Where a vacant building on 120 Kingston Street now stands will be the location of a new luxury condominium building.  Bound by Essex Street, Kingston Street, and Surface Road, the building sits along the Chinatown Park section of the Greenway.  The project, spearheaded by the Hudson Group, has been approved by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and the Zoning Board of Appeal since 2008.

On the evening of September 20, the Hudson Group, led by Ori Ron, spoke to the Chinatown/South Cove Neighborhood Council about the changes to the original layout and physical appearance of the building.  Physical changes include an additional residential floor, increased to 11 units on each floor for a total of 200 units, and addition of glass fins to the building design for a more modern look.  New sidewalks will be built around the building.  In terms of transportation and parking, the plan includes a decrease of parking spaces available to 70 spaces within 4 levels.  Instead, a free shuttle service will be offered to residents in order to mitigate car trips around town.

In addition, the Hudson Group claims that the development of the building will generate numerous public benefits.  The developer is partnering with the Chinese Economic Development Council (CEDC) for its affordable housing contribution, which will include 38 units.  Four parcels of land will be deeded to CEDC, and a peninsula on Avenue de Lafayette will be adopted for green space.  Land and cash contributions will total up to roughly $6 million.
Construction is projected to begin on May/June of 2011, and take 26 months to complete.  The Hudson Group estimates that approximately 225 construction-period jobs will be created.  At the end of the meeting, the Chinatown/South Cove Neighborhood Council approved the proposed project changes to the building.

Joanne Wong is a Sampan correspondent.