point cover jan 13 - Boston Redevelopment Authority

Project Phasing and Schedule
Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc.
The Point, Boston
The duration of construction for the Project is expected to last approximately 24 months. Demolition is
anticipated to begin within approximately six months following Article 80 approval.
Consistency with Public Planning
This section describes how the Project is consistent with applicable local planning initiatives and municipal
and state land use plans and policies.
Fenway/Kenmore Neighborhood Planning Initiatives
As part of a 2006 legislatively enacted economic stimulus package, $36 million was set aside by the State for
the construction, development, modernization, rehabilitation, upgrade and improvement of transportation
related infrastructure in the City of Boston focused on the Fenway Neighborhood and the Longwood Medical
and Academic Area. These improvements were targeted to support job growth and economic advancement.
Cited among the engines of this advancement was the investment in commercial and residential facilities. The
Project responds to the goals of the legislation in that its related transportation improvements dovetail with
on-going City planning for improvements to Boylston Street and Brookline Avenue, including the traffic
improvements being performed by the Army Corps of Engineers as part of the Muddy River Restoration
Project.
The transportation-related improvements being advanced by the City as part of the Fenway - Longwood -
Kenmore Transportation & Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (the “Action Plan”) include reconstructing Boylston
Street to significantly improve the pedestrian and bicycle commuter environment through the provision of
wider sidewalks with street trees, curb extensions at intersections, and the addition of bicycle lanes, while
maintaining traffic capacity. 2 The Project, as currently envisioned, will incorporate the planned sidewalk
improvements along its Boylston Street and Brookline Avenue frontage as well as include an enhanced
pedestrian cross-connection between these two streets.
As part of the Massachusetts Works program, the Commonwealth and the MBTA recently broke ground on
the $13.5 million Yawkey Commuter Rail Station reconstruction project, which will be integrated into the
future Fenway Center development. The new rail station will improve connectivity between Beacon Street,
Brookline Avenue, and the future Mixed-Use Path (proposed as part of the Action Plan). The Project proposes
to activate Brookline Avenue and Boylston Street through the introduction of ground-floor retail uses. This
retail space will provide the services that generate pedestrian activity and will expand the economic footprint
of the neighborhood by extending the existing pedestrian activity from Fenway Park further west down
Brookline Avenue, and by aiding the transformation of Boylston Street from an underutilized corridor to a
2 Boston Transportation Department, Fenway - Longwood - Kenmore Transportation & Pedestrian Safety Action Plan,
Spring 2009.
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panded_PNF\00d_ProjDescription_FINAL.doc S-5 Project Description