Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Projects
The properties listed below are Transit Oriented Development projects that are permitted and under construction or have already been completed. For information on development opportunities and properties that are currently out for bid, and to sign up for the MBTA Bid List, see the Sales & Leases page.
Mishawum Station
South Station
Columbus Center
Hingham Shipyard
Lechmere Station/Northpoint
Woodland Station
Ashmont Station
Canal Street - Parcel 1A
Click here for the MBTA's webpage on Transit Oriented Development, or click here for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts TOD Information webpage.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mishawum Station, Woburn
Community Goals of the Project:
- Reopen Mishawum station to serve local community and reverse commutes.
- Business park zoning permits office, hotel and similar uses; housing is not permitted.
- Desire to enhance pedestrian environment, connections to shopping from neighborhoods.
Market Assessment:
- High visibility site has potential for commercial or residential development.
- Residential market is most likely rental. A total of 210 units with 21 units for affordable housing.
- 150,000 SF of office use (workforce of 450-600 people on site).
- 3 to 5 story buildings.
- 428 parking spaces.
|
|
Mishawum Before |
Planned Mishawum After |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
South Station, Boston
- Air Rights deed granted to BRA and Hines/TUDC for
a 1.8 million square foot mixed-use project valued at $800M, which includes
a
40-story tower, a 13-story hotel and residential tower, and a 9-story
office tower
- Expected to generate 2,500 construction jobs and 5,000 permanent jobs, $12M in new taxes and $10M linkage fee to the City.
- MBTA benefits from a $45M expansion of the South Station Bus Terminal, which includes: more convenient connection between train and bus terminals; 16 additional bus gates; and new ridership.
- Construction expected to begin in Winter 2008 and first phase (tower
and expanded bus terminal) complete in 2-3 years.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Columbus Center, Boston
- Awarded a 99-year air rights lease, in conjunction with the Mass Turnpike Authority, to Winn Cassin for a 1.3 million square foot mixed-use development valued at $650M.
- The project includes 443 units of condominiums and rental housing with 44 units for affordable housing, a 200 room hotel, 50,000 square feet of retail space, and 37,000 square feet of open space.
- The MBTA received $3.5M plus improvements to the ventilation system at Back Bay Station.
- Construction is expected to begin November 2007.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hingham Shipyard
This mixed-use development project proposes a mix of restaurants, local and national retailers, entertainment destinations, and a marina. The project will also include 479 residential units with 24 units for affordable housing, and mixed-use office space with waterfront views.
The MBTA commuter ferry operating from the Shipyard and the MBTA bus line currently shuttles thousands of commuters to and from Boston on a daily basis. A new 1000 space parking facility recently opened.
In addition to private investment being made in the development, Congressman Bill Delahunt was able to secure $7.5 million for improvements to the Hingham Ferry Terminal facilities at the Hingham Shipyard and for commuter parking, bus and vehicular access.
The construction includes a second signalized intersection onto Route 3A, together with a pick-up/drop-off area close to the ferry dock.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lechmere Station/Northpoint
This project is a partnership among MBTA, Pan Am Railways, Inc., and Jones Lang LaSalle.
The development, previously, 45 acres of former rail yards, will contain 2,700 housing units, over 2 million sq. ft. office and laboratory space, and 10 acres of parkland.
Infrastructure investment by developer includes construction of modern Lechmere Station replacing 100-year-old station, improved bus/Green Line connection, full accessibility, and pedestrian and bike improvements.
Station construction is planned for 2007/2008, and the first two residential buildings are now nearing completion.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Arborpoint at Woodland Station
Arborpoint at Woodland Station is a “friendly 40b” (Massachusetts high density/affordable/mixed housing project) Transit-Oriented Development incorporating 180 rental apartment units with 25% affordable units and a structured parking garage. Prepayment of the $4,300,000 Ground Lease Payments allowed for the construction of a 548 unit parking garage, new entrance road, and redesigned handicapped accessible station platform, expanding the overall parking by 100 spaces. The housing development is currently being constructed at the former surface commuter parking lot, at the station. Construction of the garage is complete.
 |
Arborpoint serves as one of the more successful TOD projects in the state. New facilities for the MBTA have been developed while providing for housing located at the Transit location. Significant savings have been achieved by contracting the work through the private construction firm. |
| The overall project came in about 5% over budget. This is remarkable due to significant increased construction costs during the project. The project operating agreement calls for sharing the costs of maintenance of the entry road and the landscaping, reducing the long-term maintenance obligations of the MBTA at this location. The MBTA can recapture some of its financial contributions through increased parking fees generated by the garage. |
 |
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avenir (Parcel 1A), Boston
After a long term community process involving the Downtown North Association and the Bulfinch Triangle Development Advisory Committee, the MBTA offer to lease a 1.18 acre parcel over the Green and Orange Lines’ North Station stops across Causeway St. from the TD Banknorth Garden.
Based on a public bid, the MBTA concluded a 99 air rights year lease with Trinity Financial and, Archstone-Smith. The agreement will result in the replacement of a dilapidated one-story office building by a mixed-use rental project consisting of approximately 241 rental apartment units, almost 30,000 square feet of street-level retail space, and 116 structured parking spaces.
 |
The local community strongly supports this project. Construction has begun. |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashmont Station |
 |
This parcel originally consisted of 30,000 square feet
of land and was an underutilized employee parking lot located at the
aging Ashmont Station which provides a bus terminus and Red Line rapid
transit stop. Upon completion of station design including bus and auto
circulation around the station, it was determined that an additional
17,000 square feet of land could be made available and enhance the development
potential of the project.
The MBTA had plans to modernize the station and realign the bus turnaround.
In working with the community it determined that a TOD project at the
station would meet community goals and generate important non-fare revenues
that could help offset the capital costs of the improvements.
An RFP was drafted, and the public bid process resulted in a in the
designation of an 85 year lease transaction with Trinity Financial .
There is tremendous community support for this TOD project which will
include affordable housing with first floor retail and parking. The
MBTA collected $1.415 Million for the single up-front lease payment
for the development rights.
The transaction closed in April of 2006 and construction is currently
underway.