Development, Land Use & Zoning

Assist multiple real estate developers in connection with the development of mixed-use projects to be built over the Massachusetts Turnpike. These transformative projects include extensive work on agreements with transportation agencies, local, state, and federal permitting, and analysis of engineering and construction challenges.

Counseling a large, urban university in connection with the development of a new science and engineering building. Assisted the client with all aspects of the master planning and land use matters related to this development project.

Representation of a privately-held real estate developer in connection with the redevelopment of Bulfinch Crossing, also known as the Government Center Garage Redevelopment project, in Boston, MA, with particular focus on agreements with the MBTA relating to the transit station at the project site.

Representation of the YMCA of Greater New York in a number of mixed-use developments, including the negotiation of contracts of sale, development agreements and condominium arrangements for new branches in Chinatown, Chelsea and downtown Brooklyn, as well as in two bond issuances by the New York City Industrial Development Authority, the proceeds of which were used to finance, or refinance, improvements made to a number of YMCA branches.

Representation of developers of Seaport Square, a 23-acre master-planned development in the Seaport District of Boston, in the permitting, acquisition, disposition, development and financing of multifamily, office, retail, and mixed-use projects. 

Representation of New England Development (NED) in its master planning and development of University Station, a transit-oriented, 120-acre, 2 million-square-foot, mixed-use development in Westwood, Massachusetts, that lies adjacent to a regional Amtrak station and is composed of 750,000 square feet of retail, 650 units of multifamily residential, 325,000 square feet of office, 100 units of assisted living and 160 hotel rooms. The firm represented NED in the financing, development, leasing and disposition of the property, as well as in structuring joint venture agreements with co-developers.

Representation of the New York City Economic Development Corporation in connection with the redevelopment of the Seward Park Urban Renewal Area, encompassing nine sites on the lower east side of Manhattan. The project was structured to accomplish a number of public goals, including the development of 1,000 new residences (half market rate and half affordable) and the relocation of the Essex Street Market, an iconic public market.  The project also includes 450,000 square feet of retail, 400,000 square feet of office space, community attractions, and green spaces.  Our work required a public RFP process and negotiation with multiple bidders, purchase and sale agreements, condominium documents, and innovative restrictive covenants.

Representation of The Kraft Group (TKG) in the permitting and development of Patriot Place, a 1.4M SF office, retail, entertainment and hotel complex at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA.  The firm previously assisted TKG with securing federal, state and local approvals to build the $325 million professional football and soccer stadium.

Representation of Georgetown University in connection with zoning and entitlement approvals for its Campus Plan, which has included coordinating related approvals for its clinical partner, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Georgetown is a longstanding client of the firm and has been key to our industry group’s platform in the District. Several years ago, we advised the university in its development of Georgetown Community Partnership, a project focused on fostering collaboration for future planning within the university, the community and the city. Large institutions generally undergo the master planning process every 10 years, but through this unprecedented collaboration, Georgetown has secured approval for a plan that will oversee campus development over the next 20 years. We have also been working with Georgetown University and MedStar Georgetown to secure approval for a 500,000-square-foot medical and surgical pavilion that would see the existing hospital complex expanded and modernized. Serving as the university’s chief land use counsel, we guided Georgetown in connection with all aspects of the planning process, including coordination with the community and—and its hospital partner—to develop this inclusive plan.

Representation of a non-profit organization in connection with the redevelopment of a defunct community center building into a newly renovated, mixed-use, collaborative working space for local artists and entrepreneurs, including permitting and negotiation of the long-term lease and construction and consulting contracts related to the redevelopment.

Representation of the master developer of a multi-phase, mixed-use project with half a million square feet of life science uses, together with retail, residential and civic space components and substantial public realm improvements. Project approvals were coordinated with concurrent neighborhood panning and rezoning efforts by the Boston Planning & Redevelopment Agency.

Representation of developers in acquiring and assembling land for redevelopment of single-use enclosed mall and other shopping centers into mixed-use developments with vertical multifamily residential and other uses, including negotiating with major national retailers and mall lenders to modify recorded agreements, easements, and CC&Rs.

Boston’s Prudential Center is a marquee, mixed-use, urban center consisting of 3.6+ million square feet across approximately 20 acres located between Boylston Street and Huntington Avenue. It boasts four office towers, approximately 4,050 parking spaces, and a shopping and dining destination that is an important part of Boston’s skyline, as well as a source of hometown pride.

When the center was purchased by BXP in 1998, it sparked a vision for the city inspired by the intersection of innovation and history. It would transform premier real estate into a destination. BXP's leadership set out to create an extraordinary team of internal and external professionals who could understand and execute the permitting and development plan needed to maximize investment and ultimately realize a vision for the city.

Represented a non-profit economic development corporation in the development, by a private party, of a commercial life sciences center on a hospital campus.