Draft Project Impact Report - Boston Redevelopment Authority

Exeter Residences/888 Boylston
Conclusion – Exeter Residences
\\Mabos\projects\09916.00\docs\Permits\DPIR\Text\DPIR Chapter 5
Environmental.docx
Article 80 Large Project Review. Of the two buildings proposed, only the Exeter
Residences contributes any shadow to the west facing wall of the BPL. Only the
Proposed Project was evaluated as the worst-case condition. The proposed building
casts no shadow on the BPL courtyard level itself at any time of the year.
The time scale for this evaluation was more extensive for this evaluation than the
ground plane studies to better show the nuances of the shadow conditions on the
wall. Each evaluation date included eleven evaluation times set in one hour
increments from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
This analysis is based on the same evaluation dates that were used in the ground
level shadow analysis included above. A slight difference of shadow between two
dates, such as the Spring and Fall Equinox, is more evident in such a small area.
Therefore the date that had the greater shadow impact is included on the figures. The
BPL wall shadow study graphics can be found on Figures 5-22 to 5-27.
This detailed analysis included ninety-nine (99) separate evaluation times. Of these
99, four displayed shadow on the BPL east courtyard wall that was a result of the
Proposed Project. They are detailed below.
February 5 / November 5, 3:00 PM – At this time the Exeter Residences casts shadow
on one-and-a-half windows on the third floor of the courtyard. The remainder of the
west-facing courtyard wall is in complete shade from the southern and western walls
of the courtyard and the BPL roof. There are no new shadows on this wall from the
Exeter Residences at 2:00 PM or 4:00 PM on the same date.
March 21 / September 21, 4:00 PM – During this period the Exeter Residences casts a
shadow on approximately two-thirds of the third level wall. This includes
approximately six windows. There is no new shadow from the Exeter Residences on
this wall at 3:00 PM or 5:00 PM on the same date.
The proposed Exeter Residences building results in some additional shadow, as
would be expected, but the impacts to public ways are minimal. New shadow on the
north side of the Commonwealth Avenue only occurs in one time period of one
evaluation date and the shadows move quickly due to the distance between the
building and the sidewalk area. For the most part the new shadows expected to be
cast by the Exeter Residences building will generally fill gaps in existing area
shadows or expand existing shadows created in this dense urban area.
This analysis also depicts the shadows that would be expected on the plaza area to
the west of the proposed Exeter Residences building which is part of the privately
DRAFT - Environmental Protection 5-21