Equity Residential proposes changes to Garden Garage proposal

Boston, MA After over seven years of design changes and public meetings, Equity Residential (EQR) has agreed to a series of modifications in an effort to reach consensus and allow the launch of their project to demolish and put underground the aging five-story garage on Lomasney Way and build a residential tower with a smaller footprint and more open space. Equity Residential has received written neighborhood support from over 1100 residents of the West End, in addition to support from the building’s direct abutters including: • The elected managing board of West End Place; • Boston city councilors at-large Michael Flaherty and Stephen Murphy; • Owners of The Amy Lowell House; and • The Downtown North Association. Since 2008, EQR has been working with a small group of community representatives (Impact Advisory Group (IAG)) whose role is to review the impact of the project and advise the city on matters of mitigation.   A series of design changes were made after collaboration with the IAG and resulted in a final proposal to develop one slender building instead of two buildings, which allows for the creation of over 2.5 acres of public open space, which is 1.5 times larger than the Post Office Sq. Park in the Financial District. The new slender building also preserves more views of the Zakim Bridge and Custom House Tower for a majority of residents in the West End. Recent data has shown that over 80% of the residents of the West End walk, ride a bike, or use public transportation to get to work. However, in another nod to community concerns, Equity Residential has also agreed to a series of traffic and parking modifications to relieve congestion during TD Garden events:

• Reduce driveway width on Lomasney Way;
• Locate an additional garage entrance before the Nashua St. intersection;
• Increase queueing storage in garage to lessen traffic backup off of Martha Road for TD Garden events; and
• Connect new below-grade garage with their existing Longfellow garages, providing an additional exit to lessen impact on traffic around site on TD Garden event days.

EQR’s proposal will add 470 new homes to the Boston housing pipeline and bring an expanded range of 3-bedroom housing options to accommodate additional families in the West End community.  A widened pedestrian entrance to the transit-oriented West End from North Station will access new and wider continuous pathways to connect the site to the Downtown, while offering new lighting, landscaping and public art designed to create safer public walkways throughout the site.  Residents of the neighborhood will now have the opportunity to discuss future programming for outdoor spaces and recreational areas, while a proposed open-air pavilion will provide opportunities for public gatherings. “We have worked diligently and openly since 2008 to develop a compromise solution that would be supported by the residents of the West End, in addition to the 1,100+ residents of the West End who have already indicated their support. This new rental housing will help to address the City’s call for 53,000 new units for those who want to live and walk to work in Boston. We are pleased that the overwhelming majority of residents are enthusiastic about welcoming new families to the West End”, said Richard Boales, senior vice president for Equity Residential. “This section of Boston has been walled off from the downtown for too long.  We look forward to a new 2.5-acre park that can be enjoyed by the public and West End residents, and working together as a community to program Thoreau Path and this new public space”, said Denton Crews, a member of the city-appointed IAG and a board member and resident of West End Place, one of the abutting housing developments that supports the new proposal. Equity Residential acquired the Garden Garage, but which most commuters know as the home to Basketball City, when it bought the adjacent Charles River Park apartments in 1999. In 2006, Equity Residential created 310 new residential units—the first new housing in the West End community in 20 years, providing a successful addition to the growing community. The West End has become its own new neighborhood.  Boston Properties is building a three-tower complex next door to include 500 new homes, office space, a hotel, and a supermarket, reaching a height of over 600’.  Avalon Bay added 503 units, Lovejoy Wharf and 131 Beverley added 175 condominiums, and Parcel 1B/1C has proposed 239 units.   Along with the 286 units at The Victor, the neighborhood will experience an increase of over 2700 units over the next five years.