Developer JW Capital Partners has filed a letter of intent for a new 300-room hotel project at Lewis Wharf on Boston’s North End waterfront. The proposal would include two new hotel buildings connected by a glass lobby along with a 54,000 square-foot publicly accessible park replacing the surface parking lot on Atlantic Avenue. Plans include a new public marina that would also host the existing Boston Sailing Center. The current 225 parking spaces would be accommodated by an underground 380-space garage allowing room for the added hotel-related vehicles.
“We are looking forward to bringing this waterfront site to its full potential for the public, while creating a destination for residents and visitors alike,†said Will Adams, JW Capital Partners. “By replacing the current dilapidated piling fields and parking lot with nearly two and half acres of public space and a new connection to Boston’s Harborwalk, the intent of this fully-compliant plan is to improve access and increase enjoyment of the waterfront for all.â€
Working with contractor John Moriarty & Associates and Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, the development team has removed the residential units from a previous plan because private accommodations are not allowed under the State’s Chapter 91 regulations. The hotel plan would redevelop the 9-acre Lewis Wharf property around the existing granite condominium and Pilot House buildings. The commercial property is owned by DeNormandie Companies, including watersheet rights over the existing piling fields.
The intent is to operate a 4-5 star luxury hotel, but the developer says no specific flag or brand has been determined. A 12-foot wide Harborwalk would cover 1,800 linear feet, surrounding the two hotel piers and leading to the marina and boat slips.
A one-story glass-enclosed building would serve as an entrance lobby with a cafe/bar connecting the two hotel buildings. A restaurant with outdoor seating is planned along one of the main hotel buildings on the ground level. Function and ballroom space would be in the south hotel building of a similar size to the Wharf Room at the Boston Harbor Hotel. Rooftop lounge and deck areas are also planned for the hotel property.
The proposed hotel, marina, parkland and Harborwalk would meet current city and state regulations for public access and open space under waterfront regulations and zoning, according to the developer. At 55 feet high, before mechanicals, the project is not expected to require a zoning height variance.
If last year’s response is an indication, some opposition to the added density, potential noise/traffic and lost views is expected by abutters and activists as part of Preserve Boston’s Waterfront. Proponents are emphasizing regulatory compliance to distinguish it from controversial high-rise tower projects, such as Harbor Garage and Government Center Garage.
The new hotel would extend over the current watersheet and piling field beyond the Lewis Wharf granite condominium building and Pilot House. The 30 foot underground public parking garage is expected to accommodate the current parking needs in the 225 space surface lot (including ~65 monthly parkers), plus another 155 for the hotel.
The Boston Sailing Club is expected to stay at the property in addition to a new public marina with 120 slips. A small building would also be built on Atlantic Avenue that would function as BSC headquarters and classroom space.
The redevelopment would add 54,000 square feet of publicly accessible parkland. Similar in scale to the park at Post Office Square, the greenspace would provide a thruway to the harbor. The park would be operated and maintained by the hotel, with potential programming in a similar fashion to the Boston Harbor Hotel at Rowes Wharf.
Hotel vehicles would enter from Atlantic Avenue down a road on the North side of the condo building to an unloading area near the entrance of the underground parking garage.
The south side of the condo building would stay largely as the open space it is today. There are also no plans to redevelop the three-story One Lewis Wharf commercial building. The Lewis Wharf pool that serves the condominium is expected to be rebuilt as part of the new development.
For historical perspective, JWCP is comparing its proposal to that of The Gunwyn Company, a similar hotel project with underground parking, fully permitted in 1991 under the Harborpark plan. The Gunwyn project was never built due to poor financial conditions at the time.
The Lewis Wharf hotel project would be the first to be constructed under new city “rising tide†regulations on the North End waterfront and would also be fully accessible. JWCP estimates $9.7 million in taxes will be generated by its proposed development.
Project and Environmental Notifica
An aeriel view of Lewis Wharf.
tion Forms (PNF and ENF) are expected to be filed in the coming weeks that will begin the public process with city and state authorities. Permitting can take two years with another 25-30 months for construction extending completion to 2019-2020. A website with more information has been setup by the developer at LewisWharfBoston.com.