| 
State lawmakers have waded into the debate over a 2-million-square-foot redevelopment of the former Edison plant in South Boston, seeking to protect a deed restriction against housing on the 15-acre property.
State Rep. Nick Collins, D-South Boston, filed legislation requiring Massport to submit an analysis of the market value of the site at 776 Summer St. before it’s allowed to lift the deed restriction.
Boston-based developer Redgate and Hilco Redevelopment Partners have proposed a mixed-use project including 1,344 housing units, 368,000 square feet of office space, two hotels and 85,000 square feet of retail space.
The legislation comes after Boston-based Conservation Law Foundation raised questions about Massport’s role. Massport last year completed a new haul road from its Conley Container Terminal to Summer Street, part of an effort to remove truck traffic from residential neighborhoods. The road runs alongside the proposed development site, acquired by Redgate in 2016 for $24.25 million.
In a letter to acting Massport CEO John Pranckevicius, Conservation Law Foundation President Bradley Campbell cautioned the authority against lifting the deed restriction.
“CLF has found it odd and inexplicable that the proposed Redgate redevelopment of the Edison Electric parcel has proceeded on the implicit assumption that Massport would lift the prohibition on residential use of the parcel,” Campbell wrote in the letter issued Jan. 14. “Redgate’s assumption is all the more disturbing because there has been no public process and no transparency concerning Massport’s decision to waive or release the restriction.”
Campbell also raised questions about a potential conflict of interest, noting that Redgate lists itself as a consultant to Massport on redeveloping its commercial real estate holdings.
“What appraisals have been done to assess the monetary value to Redgate of Massport’s lifting of the restriction, and to ensure that Redgate compensates Massport for what otherwise be a windfall at public expense?” the letter states.
Massport said today that it last used Redgate as a consultant in 2014, when its strategic real estate plan was completed.
“Once the project has definition and the community agrees to proceed, and as we do with similar real estate transactions, we intend to present the project and the deed restriction issue with the Massport Board at an appropriate time should it become necessary,” Massport spokeswoman Jennifer Mehigan said via email.
Collins bill would prohibit Massport from lifting the deed restriction and easement before completing the fair market analysis of the property, followed by a 90-day review by the Legislature.
Lawmakers including U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-South Boston, have raised objections to the proposed density of the project and its effect on congestion and parking in the neighborhood.
“We continue to work through the multi-year city and state regulatory process to establish the best redevelopment plan for the site,” Redgate Principal Ralph Cox said in a statement issued today. “If the preferred redevelopment plan does require a modification of the Massport restriction then we’ll work to determine the appropriate terms of such a modification. We’re confident that the existing process will fairly resolve outstanding issues without the need for legislation.”
