Development & Construction
What's Being Built In Downtown
Verified capital investment (development and acquisition costs) of at least $16 billion since 2000 has created a 24/7 neighborhood here in downtown. New mixed-used projects valued at over $500 million are planned or currently underway for Downtown Boston. For an inventory of major developments in the area over the past five years, visit here.
CONSTRUCTION PENDING:
55 Summer Street: In June 2023, the City approved Phase 3 Partners' 55 Summer Street proposal, which calls for a complete renovation of the ten-story, 115,000 sq.-ft. office tower. The renovation, which will convert the property to a Level 1/Level 2 life-sciences use, will include new bike facilities and significant enhancements to the 55 Summer Street Plaza.
9 Hamilton Place: In November 2022, the City approved City Realty Group's 9 Hamilton Place proposal, which calls for a 12-story, 155-foot, 38,400 sq-ft. boutique hotel consisting of 80 rooms. The proposal additionally calls for an 800 sq.-ft. street-level patio/cafe, with streetscape improvements in the immediate adjacent area.
PROPOSED:
125 Tremont Street: The Holocaust Legacy Foundation proposes to construct a six-story, 32,700 sq.-ft. museum dedicated to raising awareness and teaching about the Holocaust. The proposal, situated along the Freedom Trail, was submitted in June 2023 and is currently undergoing the City's Article 80E Small Project Review process.
11 Bromfield: Midwood Investment & Development proposes to construct a 23-story, 325-foot, 441,000 sq.-ft. mixed-use office tower. The first 3 floors (59,000 sq.-ft.) will consist of retail, with the remaining 20 floors (382,000 sq.-ft.) being given over to office space. In fall 2021, the proponent submitted the Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR), which is available for review here.
17 West Street: Hub Parking LLC proposes to construct a 15-story, 38,000 sq.-ft., 94-room hotel, with interior & exterior (sidewalk) bike racks and additional streetscape improvements to the adjacent public realm. The proposal was submitted in March 2023 and is undergoing the City's Article 80E Small Project Review process.
RECENT DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTS:
2023:
Winthrop Center: MP Boston's 53-story mixed-use tower--at 691-feet, the fourth-tallest pinnacle in Boston--includes 317 residential units occupying 573,000 sq.-ft., 772,000 sq.-ft. of commercial space, a 550-space parking garage, a 12,000 sq.-ft. Connector lobby space, and an additional 28,000 sq.-ft. of restaurant/retail amenities. The project's public benefits include a complete redesign and renovation of historic Winthrop Square Park.
2022:
110 Chauncy Street: MCRE Partners, in partnership with 110 Chauncy Street's flagship tenant, global design firm Sasaski, completed a full renovation of the property. Sasaki, with 250 employees, launched renovations of the property in spring 2021, and relocated to the newly-renovated space in early 2022. Renovations included the design/build-out of new office interiors, a roof deck, along with redesigning the lobby, retail space, and entrance.
11 Ave. de Lafayette: Simultaneous with its renovation of 110 Chauncy Street, MCRE Partners undertook a renovation of 11 Ave. de Lafayette (the former Road Scholars headquarters). The renovation of the 5-story, 58,000 sq.-ft. property included: new entries and lobbies in the front and rear; cosmetic improvements to corridors and restrooms; and the exposing of many of the wood-and-brick features of the original construction in tenant spaces.
High Street Place: Rockpoint Group/Rockhill Management renovated the lobby space that connects 100 High Street with 160 Federal Street to create High Street Place, a new food hall. High Street Place features 22 separate food kiosks showcasing local vendors, with seating for 400, and opened in March 2022.
2021:
10 Winthrop Square: Chevron Partners completed a renovation and modernization of the boutique 6-floor, 26,500-sq.-ft. property, which includes 6,000 sq.-ft. of lower-level retail space, late in 2021.
2020:
399 Washington Street: L3 Capital acquired this property in June 2017. It undertook a complete renovation of the historic 6-story, 77,000 sq.-ft. building, which was built in 1881. The renovation launched in late 2017 and completed in early 2020.
2019:
80 Boylston Street: Emerson College's renovation of the Little Building began in June 2017 and completed in summer 2019 in time for the fall 2019 semester. Included in the project were interior renovations on floors 2-12, the construction of a new 13th floor, located behind the roofline's parapet, an enhanced retail arcade with new tenants, and 294 new student dormitory beds.
Congress Square: The Congress Square project launched in March 2016 and includes 458,300 sq.-ft. of mixed-used property, with hotel, office, and retail components. The hotel, a 85,700 sq.-ft., 165-room Hyatt Centric, opened in February 2019. The 13-floor, 250,000 sq.-ft. office component, at 40 Water St., opened in phases, from late 2018 through mid-2019.
The Union at 48 Boylston Street: Completed in January 2019, this 46-unit affordable housing complex includes 38 studio apartments and 8 one-bedroom apartments. Site of the former BYMCU, this 40,500 sq.-ft. renovation contains 11,000 sq.-ft. of office space along with 3,800 sq.-ft. of retail space. Additional info about the project can be found here.