LoveJoy Wharf
Boston, Massachusetts
The Lovejoy Wharf project represents a long-awaited opportunity to revitalize a significant waterfront parcel within Boston’s North Station area. A contemporary, architectural landmark that is suited to this gateway location will replace the existing obsolete building at 131 Beverly Street (131). The historic structure at 160 North Washington Street will receive a much-needed renovation.
The site is generally bounded by North Washington Street to the east, Lovejoy Place to the south, Beverly Street to the west, and Boston Inner Harbor to the north. With a location next to the Leonard P. Zakim Bridge (I-93) and the Washington Street-Charlestown Bridge, this high visibility site has nearly 250,000 cars driving by every day. With proximity to its neighbor, the TD Banknorth Garden, Lovejoy Wharf is the only nexus of the Freedom Trail and the HarborWalk with the Greenway parkland to the south and the Charles River Basin Parks at its doorstep.
The existing dilapidated wharf will be reconstructed as over three quarters of an acre of public waterfront open space. The project will thus include the construction of a critical segment of the City’s planned Harborwalk, which will connect open spaces to the east, west, and north of the project site. The Lovejoy Wharf site encompasses approximately 2.1 acres, 1.3 acres of which is occupied by two existing buildings and the private way Lovejoy Place to its centerline. The approximately 0.8-acre balance is wharf area or other open space. The wharf area will be activated with water shuttle transportation facility, boat access, restaurant and retail spaces, landscaping to accommodate outdoor dining and seating and other public amenities including a plaza area that could host tent events, be a small performance venue or host a street market fair for local artisans or farmers. Specific components of the overall project include:
- Existing nine story building
- Demolish top two floors and replace with four new floors added to top of building
- Seven existing floors (partial 1st and 2 thru 7) converted into approximately 100 ‘loft’ style residential units
- Top four floors (8 thru 11) are new construction more traditional ‘flats’ type units, approximately 44
- Utilizing Wharf level space (basement elevation for 160) and partial first floor there is approximately 39,000sf of nrsf of retail space currently designated for 300 seats of restaurant space and a 7,600 sf fitness center plus other retail
- Existing building to be razed to the existing foundation mat
- A new 14 story structure would be constructed within the current footprint of the building with approximately 96 units on floors 2 to 14
- Integrated automatic mechanized parking system of approximately 300 cars
Construction is expected to begin in 2008 with completion in 2010.
