The future Copley Tower (which we discussed in a
previous blog post) developed by The Simon Property Group, was
originally hoping to get this project underway in the Spring of
2012 but it now looks like next Fall is more likely to be the
anticipated starting date. The central reason for this setback is
because there is a huge uproar in the community for Simon to add
more affordable housing units in the tower.
But why just for the Copley Tower? The stance that Simon is
holding firm is that they will change their initial amount of
affordable housing, originally planned for 32 units out of the
total 318 in the building, roughly 10%. Moreover, to satisfy the
Bostons minimum requirement of 15% for affordable housing for any
condo building, Simons project manager Jack Hobbs along with the
rest of his team have agreed to meet this limit. Mayor Menino is
pleased that Simon is no longer choosing to build the rest of their
instructed 15% of affordable housing units in other separate
neighborhoods of the city. Now, having more of these family-style
and individual sized apartments in the heart of Boston in the new
Copley Tower will be an immeasurable asset to the community and to
these people who can live and work right downtown.
Regardless of this compliance by the developers, there have
nonetheless still been uproar over the idea of a 47-storey
residential building that will likely cast a massive shadow over
Copley Square. Even efforts to Occupy the Mayors Office was not
enough to sway Meninos belief that this building will not only
create jobs, but will for the prolonged future be a beneficial
addition to the Boston city skyline and eastern Massachusetts in
general.
Simon has even pledged to put $1 million dollars towards public
artwork, build an indoor public garden and upgrade the street level
entrances and to the Southwest Corridor Park. State Representative
Byron Rushing has nonetheless been pressing on The Simon Property
Group to increase the percentage of the building to 25% allocated
to affordable housing units! This would be 80 living spaces,
something that Simon refused to do. It seems as though this will be
a constant battle, and thus the reason for the delayed commencement
date for this development. Yes this is going to be the tallest
residential building in Boston, but surely an attraction to that
area will only be positive for restaurants, retailers and the real
estate market. If other buildings are able to have 15% for
affordable housing with no quarrels then so should the Copley Tower
especially with the other improvements they are vowing to make to
the area on their own accord, right? Well, this is the defense of
the developers at least, whether we buy it or not.
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