Updates on Projects affecting us
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For hours of fun and insight into development in Boston, head to the Boston planning and development agency website. You can check out all projects in Back Bay and their status. For projects affecting us, we will post updates on this page.
Boston Water & Sewer
The Main Transmission Water Pipe underneath St Botolph is being replaced this summer. A private company Albanese D&S inc has been hired by Boston Water and Sewer to complete this work.
For the official page on Boston, Water & Sewer Website, click here Dates Summer 2026 Projected Progress Actual Tues April 21st - Start Harcourt Start Harcourt Wed April 22nd -Fri May 8th - Harcourt to Follen Harcourt to Follen Mon May 11th - Fri May 29th - Follen to W Newton Follen to W Newton Mon June 1st - Fri June 19th - W Newton to Durham W Newton to Durham Mon June 22nd - Fri Jul 10th - Durham to Cumberland. Cumberland to Blackwood Block Mon July 13th. - Fri July 31st. - Cumberland to Blackwood Mon Aug 3rd - Fri Aug 21st - Blackwood to Albemarle Mon Aug 24 - Fri Sept 11th - Albermarle to Mass Ave 
At a community meeting in April 2026, Jeremiah Waite, the lead engineer for the project at Boston Water & Sewer, presented an overview of the project. Since the meeting, the scope of the project has changed. Due to unexpected repairs that National Grid needs to do at the Mass Ave end of St Botolph, the Boston Water & Sewer project will now start on April 22nd, 2026 at the Harcourt End of St Botolph St. Jeremiah is already on our speed dial and will keep us up to date on the project!. Feel free to contact him directly or check back here for updates. Anticipated Impacts The anticipated disruptions include noise, traffic and parking restrictions, dust, and general construction-related impacts. The Contractor will be required to minimize impacts to the extent feasible. We will be checking daily on the project. Impact on Water Supply As this work is primarily related to transmission mains, there are no anticipated impacts to water services. If service interruptions become necessary at any point, direct notification and coordination will be made in advance. If you have any questions or issues, you may contact the contractor or project manager listed below. Residents are welcome to contact us at any time at info@stbotolph.org or [email protected] BWSC CONSTRUCTION CONTACTS: Jeremiah Waite Project Engineer (617) 989-7453 Ryan Shea Dir. of Construction (617) 989-7441 Dolores Randolph Dir. of Communications (617) 989-7226 CONTRACTOR: Albanese D&S James Gagne Project Manager (603) 582-3745 Dave Laramee Superintendent (617) 593-3733 IN AN EMERGENCY, CONTACT BWSC’S 24-HOUR, 7-DAY-A-WEEK NUMBER AT 617-989-7000 |
Surface Restoration Temporary restoration of roadways, sidewalks, and other areas, disturbed by construction will be completed by Albanese. Permanent paving will be installed after 90 days including the installation of the long awaited speed bumps! 
Urban Design Resources
Physical Model Building. The Planning Department is home to a 1:40 inch scale, physical, basswood model of the downtown and portions of the Innovation District, Charlestown, North End, Beacon Hill and Back Bay. After 2000, the department began assembling a robust citywide 3D model. 3D Model The 3D model is highly detailed and includes terrain, highway tunnels, trees, and more than 92,000 buildings. This service is invaluable to developers and Planning Staff, who benefit from utilizing a consistent context as they move through the project approval process. Finally, the model helps convey information about planning and development work and promotes a constructive public dialogue about physical changes to the city. 2D Downloads 2D CAD files of the entire city of Boston can be found in the Document Center. Additional 2D GIS Data is available through the City of Boston's GIS Data Hub and MassGIS. 3D DownloadsDigital 3D models of buildings, bridges, and terrain can be found in the Document Center. 
The BPDA's Development Review Department facilitates the review of small and large scale development projects, pursuant to Article 80 of the Boston Zoning Code. Led by a team of Project Management staff, this department coordinates with BPDA Planning & Urban Design staff, City Agencies, elected officials and the community to foster responsible development in the neighborhoods and the Downtown.
The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) is the planning and economic development agency for the City of Boston. The BPDA plays a far reaching role in shaping the City. |
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Update April 2026
Construction started on Phase 1 and expected to be complete by June 2026. Phase 2 has begun and scheduled to be completed by November 2026.
Update September 26th 2025
The project required taking 9 resident parking spots for construction and resident needs. After our appeal to the Boston Transportation Department, they agreed to remove 9 parking meters on St Botolph St. between West Newton and Follen Streets. These meters were spotted being removed Friday September 26th in the morning! Please pay attention to the new parking options. Thank you to Nick Gove and the Boston Transportation Department team, our neighborhood liaison Maccon Bonner, and the Office of Neighborhood Services team for making this happen. Thanks also to our elected officials John Moran and Ed Flynn for their support. 
Update September 17th 2025
Since we spoke in 2024 to the Boston Housing Authority about the renovations at 70 St. Botoloph Apartments, they have been busy preparing for the St. Botolph Apartments Modernization project. The project general contractor (Shawmut) began on site on Monday, September 15, 2025. 
February 2026
The Planning Academy is a new free interactive learning experience from the city designed to equip residents from different backgrounds and neighborhoods with the tools, networks, and confidence to meaningfully have a voice in planning. Learn more Update on Crosswalk Upgrades
April 2026 Just in time for the community clean up, the sidewalk bricking at the ADA - compliant curbs at West Newton & St Botolph has been completed! Thanks, Public Works! August 2025 Hurrah, it was nice to see West Newton Street repaved and new ADA-compliant curbs put in at corners, but the work promised us is not done. First, the asphalt fill-ins on our sidewalks are not permanent - sidewalk bricking will be replaced later this fall. And, as promised in our community meeting last April, look for construction of better street-scaping that will include structures that induce drivers to slow down and stop. We’ll keep you posted! 
Alexandra Hotel Project
South End Landmarks Commissioners approved the Alexandra Hotel project. Updates on project can be viewed here The developers of the Alexandra Hotel received the go-ahead for the Article 80E Small Project on May 15 from the South End Landmark District commissioners. The recording of the final hearing before the vote held on April 23 is linked here. |
Midtown Hotel ProjectThe progress of this project is available to view on the Boston Planning And Development Agency website click here
Update posted August 2025
The redevelopment plans for the Midtown Hotel have been postponed indefinitely. As a result, National Development (ND) is currently improving and updating the property, with plans to operate it as a hotel for the foreseeable future. According to Ted Tye of ND, the refresh, which will continue in phases through the end of the year, will include upgrades to celebrate the iconic Midtown Hotel sign, as well as new landscaping, repairs to the brick wall on the site perimeter, and new signage throughout. Inside the hotel, guest rooms and public areas will have new furniture, flooring, window treatments, wall coverings, accessories, and other improvements, making it a contemporary, well-appointed, and comfortable hotel rivaling other mid-priced options in the city. And the parking will remain open. Update posted April 2024
The project start date continues to be postponed while new funding is put in place Update posted November 2022!
We’ve been keeping in touch with the city and developer National Development (ND) and, while all the final approvals are in place for the building, the project start date has been postponed until mid 2023. Because of this delay, Northeastern University will again house students at the Midtown for the Jan-May 2023 semester. When the project does commence, the first 90 days will be interior demolition, so outside structural demolition will not start until that time. WE WILL KEEP THE COMMUNITY INFORMED WHEN START DATE IS SET. 
A Northeastern University IMP & 262 St Botolph Street Virtual Public Meeting was held on May 01, 2025 in connection with the Northeastern University Institutional Master Plan (IMP) and Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR) for the 262 St Botolph Street project received by the Boston Planning Department on March 7, 2025.
What this project is about....Northeastern University has submitted a Project Notification Form (PNF) for the redevelopment of the 262 St. Botolph Street site, which currently houses Matthews Arena and a surface parking lot. Northeastern proposes to construct a new, approximately 290,000 square foot (sf) multi-purpose facility (the “262 St. Botolph Street Multipurpose Athletic Facility”) that will support Northeastern’s athletic capabilities for its Division I athletes, intramural teams, and club sports. It is anticipated the new facility will provide an inviting and diverse space for current and future students and elevate the profile of collegiate athletics in Boston. As the first project within Northeastern’s new Institutional Master Plan (IMP), the Project will enhance the overall campus plan and aesthetically integrate with and complement the surroundings of this unique site while providing for Northeastern’s varsity athletics programs and student recreation programming.
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