See Correction/Clarification at the end of this article.
The South End home of the Ben Franklin Institute of Technology will become a senior-care facility, with additional affordable housing and retail space, according to a new redevelopment proposal from the Boston-based real-estate development arm of New York’s Related Cos.
The 310,000-square-foot mixed-use development plan was filed Monday with the Boston Planning and Development Agency in a letter of intent by Related Beal, through affiliate Appleton Berkeley Propco LLC.
The Ben Franklin Institute, a private nonprofit college, opened at 41 Berkeley St. in Boston's South End in 1908.
But maintenance has proved to be costly, and the institute is moving to a new site at 1011 Harrison Ave., in Roxbury's Nubian Square, formerly known as Dudley Square. The institute acquired the Nubian Square site, off Melnea Cass Blvd., for $6 million.
The 525-student institute, like other educational institutions grappling with the pandemic, plans to offer a "hybrid model" of in-person and online courses this fall.
The institute will continue to own the South End property until construction begins on its Nubian Square facility. The institute will also continue occupy its longtime South End home until the Nubian Square facility is ready.
"They are a firm with deep roots here in Boston. Related Beal is thoughtful and forward thinking in their approach and design, and they have the experience to get the job done," Tony Benoit, president of the institute, said in a statement. "Ultimately, it is this partnership that will empower BFIT to create its new campus in Nubian Square.”
The senior-care proposal is expected to comprise 210,000 square feet, including ground-floor "retail and accessory uses." The redevelopment also includes reuse of the Franklin Union building for 80,000 square feet of commercial use, including ground-floor retail, and 20,000 square feet of affordable residential.
"This diverse, mixed-use project will complement and enrich the historic urban fabric of the South End, preserving much of the existing structures on the project site while introducing new, contemporary and contextual design and extensive landscape and public realm improvements," the Related Beal letter said.
There is also a 4,500-square-foot community space slated for the ground floor.
"New passages will connect the formerly inaccessible interior ... to surrounding routes and venues," the letter said. "The ground floor will include a continuous network of indoor and outdoor spaces, designed as both a destination and a pedestrian boulevard."
Tremont and Berkeley Streets will also see "streetscape" improvements, according to the letter, signed by Kimberly Sherman Stamler, Related Beal's president.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology (BFIT) on the process of developing such a significant site in Boston’s South End,” Stamler said in a statement. “Our goal is to introduce a meaningful and diverse mix of uses to this vibrant and historic neighborhood, anchored by public realm improvements and activation, and look forward to further public conversations as we continue to shape this development plan.”
Catherine Carlock contributed to this report.
Total sq. ft. developed in Mass. since Jan. 1, 2014
| Rank | Prior Rank | Firm/Prior rank (*unranked in 2018)/ |
|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | National Development |
2 | 2 | Wilder |
3 | 3 | Campanelli |
Correction/Clarification
The Ben Franklin Institute of Technology will continue to own the South End property until construction begins on its new Nubian Square facility. An earlier version of the article incorrectly characterized the timing.
