BRA Approves Ropewalk Project

Last Thursday, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) board voted to approve the $34 million Ropewalk project at the Charlestown Navy Yard. The board also voted to extend the designation of Frontier Enterprises, Inc. as the project developer.

Frontier Enterprises, Inc., plans to rehab the existing historical buildings and build 90 residential units (20-30 percent affordable) as part of the project at the Navy Yard.

At neighborhood community meeting hosted by the BRA there was some concern among residents that due to the building’s Landmark status, the developer was unable to provide parking on site.

However, the BRA wrote in its decision that, “In response to community concerns about parking, the developer will require all tenants who own cars to prove that they have leased a parking space in a nearby garage or off-street location.”

City Councilor Sal LaMattina said he was pleased that the issue of parking was addressed. LaMattina, along with Representative Dan Ryan met with the BRA, Boston Transportation, Mass General, to look at the Navy Yard and see how they could get more surface parking for the development.

“The community, BRA and developer worked together to find a solution,” said LaMattina. “I think it is a good solution to make tenants with cars agree to lease a space in a nearby garage. This will cut down on an already congested parking situation in and around the Navy Yard.”

The Project will provide a range of housing types with the majority of the units being one and three bedroom townhouses in the Ropewalk. Approximately seventy-six of the units will be in the Ropewalk building and will be accessed via a spectacular interior corridor that will allow the unique experience of this quarter mile long structure to be preserved. More traditional one and two bedroom flats are planned for the Ropewalk’s Headhouse and three bedroom townhouses with private entrances are planned for the Tar House. The final design for the Headhouse and Tar House units may be modified to increase total unit count (total bedrooms to remain constant). In addition to the residential use, a museum dedicated to preserving the Ropewalk’s history will be established at the Fifth Street end of the building.

The two buildings will provide up to 110,750 square feet of residential rental use. A trash room with compactors and space for recycling will be located in the Tar House with direct access from Ninth Street.

As a public benefit, the developer will recreate the historic “Flirtation Walk” area along the southern edge of the building with new lighting and streetscaping.

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