BRA approves large residential complex on long abandoned waterfront site in East Boston

The BRA today approved a 492-unit apartment and condo project at Clippership Wharf in East Boston - some 25 years after the first proposal for the long vacant 12-acre parcel.

Developers said that in addition to the four buildings of apartments and condos between Lewis S, they will also create four acres of open space along the water, including a 1,300-foot walkway on the waterfront, docks, picnic areas and "a living shoreline." One of the docks would be set aside for a possible ferry to downtown; another for kayak launching. The current rotted pilings will be removed.

At a minimum, the project will have 32 affordable units. However, developers Lend Lease Development and Noddle Island Limited Partnership are currently negotiating with the BHA for an alternate plan: Add 48 affordable units to the neighboring Clippership Apartments.

The complex will also include 30,000 square feet of retail space, including a cafe, a restaurant and a fitness center. The developers are proposing 300 parking spaces for the site, which is near the Maverick Blue Line station.

The entire project will start seven feet above existing streets to make the project more "resilient" as the ice caps melt and sea levels rise. All the key mechanical and electrical systems will be housed either on the roof or well above the ground level. Half the roofs will be covered with photovoltaic cells.

Clippership Wharf project details (25M PDF).