As South Boston’s 191-acre Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park attracts more life science and robotics firms, a three-quarter-acre site on Drydock Avenue is being offered up for redevelopment.

The Boston Planning and Development Agency is seeking proposals for 24 Drydock Ave., including such potential uses as advanced manufacturing, life science, seafood processing, cold storage, R&D and aquaculture.

The property includes a 3-story, 30,000-square-foot office building leased to Boston Ship Repair, which would remain an “essential part” of the redevelopment, the RFP states.

The project could be a test case for the BPDA’s proposed “flex industrial” vision for the park, which is owned by its sibling agency, the Economic Development & Industrial Corp. of Boston, and Massport.

Proposed amendments to the park’s master plan would allow office and flex manufacturing space on the upper floors of industrial buildings, with the goal of attracting more biotech, advanced manufacturing and e-commerce companies. Such rezoning could attract 4.2 million square feet of additional development, the BPDA estimates.

The BPDA said it will accept proposals for 24 Drydock Ave. that reflect the more flexible guidelines in the master plan change, but cautioned that the state Department of Environmental Protection will have the final say. The recommended terms call for a 70-year ground lease with minimum annual rent of $3.50 per square foot on a gross basis. Responses are due Jan. 9.

Demand for life science space in the Seaport is reflected in the iSQ Seaport complex under construction on nearby Tide Street.

Developers Related Beal and Kavanagh Advisory Group broke ground in December 2017 on the first phase of the 375,000-square-foot development, after securing a 54,000-square-foot lease by life science incubator Mass Innovation Labs.  Boston-based biotech startup PureTech Health leased another 50,858 square feet in September.

 

Developers Sought For Marine Park Property

by Steve Adams time to read: 1 min
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