Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) sought Kleinfelder’s assistance to provide urban design and architecture services for an air rights feasibility analysis of a parcel located at the intersection of two main Boston thoroughfares. A clear understanding of the site’s potential would enable MassDOT to offer up to 300,000 square feet of mixed-use development.
The lack of technical information on Parcel 13 had kept developer interest low in previous solicitations. The site is constrained by the antiquated Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Hynes Station and its location directly over the Massachusetts Turnpike and Green Line Transit tunnel. Kleinfelder was engaged to perform an evaluation to provide solutions for making the station accessible, while also developing air rights alternatives and site design, to promote transit-oriented development.
Kleinfelder’s urban planners and structural engineers established a building program to develop air rights alternatives, ranging from minimal build to mid- and high-rise buildings. Each of these alternatives includes upgrades to the MBTA Hynes Station, complete with two new accessible entrances. The team used zoning, past studies, and known community concerns to develop goals and evaluation criteria, then compared the alternatives to help provide recommendations for MassDOT.
Kleinfelder’s analysis and designs reduced MassDOT’s risk and exposure on an undeveloped asset and provided potential developers with a thorough technical understanding of the parcel’s opportunities and constraints. By fostering a more informed, competitive proposal process, MassDOT is able to advertise the site and unleash the parcel’s development potential, thereby creating added value for our client.
Location:
Boston, Massachusetts
Owner:
MassDOT
