The Boston Planning & Development Agency approved a new Fenway development slated to bring 266 residential units and 40 new retail shops to the area.
Located in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood, once complete, Fenway Corners will include eight mixed-use buildings with office space, labs, residences, retail, restaurants, underground parking for 1,489 vehicles and more.
The project will support affordable housing with a $22.7 million housing contribution toward creating housing and job training programs. Of the 266 residential units, 53 will be income-restricted.
Additionally, the project includes several area improvements covering approximately 3.7 acres along Brookline Avenue, Lansdowne Street, Jersey Street and Van Ness Street. They include a roadway connecting Boylston Street and Brookline Avenue, new bike infrastructure and pedestrian paths and the “pedestrianization” of Jersey Street for hosting public events, markets and gatherings.
In addition, Arthur’s Alley will be converted into a “retail-lined pedestrian thoroughfare” connecting Jersey Street to the new Richard B. Ross Way extension and the rest of the Fenway neighborhood.
The eight buildings will be constructed on four development blocks, according to the filing. They include the Lansdowne Block, a seven-story commercial building with indoor bike parking and an underground parking garage. It will have retail on the ground floor and part of the second floor, as well as active public youth spaces and office, research and laboratory use on the upper levels.
The Jersey Block is comprised of five buildings with 650 parking spaces and includes:
- Jersey Block Building 1: Located at 85 Van Ness St., the 16-story building will be for commercial use including retail space on the ground floor and second level, with office and lab space on the upper levels.
- Jersey Block Building 2: Located at 80 Brookline Ave., the nine-story building will be located above the historic Richardson Building terra cotta façade. The ground floor will have “pedestrian-friendly uses” and retail space, while the upper floors will be offices.
- Jersey Block Building 3: Located at 100 Brookline Ave., the 13-story building is one of two residential buildings in the project and contains 50 units.
- Jersey Block Building 4: Located at 110 Brookline Ave., this building will contain 216 apartments.
- Jersey Block Building 5: Located at 19 Jersey St., the two-story building will be a small building attached at one or more levels to 85 Van Ness St. and will include ground-floor retail and other public-facing uses. It will also house a second-floor public gathering space, the Jersey Street Porch.
The Van Ness Block will contain a single, 14-story building with ground-floor retail and restaurants, office and laboratories on the upper floors and an underground garage for approximately 235 cars, along with secured, indoor bicycle storage.
A 19-story building will be constructed on the Brookline Block for a ground-floor day care and retail/restaurant space.The upper floors will be for office and laboratory uses. The Fenway Family Center day care, according to the filing, will be approximately 10,000 square feet and designed to serve 100 children. The building also continues underground parking for 485 cars, as well as secured, indoor bicycle storage.