Development, Land Use & Zoning

Representation of Boston Properties (in a joint venture with Delaware North) regarding its “Hub on Causeway" TD Garden expansion project, a redevelopment which will encompass more than 1.5 million square feet of mixed-use retail, office, hotel, and residential. The firm’s representation includes joint venture formation with Delaware North, acquisition of the project by the JV, development of the first phase of the project and expansion to the Boston Garden development, phase one leasing, as well as options for future tower developments at the site. The site includes North Station, one of Boston’s two inbound terminals for buses, Amtrak, and MBTA commuter rail trains.

Representation of Brause Realty, Inc. in connection with the purchase and assemblage of land—through a foreclosure process—to develop a 272-unit, mixed-use, multifamily residential apartment building in the Court Square neighborhood of Long Island City, the westernmost residential and commercial neighborhood of the New York City borough of Queens. Our team assisted Brause in entering into a joint venture made up of three substantial real estate investment firms, which then closed on $105 million construction financing through M&T Bank and the Bank of New York Mellon Corporation.

Representation of Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) in connection with the development of Assembly Row in Somerville, Massachusetts. This partially completed mixed-use project is composed of multiple parcels and entitled for up to 2,100 residential units, 1.75 million square feet of commercial space, 512,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and cinema space and a 200-room hotel. In addition, the project includes construction of a bus and light rail mass transit station. Goulston & Storrs provided counsel in connection with structuring a series of transactions with AvalonBay for the latter to develop the first two parcels. Both will include ground floor retail space and multifamily residential rental units above. This project also included Brownfields redevelopment, condominium ownership structuring, improvements to state owned parks, REIT tax and other compliance issues and retail leasing.

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 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 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 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 WS Development in its acquisition, development, financing, and leasing of more than 1.5 million square feet of retail in Boston’s Seaport District, which lies at the heart of Boston's waterfront redevelopment and is the largest urban redevelopment project in New England. The project includes the 23-acre Seaport Square, which will ultimately grow to 6.3 million square feet of retail, dining, residential, office, hotel and cultural uses. Seaport Square is a transit-oriented development involving substantial construction and connecting to existing MBTA stations and tunnel structures, and significant coordination with transit agencies.

Permitting and financing of a 70-unit apartment, row-house, and townhouse complex with ground-floor retail space in Roxbury. 

Representation of a multifamily developer in connection with the redevelopment of a transit station that will include multifamily residential and retail components, and a new structured parking facility.

Land acquisition and permitting for the new rehabilitation hospital building in the Charlestown Navy Yard, and permitting for a different hospital client for a new inpatient building in the Longwood Medical Area.

Representation of Harvard University in land use, permitting, acquisition and disposition matters in the Allston-Brighton neighborhood of Boston.

Representation of Samuels & Associates in the permitting and development of multiple mixed-use projects in the iconic Fenway and Back Bay neighborhoods of Boston.