BOSTON — City officials here said Thursday that a new Star Market grocery store would anchor the redevelopment of the former Boston Garden arena, a project that would bring an end to a 20-year effort to locate a supermarket in the northwest part of the city.
To secure the critical tenant and create tax certainty during the first phase of the $950 million Boston Garden redevelopment, the City of Boston has reached a tax agreement with the project developers.
“For many years West End residents have asked for an accessible and convenient supermarket, and today we can announce that this need will finally be met," Boston Mayor Thomas Menino said in a statement. “Bringing Star Market to this neighborhood is one of the key community benefits of the Boston Garden redevelopment plan and is considered of immeasurable value to residents of the West End, Bulfinch Triangle, and the North End.”
The supermarket will be part of a large mixed-use development under review by the Boston Redevelopment Authority at the old Boston Garden site. Plans call for new residences, hotel rooms, office space, flex office space, and retail. Star Market will occupy 45,000 square feet.
The redevelopment proposal and tax agreement requires approval by the BRA Board. That group is to expected to consider it Dec. 19.
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The tax agreement will provide $7.8 million in property tax relief to the project over 15 years, while bringing approximately $32.3 million in new revenue to the city during the same period, city officials said. Currently, the parcel yields less than $350,000 annually for the City of Boston in property taxes as an undeveloped lot.
"The North and West End communities deserve a grocery store that will offer a variety of high quality, fresh foods from a trusted brand that is also focused on delivering premium customer service. The Boston Garden Star Market project affords us that opportunity,” Shane Sampson, president of Shaw’s and Star Market, said. “The Star Market name has been recognizable to Bostonians for nearly 100 years and there’s no better location for us to consider than the heart of Boston for our first new Star Market in four years. It will create new jobs and provide Bostonians with an unrivaled shopping experience."
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