“The approval of these important projects illustrate the strength of our city’s economy,” said Mayor Menino. “We’re going to see a significant amount of new dormitory beds added to Northeastern University’s campus and the construction of a new hotel and residential building in the heart of Boston’s Theater District.”

Theater District’s W Hotel to Add New Housing, Over 200 New Hotel Rooms The BRA Board approved the W Hotel, (click here for a rendering) a project that will bring much-needed hotel rooms and new housing units to the bustling Theater District. Centrally located nearby to numerous theater destinations, the new W Hotel will provide the area with 235-plus hotel rooms, approximately 123 residential condominium units, as well as 12,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and spa uses. Underground parking is also planned. The 26-story, 350,000 square-foot hotel and residential building will replace a vacant lot at the intersection of Stuart and Tremont Streets.

The BRA Board originally approved the proposed hotel in June of 2001, then known as the Loews Hotel Project. Due to the economic downturn that followed the events of 9/11, the project was never constructed. The original proposal called for a larger hotel component without any residential units, and a greater amount of space for restaurant and retail uses. Additionally, the Emerson College performance space that was also included in the earlier proposal will now be located at the new, recently-approved Paramount Center project.

The development team, SW Boston Hotel Ventures LLC, anticipates a ground-breaking for the more than $200 million project as soon as spring of 2007. A spring 2009 completion date is expected. The project will generate approximately 250 construction jobs, and more than 300 permanent jobs.

Northeastern to Add 1,800 New Dorm Beds to Its Campus, Marks Important Milestone for Long-Term Housing Plan

As part of Mayor Menino’s long-term commitment to improve and maintain the quality of life for Boston’s neighborhoods by housing more students on campus, the BRA Board approved two new residence halls on Northeastern University’s campus at today’s public hearing. The dorm approval comes as part of the university’s Institutional Master Plan (IMP) process, and will result in the creation of approximately 1,200 new dorm beds in the short term, with additional 600 beds planned for a future phase of construction on a separate site.

The first of two new residence halls to be created under a third amendment to Northeastern’s IMP, known as Residence Hall I, will be located at the intersection of Tremont Street and Ruggles Street. The second approved residence hall, known as Residence Hall K, is to be located at the current site of the school’s Cullinane Hall on St. Botolph Street, and will add an additional 600 dorm beds to the campus. This second residence hall will be constructed in place of the current building only after Hall I is completed, at which time it will house the current uses of Cullinane Hall. The amendment also includes information on four potential future projects that include additional student housing as part of Northeastern’s long-term housing strategy.

Under Mayor Menino’s leadership, the third amendment approval comes after a two-year community process to determine the best possible solution for moving Northeastern students out of rental housing in surrounding neighborhoods and into supervised housing on the school’s campus. In addition to 1,200 new beds, Residence Hall I will contain lounge areas, study spaces, seminar rooms and classrooms, exercise and laundry facilities, dwelling units and offices for resident director and resident assistants, a full service dining facility and other common areas. The 495,000 square-foot project will also include significant upgrades to an adjacent plaza that will create a larger and more pedestrian-friendly space.

The $200 million project will create approximately 350 construction jobs and approximately 65 permanent jobs. Construction is expected to begin in 2007.