Dazzling Back Bay Station Redevelopment Plans Unveiled

Proposed redevelopment of Back Bay Station. Rendering by Boston Properties

The developers behind a major revamp of Back Bay Station released dazzling new renderings of their plan in a filing with the Boston Redevelopment Authority on Tuesday.

In their filing, real estate investment trust Boston Properties indicated they plan to combine the Back Bay Station parcel with the depressing concrete Hancock Garage they currently own to create a vibrant new development that will include over 1.26 million square feet and three new towers that will add to the city’s growing skyline. The towers—26, 28, and 34 stories high, respectively—will house a mix of residential and office space.

Though the the final makeup could change before they break ground on the property, the new development is expected to include 575,000 square feet for new office space, 100,000 square feet for new restaurants and retail stores, and approximately 600 new housing units of varying sizes. Boston Properties has not decided on whether they will include affordable units in the project or build them elsewhere in the city. And the area won’t lose any parking: The project will include approximately 2,013 parking spaces when fully completed (the existing parking Hancock Garage contains 2,000 spaces).

According to their filing, Boston Properties plans to invest $32 million to improve Back Bay Station as part of a deal for air rights developments over the tracks at the station. In their filing, they described the station as the front door to Boston, as the city’s third busiest transit hub. Improvements to things like lighting, air ventilation, and an overhaul of the entire concourse are scheduled to begin in 2017. Part of the deal with the MBTA turns over operation and maintenance of the station to Boston Properties for the foreseeable future.

“In parallel with related improvements to the Back Bay Station, our proposed project will knit the area back together and provide active street front uses, an improved pedestrian experience, and a vibrancy befitting the surrounding historic residential and commercial blocks,” said the company in statement. “Placing a complementary mix of uses atop a transit hub is an excellent example of sustainable development and one we are uniquely qualified to execute in Boston,” said the company in statement.

The development is projected to generate $16 million in new property taxes for the city when it’s fully built out.