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Project Name

West End Library (Housing with Public Assets)

Project Parcels

0300656000

151 Cambridge ST
Owner:
Other
22,210sqft
Project Images
Neighborhood
Central
Councilor
Durkan
Units Total
119
Income-Restricted Units
119
Property Size
22,210 sq/ft

Developer

Preservation of Affordable Housing POAH, LLC

Project Goals

The City of Boston has tentatively designated the development team of Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Caste Capital to redevelop the West End branch of the Boston Public Library on Cambridge Street. The redevelopment will include a new two-story branch library and 119 income-restricted units of housing above the library through the Housing with Public Assets initiative, an innovative new program designed to maximize the use of municipal properties for the public good. In addition to 119 transit-oriented, income-restricted apartments above the library space, the project will deliver open space and amenities for library visitors, building residents, and the public. The goal of the project is not only to expand the library’s size and offerings, but also to address the growing demand to create more income-restricted housing. The development team will prioritize community input, including the needs and preferences of residents, to create an inclusive environment for all. The new building will be all-electric and designed to minimize the carbon footprint of both the housing and library, in alignment with the City of Boston’s climate goals and commitment to sustainability.

Timeline

Winter 2023

Community Feedback

We’re meeting with community members to gather feedback on plans for the site.

Jun 02 2022
Thanks for your interest in this project! If you'd like to read more about the library programming study that the Boston Public Library and Public Facilities Department team led during 2020 and 2021, visit the following page: https://www.bpl.org/west-end-project 
Joe Backer | Project Manager
Jun 14 2022
West End Branch Library Public Meeting
41 ATTENDEES

Thanks to everyone who joined our virtual meeting on the 14th. We had a chance to recap the branch library programming study, discuss the immediate next steps for releasing a development Request for P roposals, and answer questions from the community. The meeting recording and slides have been posted. - Joe

Jul 28 2022
West End Branch Library Public Meeting
25 ATTENDEES

Oct 26 2022
West End Branch Library Public Meeting
60 ATTENDEES

Thank you to everyone who joined the October 26th meeting and helped to make it such a productive discussion. The slides are posted to the project page, and the recording is also posted. We discussed the draft development objectives and the input that was provided at the meeting will help shape the Request for Proposals as we draft it. We will be following up soon with an update about the next step in the RFP process and public input.

Jan 10 2023
West End Branch Library Public Meeting
79 ATTENDEES

Thanks to the dozens of people who joined our meeting on January 10th and contributed to the discussion. The slides have been posted to the project page, and a recording of the meeting is also availab le. At the meeting, we gathered input on the draft Request for Proposals (RFP). A revised draft of the RFP will be posted shortly on the project page to allow for additional input before the final RFP is released this winter.

Spring 2023

Developer Selection

We’ll release a Request for Proposals and select a developer for this site.

Apr 3, 2023

Request for Proposals (RFP) Opened for Bidding

Apr 28 2023
Applicant Conference: West End Library & Housing Request for Proposals
50 ATTENDEES

Thanks to all who attended the Applicant Conference on April 28th. The recording has been posted for anyone that missed the meeting or wishes to review what was discussed. We are also posting the slid e deck and a written document that captures the questions and answers. Some of the answers have been made more complete than was shared during the meeting itself.

Jul 18 2023
West End Branch Library: Applicant Presentations (Part 1: July 18)
178 ATTENDEES

Thank you to the more than 100 people who attended the July 18th meeting, and to the four applicant teams that delivered presentations. A recording of the meeting is available and the slides have been posted to the project page as well. A second meeting on July 25th will be held so that the other four applicant teams can present their proposals for this site.

Jul 25 2023
West End Branch Library: Applicant Presentations (Part 2: July 25)
232 ATTENDEES

Thank you to the more than 200 people who attended the July 25th meeting, and to the four applicant teams that delivered presentations. A recording of the meeting is available and the slides have been posted to the project page as well. The other four applicant teams presented their proposals at a meeting held July 18th; the recording and slides from that meeting are posted to the project page.

Winter 2023

City Planning

This project is going through a zoning review with the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA). Then we’ll work with the Developer on funding, design, and compliance.

Jan 03 2024
Happy new year! In December, the City of Boston's Public Facilities Commission voted to designate a partnership of Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and Caste Capital to redevelop this site. The proposal from POAH and Caste Capital includes a new two-story library branch as well as 119 units of affordable housing, situated in a new building that will boast multiple open spaces and amenities, a low carbon footprint, and a strong connection to its surroundings on Cambridge Street. All of the slides from this team's presentation in July of 2023 are available above. I also want to emphasize that the community process will continue from here, with many opportunities for you to make your voice heard. We will share all of these opportunities as they happen. For the more detailed press release about this milestone, click here: https://www.boston.gov/news/mayor-michelle-wu-announces-transformative-redevelopment-boston-public-librarys-west-end 
Joe Backer | Project Manager

Under Construction

Predicted Date: Spring 2026

Project Complete

Predicted Date: Fall 2027
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