The public got its first look at the redevelopment plans for the Government Center Garage during an Impact Advisory Group working session meeting at City Hall last week.
HYM Investment Group LLC – a firm headed by former Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) Director Thomas O’Brien – has proposed building a seven-building complex of retail, residential and hotel uses, including a 600-foot office building at Bowker and New Chardon streets. The project would add 2.4 million square feet of new construction, O’Brien said.
O’Brien said HYM plans to file a Project Notification Form for the proposal in the fall, although he didn’t provide a specific timeline for the project.
During construction, around 1,000 parking spaces would be made available in the existing garage, which O’Brien said studies suggested would adequately accommodate commuters.
“It’s an economically viable proposal because the garage can continue to operate,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien said multiple three-bedroom units would be made available in the $140 million, 350-unit residential building that is slated to be built during the first phase of the project.
“We’re thinking very much about families and family housing throughout the project,” O’Brien said.
O’Brien also said the project provided opportunities to improve pedestrian connections from Congress Street to North Station and between the North End, West End and Beacon Hill communities. Meanwhile, O’Brien said the project includes no plans for a new school. “One of the things we learned is it’s not possible for this project to be all things to all people,” he said.