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Old Colony to become All New Colony
By adamg on Thu, 04/15/2010 - 9:56am
The BRA yesterday approved a $56.8-million redo of the the Old Colony housing project that will replace the current post-war project with a new six-story building and a series of townhouses.
People interested in what this could look like should take a ride out to Washington and Beech streets in Roslindale, where the city is in the middle of doing the same thing to the Washington-Beech project - for which the BRA also approved the second phase of construction - replacing the remaining old brick buildings with $50 million worth of townhouses and a park.
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Comments
Does the bidding on these
Does the bidding on these construction jobs stand up to scrutiny as competitive bidding awarded to the best proposal or are they awarded to insiders?
The feds have IGs assigned to police this stuff. Who does it in city government?
Bidding is absolutely scrutinized...
As the landlord/owner of both developments, the BHA (Boston Housing Authority), is required to follow ALL Local, State and Federal laws and requirements for procurement, bidding and awarding of contracts on ALL levels, including redevelopment projects.
So until I get a chance to drive to Rozzie...
...anyone care to comment on how that development is turning out? Many of us in Southie have heard about the Old Colony plans and are wondering what it may look like (and how disruptive the construction, traffic delays, etc. might be for those of us driving by.) Not that it matters, really, it's long overdue. I'm guessing it will look similar to the new-ish buildings in the Broadway housing project? Any insight much appreciated. (BTW are the plans online anywhere?)
Still under construction
I think it's on schedule, though.
Talking strictly as somebody who drives by it on a regular basis, rather than, say, somebody who lives across the street, I think it's pretty cool looking, definitely better looking than the old brick "dorms" it's replacing. The apartment building doesn't look like an institution and the townhouses are, dare I say it, kind of jaunty looking.
Traffic problems were kept to a minimum. I think there was a week or so where they had to dig up parts of Washington Street for new mains or something, but it wasn't as bad as that nightmare further down Washington in Dedham (which, if you haven't experienced, is just godawful).
The one thing I found a little disconcerting at first was the bulk of the apartment building. It's definitely taller than the architectural renderings made it seem it would be, and it sits on a rise, so it's amazing how far down
WalterWalworth Street you can see it. But it's a nice looking building (in my completely non-professional opinion, natch), it's not some sun-blocking high rise, it is on a main street, after all, and I'm not startled by it any more.Walter?
Maybe you mean how far down Washington Street you can see it. I don't think it's big enough to see from Walter Street.
You're right
I meant Walworth, like from the Orange Street rock. One of these days, I'll stop confusing them.
Thanks for the info
Sounds like it will go just fine, good for the neighborhood and of course the residents there too. Now if we can just get some more restaurants and things to do down by the Convention Center, the West Side will be on a roll!
O.C. Development
Hey "Jack"...Don't tell me what's "good" for my Neighborhood! You sound like you click your heels to the orders of Mayor Menino!
Another thumbs up
I really like it, too, speaking from the same perspective. The apartment building is visible from a good distance, and every time I look at it, I find myself wanting more buildings like it on Washington St. Rozzie could handle some larger scale apartment buildings to mix it up with the 1/2/3 family buildings on the side streets.
while it is on a major
while it is on a major throughway, it's really not that much of a hassle to take the alternative routes around it.
But given that southie drivers are the worst of the worst in the city, you'll see quite a few Massholes cutting around the side streets to shave off that cool 5 min detour.
Would this force closing of the Washington Village library ...
at least temporarily, even if the BPL wasn't already trying to close it?
Old Colony
I heard the Developer that got the "bid" for the work is from Rhode Island. Wow, now isn't that great for the MA Economy?! Menino...You are a certified DOPE!
actually...
the developer is boston based-- actually its only office is in boston. get your facts straight before you just start spouting off things you know nothing about and trying to get people upset.
Old Colony
The only people in Southie who say they want this monstrosity of a building right across the street from the park are the people who work for the city. Actually, they don't really want it but are afraid to say so least they lose their jobs. Some of the comments on this page in favor of this development are so obviously from the BHA and the BRA, it's laughable. They count on everyone being stupid.
Listen you jerk offs i grew
Listen you jerk offs i grew up across the street from old colony in old harbor. I now live in D ST. Have you ever heard of if its not broke don't fix it you yuppies are messing up our homes and land scape. Leave SOUTHIE alone
Does anyone know if these
Does anyone know if these townhomes will be available to rent? Any contact info.on the developer? I am aware other project based renovations such as Mission Main did exactly that. Half were project based and the other were mixed between low income and market rent.