Boston City Council Approves Skyscraper Despite Shadow Objection

The Original Rendering Of The Great Hall At Millennium's Proposed Tower

A 775-foot mixed-use proposal cleared its initial shadow hurdle in Boston Wednesday and will now face the Massachusetts state legislature.

The Boston City Council voted 10-3 to approve a home rule petition allowing Millennium Partners to build a skyscraper in Winthrop Square and skirt a 1990 law restricting new shadows on Boston Common and the Public Garden, the Boston Globe reports. Councilors Josh Zakim, Tito Jackson and Michelle Wu voted against the measure, which will prevent future developments from casting shadow on the two parks as well as Copley Square.

“Today’s Home Rule Petition vote marks an important step forward and is a remarkable win on multiple fronts,” Millennium Partners principal Joe Larkin said in a statement.

State lawmakers now must approve changes to a Massachusetts shadow law before ground can break at the downtown site, but City Hall hopes the majority vote helps its cause. Boston Planning and Development Agency director Brian Golden said Mayor Martin Walsh and his administration were already working with state legislators with the hope of crafting a bill and passing it before the summer.

“Looking ahead, we are hopeful that the state legislature will join the city councilors in supporting this vastly beneficial and transformative project,” Larkin said.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's Boston Newsletters
Related Stories

Jemals Sell Georgetown Building To Developer Planning Conversion

Developers Line Up To Convert Boston Offices To Housing, But Most Still Stuck At Starting Gate

State's High Court Allows $325M Boston Soccer Stadium Project To Proceed

Oxford Properties Pays $435M For Boston Office Tower, Eyes More Deals

AvalonBay, Equity Residential Selling Boston Towers As Part Of Merger Settlement

Suburban Industrial Campus Trades For $47M: The Boston Deal Sheet

Food And Beverage Increasingly Becoming Anchor In Mixed-Use Projects

Millennium Partners Lands $281M Loan For Winthrop Center Tower

Lightstone Group Acquires Amazon Robotics Building For $43M

'Not In The Business Of Losing Our Customers': Renewals Dominate Boston Office Market

UK Investment Giant Funds First U.S. Development In Boston Suburb

Beacon Partners Sells Charlotte Mixed-Use Development For $92M