By Carol McCracken (Post # 2,539)
“This is about creating a new community here for the city – a vibrant, mixed use neighborhood that will attract people from all over,” Jim Brady, managing partner of CPB2 LLC told a SRO only crowd this evening at 58 Fore Street, The neighborhood meeting,, a requirement of the City’s planning office,, fccused on the Master Development Plan that CPB2 has submitted to the city’s planning office. It is on the Planning & Historic Preservation Boards agenda for discussion on Wednesday, October 12th at city hall. Public comment will be taken.
The Master Development Plan, (“MDP”) is not required by the City, but CPB2 believes it is a good idea as three other major developments – including Thompson’s Point and Midtown – before it have pursued that route.
Brady emphasized that the MSD is the big view of the development and that the site reviews to come will be close-up views of the details – such as facades of buildings. .The MSD is flexible and would most likely require the developer to go back to the city for modifications to the original plan on multiple times.
Groundbreaking could come as soon as next spring – that is if all goes well in between now and then. The development will be done in phases – the first phase is expected to include a new “world-class” marina and perhaps some of the housing units. A new walking path will be created to offset the fast-moving traffic beside it.
Brady fielded numerous questions on a variety of subjects; snow removal, public transportation, the impact on the Munjoy Hill neighborhood among them. Hill resident Don Olins asked Brady: “What kind of planning is there for storm surges and sea level rises that are coming?” Brady answered: “We will have to be very thoughtful about this. We will raise the interior of the buildings.”
/Drawing a big laugh from the 150 or so in attendance, David J. Anable, asked: “Are we going to live long enough to see this completed?” Brady said that if all goes well, including the economy, the development should be completed within ten years. If conditions are really good, the development could be completed within five years.
District One City Councilor Belinda Ray did not attend the neighborhood meeting, although Councilor Justin Costa did attend. Tuck O’Brien, of the City’s planning office was present as well.
The 415-page Maser Development Plan can be viewed on the city’s website.