Draft Project Impact Report filed by Northeastern University and American Campus Communities, Inc. for the 840 Columbus Avenue project in Roxbury

PUBLIC NOTICE

The Boston Redevelopment Authority d/b/a the Boston Planning & Development Agency (“BPDA”), pursuant to Section 80A-2 and Article 80B of the Boston Zoning Code (“Code”), hereby gives notice that a Draft Project Impact Report (“DPIR”) was filed by Northeastern University (“Northeastern”) and American Campus Communities, Inc. (“ACC”) (together, the “Proponent”), on February 10, 2021 for the 840 Columbus Avenue project (the “Project”) in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston.

The Project proposes to redevelop the approximately 32,382 square foot site bounded by Columbus Avenue to the north, Melnea Cass Boulevard to the east, Tremont Street to the south, and the existing Renaissance Park building to the west. The Project will replace the existing surface parking lot with an approximately 468,500 square foot 25-story mixed-use building containing a five-story podium an active community focused ground floor and 4 stories of innovative teaching and learning spaces, collaboration areas, and makerspaces. The 20-story tower will house approximately 810 beds above the podium. The ground floor, which will occupy most of the site, will be dedicated to space that will actively engage the neighboring community by bringing together partnerships and Northeastern programs that support the economic development of the surrounding neighborhood. Along with a flexible floor plan for display, meetings, gathering, and events, the ground floor is anticipated to include approximately 2,800 sf of local retail open to the community.

The Proponent is seeking the issuance of a Preliminary Adequacy Determination by the Director of the BPDA pursuant to Section 80B-5.4 of the Code. The BPDA, in the Preliminary Adequacy Determination regarding the DPIR, may waive further review requirements pursuant to Section 80B-5.4(c)(iv) of the Code, if after reviewing public comments, the BPDA finds that such DPIR adequately describes the Project’s impacts.

The DPIR may be obtained from the BPDA website at the following link: http://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/840-columbus-avenue. Public comments on the DPIR, including the comments of public agencies, should be submitted in writing to Gerald Autler, BPDA, via e-mail at Gerald.Autler@boston.gov, within sixty (60) days of the publication of this notice.

BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
D/B/A BOSTON PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT AGENCY

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/ Secretary