BRA Approves Canal and India Street Developments

Two of the six new developments the Board of Directors for the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) has approved are located adjacent to the North End/Waterfront community.

Together, the six projects represent $151.7 million worth of investment and nearly 674,000 square feet of construction, according to the BRA.

Reportedly, the development projects are expected to create over 450 construction jobs and close to 700 permanent jobs.

One of the proposals is a boutique hotel at 104 Canal Street that will add to the growing mix of development near North Station, compromised of 47,355 square feet with a project cost of 30 million.

The site of a former bank branch at the corner of Canal Street and Valenti Way will be developed by Somnath Hospitality, LLC as a 90-room hotel to serve the rapidly growing North Station area.

The Canal Street Hotel will be a short walk from the TD Garden and Haymarket and will include a public art installation and a café with outdoor seating to enhance the pedestrian experience in the neighborhood, as well as a ground-floor lobby and fitness center for hotel guests. Guest will have easy access to public transit, as connections to the MBTA’s Green Line, Orange Line and commuter rail are in close proximity.

Local architecture firm ADD Inc designed the building with a pedestrian friendly approach that is meant to encourage the use of public transit, according to the BRA.

The second development that abuts the North End/Waterfront community is a 12 story residential development at 55 India Street along the Greenway, comprised of 67,000 square feet at a cost of $45 million.

The BRA was given approval to move forward with plans to construct the residential development that includes 44 condominium units and 4,000 square feet of ground floor commercial space.

The structure will contain one, two and three bedroom units designed for residents to take advantage of the many public transportation options in the area, according to the BRA. The building will have no on-site parking but it will offer a secure bicycle storage for every unit.

            The development will replace a surface parking lot by transforming an underutilized site on the edge of the Greenway with a vibrant mix-use building while substantially improving the pedestrian environment in the area.