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Planning Commission approves Boston Properties' phased Central SOMA project, including land dedication for affordable housing
Summary
The commission approved a phased, mixed‑use project at 2300 Harrison that dedicates a 15,000‑sq‑ft site for affordable housing and grants a Phase‑1 office allocation (505,000 sq ft); commissioners required conditions and community commitments for PDR, POPOS and construction mitigation.
The Planning Commission voted Dec. 12 to approve a major, two‑phase redevelopment at 2300 Harrison presented by Boston Properties. The project includes a land dedication to the Mayor's Office of Housing for a roughly 15,000‑sq‑ft, shovel‑ready parcel intended for up to ~144 affordable units, private‑open space and a 14‑story commercial tower in two phases. Boston Properties committed to community benefits that staff catalogued in a public benefits chart, including below‑market PDR space, two privately owned public open spaces (POPOS), union construction commitments and a substantial jobs‑housing linkage fee contribution.
Project presentations emphasized benefits and tradeoffs. The sponsor described a Phase‑1 approval for approximately 505,000 sq ft of office (plus PDR and POPOS), with Phase‑2 to follow when additional office allocation is granted. Boston Properties said Phase‑1 will include PDR space offered at below‑market rates and programmatic commitments tied to nearby Bessie Carmichael Middle School. Union representatives and multiple neighborhood groups testified in favor, citing jobs, apprenticeships and long‑term community partnerships. Opponents — including Mission neighborhood organizations and PDR tenants — warned the office allocation could accelerate displacement and harm nearby blue‑collar uses if not strictly limited to neighborhood‑serving employment.
After extended testimony, commissioners approved the large project authorization and the Phase‑1 office allocation with conditions aimed at protecting PDR uses, securing affordable housing delivery, and controlling construction impacts. The vote on the large project authorization and associated conditions passed with majority support; a separate office authorization vote passed 4–2 on the final roll call as commissioners weighed neighborhood impacts against the community benefits package.
What comes next: Phase‑1 is vested on commencement of construction; the dedicated affordable housing parcel and community benefits will be implemented according to the conditions of approval. The commission required periodic follow‑up reporting and special conditions to ensure PDR space is delivered at below‑market terms as described in project commitments.
