment”) was received by the BPDA on February 10, 2021 from Northeastern University (“Northeastern”).

The IMP Amendment seeks to amend Northeastern University’s 2013 IMP to include an approximately 468,500 square foot (sf) 25-story mixed-use building containing a five-story podium with an active community focused ground floor and four stories of innovative teaching and learning spaces, collaboration areas, and makerspaces. The 20 story tower will house approximately 810 beds above the podium (the “Project”) on a parcel described in the 2013 IMP as Parcel 18 West. Purchase of this parcel entailed a commitment to addressing community economic development on the site. To meet this commitment, most of the 18,000 square foot ground floor will be dedicated to space that will actively engage the neighboring community by bringing together partnerships and University programs that support the economic development of the surrounding neighborhood. Along with a flexible floor plan for display, meetings, gathering, and events, the ground floor is anticipated to include approximately 2,800 sf of local retail open to the community.

In addition to the 25-story mixed-use building, the IMP Amendment includes 450-452 Huntington Avenue, the former home of Punter’s Pub which was purchased by the University in 2016. The pub closed in December 2018 and is currently vacant. Northeastern’s long-term goal is to redevelop the site along with its adjacent parcels. The long-term redevelopment will be addressed in the upcoming institutional master plan update. While there is not yet a plan for the site’s immediate redevelopment, Northeastern would like to redevelop the site for an interim institutional use in the near-term and is including the parcel as a second institutional project in the IMP Amendment.

The Proponent has requested approval of the IMP Amendment by the BPDA pursuant to Article 80D of the Code, which approval includes the issuance of an Adequacy Determination approving the IMP Amendment, the issuance of a Certificate of Consistency from the BPDA Director, and a petition by the BPDA Director for further approval of the IMP Amendment by the Boston Zoning Commission.

The IMP Amendment may be obtained from the BPDA website at the following link: http://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/840-columbus-avenue. Public comments on the IMP Amendment, including the comments of public agencies, should be submitted in writing to Gerald Autler, BPDA, via e-mail at Gerald.Autler@boston.gov, within sixty (60) days of the publication of this notice.

BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Teresa Polhemus
Executive Director/Secretary