Draft Project Impact Report - Boston Redevelopment Authority

Exeter Residences/888 Boylston
\\Mabos\projects\09916.00\docs\Permits\DPIR\Text\DPIR Chapter 1 Executive
Summary.docx
and will be located along Boylston Street between the Boylston Arcade entrance and
the Hynes Convention Center. 888 Boylston will continue to consist of an office
building with retail and lobby space at the street and plaza levels, as originally
approved in 1990. Since the submission of the Notice of Project Change/Project
Notification Form, in response to comments received 888 Boylston has been reduced
in height by 2 stories or 23 feet. 888 Boylston as presented in this DPIR will be a 17
story structure rising 242 feet in height, and adding 6 stories and approximately
134,559 SF of space to the previously approved building. Further, the third and
fourth stories will have the option of being either office or retail space depending
upon retail tenant demand. The additional space will result in a total area for Phase
4a of approximately 422,052 SF. Additional height can be accommodated at the site
due to the building’s generous setback from Boylston Street. Consistent with the
BRA’s urban design comments, the proposed height acts as a visual transition from
Boylston Street to the tall Prudential Tower located immediately behind 888
Boylston.
The additional height for 888 Boylston is a direct response to the type of office space
that Class A tenants require in the City of Boston. Providing Class A office space that
meets the market demand will keep these tenants in Boston where they might
otherwise move to another city. Retaining such tenants will have a positive impact
on the economic health of the Back Bay and the City of Boston.
The 888 Boylston development consists of public space improvements from the new
Mandarin Oriental Boston to the Hynes Convention Center. The Boylston Arcade,
which is contained within the area designated as Phase 4b within the Prudential
Center complex, will be enhanced, resulting in an addition of 1,000 SF.
This Draft Project Impact Report (“DPIR”) contains updated information on the
design for the Exeter Residences and 888 Boylston reflecting the modifications to the
height, density and design which respond to the comments received, presents the
additional studies requested, and provides a comprehensive evaluation of potential
impacts and measures that will be undertaken to mitigate those impacts. This DPIR
is guided by the February 15, 2008 Scoping Determination issued by the Director of
the Boston Redevelopment Authority (“BRA”), and is intended to be responsive to
the comments, instructions and additional requirements of BRA staff, Public
Agencies of the City and PruPAC. This DPIR contains a Volume I - DPIR, Volume II
- Response to Comments and a Technical Appendices. Further, this DPIR is also
intended to respond to substantive comments received from the members of the
public. Please see Volume II, Response to Comments. This DPIR is intended to
augment and supplement the documentation presented in the Notice of Project
Change/Project Notification Form, which was filed with the BRA on August 27,
2007. Where appropriate, this DPIR directs the reader to relevant sections of the
NPC/PNF to reflect the initial studies performed in connection with the proposed
the Exeter Residences and 888 Boylston as described in the NPC/PNF. However, the
reader is asked to keep in mind that the reduced height and density of the Project
Executive Summary 1-3