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Developer that is already planning life-sciences labs in the Flynn Marine Park to file plans for even more waterfront life-sciences labs

Marcus Partners last week told the BPDA it will soon file plans for replacing a seafood-processing plant at 310 Northern Ave. in the Raymond Flynn Marine Park with two buildings aimed at life-sciences research and development.

Marcus, based downtown, says it will pay $20 million to help relocate the four seafood companies that share the current New Boston Seafood Center so it can tear the building down and put up a total of 742,000 square feet of lab and related office space.

Marcus had previously filed plans to replace a former Au Bon Pain factory and warehouse with an eight-story life-sciences R&D building, also in the Flynn park.

The BPDA board, formally meeting as the Economic Development and Industrial Corp., the BPDA arm that runs the Flynn park, approved the basic idea of transferring the lease of the roughly four-acre New Boston Seafood site from the seafood processors to Marcus in November.

With the imminent plan filing by Marcus, the agency will now oversee permitting of the proposal that will benefit it through increased lease payments through at least 2119.

According to BPDA officials, Marcus will initially pay roughly the same rent as the seafood processors for the agency-owned land through January, 2025 - between $306,000 and $413,000 annually. But in 2025, the rent will increase to $3.2 million a year and then, in January, 2027, to $6.8 million. Each year after that will see 3% annual increases, at least through 2119.

In addition to the lease payments, Marcus will also potentially pay $250,000 a year, for at least 30 years, to help harden the industrial park, which sits at sea level, against rising seas. The payments, however, are contingent on the BPDA convincing at least 50% of the tenants in the park, which increasingly has office and research space to go with its more traditional marine industries, to also contribute to keep the area from being inundated.

Also still to be negotiated: Community benefits and payments to BPDA housing and job-training funds, which are done through the agency's overall review of the plans.

November meeting at which the basic idea was discussed and approved:

301 Northern Ave. letter of intent and calendar.

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Comments

I knew this was going to happen. What seems like a small thing, the renaming of the area, was actually an indicator of what was in the works for some time.
The BPDA is a corrupt organization. This city is selling it's soul to the highest bidder. The marine industrial related businesses, the fish processors and any other 'old school' maritime related endeavor are being shown the door.
The South Boston Waterfront/Seaport area already is an enclave for the well-to-do. This will be an extension into an area that was traditionally an industrial area. Stand by by for more non-marine industrial businesses to move in down there. It's just a matter of how much money gets waved in the city's face.

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Marine/fishing-related businesses have been on the decline in Boston for decades and reserving space in the Seaport isn't going to change that. There's no shortage of decrepit/abandoned buildings out there, and the Seaport wasn't a better place when it was a sea of parking lots.

Boston/New England used to be a center for the manufacture of candy, shoes, textiles, etc. Should we be reserving land for these industries as well in the hopes they will return? Or should we enable the industries of tomorrow and the jobs that go along with them?

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I guess a business would go into decline when they are forced out by the landlords (BPDA/EDIC, MASSPORT). For some time now these entities have been turning the port into an extension of the Seaport District.
There is an ongoing $350 million dredging operation taking place to accommodate PANAMAX container ships at the Conley Terminal in South Boston. While this is going on, MASSPORT is playing with the idea of allowing a residential component to go forward in the development of the former New Boston Edison plant next to Conley. This would violate a deed restriction that states there is to be no residential development on this property.
Then we look at the subject of this story. Four fish processors will be pushed out in favor of a biotech firm. These fish processors are in a location that allows them easy access to the MASSPIKE, 90, 93 and 95. Where else will these businesses find that around here? How about the employees? Many of them use public transportation to get to their jobs.
This whole thing reeks of corruption.

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I just read the front page of the BBJ recently and I'm starting to wonder about how hot the life sciences boom will last.

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Are you old enough to remember when 128 was full of computers/high tech. Until that sector went bust and killed our economy. Then the state 'swore' it had learned it lesson and our economy would 'never again' be dominated by one field...

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