A developer has received the approval it needed from Massport to build a housing development at the former Boston Edison Power Station on Summer Street in South Boston.
The power plant was situated on the 776 Summer St. site from 1898 until it was decommissioned in 2007.
Massport officials voted to approve a $12 million deal with HRP, which included modifying deed restrictions that previously prevented home construction. These restrictions, established more than a decade ago, were changed, paving the way for HRP to move forward with the project.
According to the Boston Globe, Massport imposed the restriction on the site to ensure a truck route between Summer Street and the Conley cargo terminal and to minimize resident complaints about truck traffic on the street.
Once complete, the mixed-use project will include 636 housing units.
HRP’s project page says its 776 Summer plan “will turn the grand and storied space of the former Boston Edison power plant into a vibrant community destination.”
The developer says it will transform the area into a “dynamic mixed-use ecosystem” which will bring nearly 6 acres of new open space to the new 15.2-acre development, while preserving several historic buildings on the site.
“We plan to honor the legacy of the former Boston Edison Power Plant while creating a one-of-a-kind mixed-use ecosystem of innovation and neighborhood activation,” said Melissa Schrock, executive vice president for mixed-use development at HRP. “Anchored by the adaptive reuse of the magnificent century-old turbine halls, 776 Summer will offer the community direct access to the waterfront as well as new open spaces and gathering places to connect with friends and neighbors.”
Once complete, the development will include 610,000 square feet of residential use, 860,000 square feet of office/research and development use, 80,000 square feet of retail, 115,000 square feet for a hotel and up to 1,214 parking spaces.
The development has been a long time coming.
In April 2017, HRP filed a letter of intent for the redevelopment of the 776 Summer St. site including partial demolition and partial reuse of existing vacant structures and the construction of eight new buildings over 10 to 15 years. Once complete, the development would include residential, office, hotel, retail, restaurant and other commercial uses.
The Boston Planning & Development Agency approved the master plan for the development on Jan. 14, 2021. It received zoning board approval on Feb. 10, 2021.
On Jan. 19, 2023, the BPDA approved Phase 1 of the project.