Development Rises From Old Boston Garden

For decades, the streets around North Station were like a scruffy back door to Boston. But now, for developers, they're as hot as the Seaport.

The newest addition: 20 years after the old Boston Garden came down to make way for today's TD Garden, Boston Bruins owners Delaware North and Boston Properties kicked off a long-planned redevelopment of the old Garden site, called The Hub on Causeway, that is planned to be ultimately as big as the Prudential Tower. The first phase, to open by 2018, will include a 15-screen Arclight Cinema, 540-car garage, 175,000 square feet of "creative office space," and a new Star Market.

"A supermarket in this neighborhood is much needed," Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said at a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday morning. "It's much needed, not just for this neighborhood, but for the North End and surrounding community."

Later phases are to include a 38-story tower, 440 condos or rental apartments, and a 260-room, 10-story hotel. It's all happening right next to the $230 million redevelopment of Lovejoy Wharf with a new Converse corporate headquarters, Related Beal's $225 million 239-apartment building across Causeway Street. Just a two-minute walk away is the $1.5 billion redevelopment of the Government Center garage, approved earlier this month. That's slated to total ultimately 812 housing units, both condos and apartments, a 196-room hotel, and over 1.1 million square feet of office space.

"We're going to unleash this uptown neighborhood into a place that we've never seen before," said Bryan Koop, Boston Properties senior vice president.

The Hub on Causeway project promises to create 3,800 construction jobs - but it could also create years of major construction hassles for the 50,000 commuters who use North Station every day, as well as the 2 million annual visitors to events at the TD Garden. Delaware North Boston Holdings CEO Charlie Jacobs said: "I can assure you that our team here at Delaware North and Boston Properties will work tirelessly to make sure this transition is as painless as possible."

People who've lived and worked here since Causeway Street was shrouded under the old Green Line elevated trolley tracks marvel at the transformation of the area – but also grieve a little.

"It's change for the better, change for the better," said Pat Maggiano of Revere, who's been coming to the area for decades. "This used to be all dark and dirty, porno theatres. They've really cleaned up the riffraff."

Maddy Lawson, who lives in Littleton and has taken the train in to work in the area for 50 years, agreed.

"I remember coming down here with my father back in the 60s, and it was like a combat zone, so it's, like, definitely changed and improved 100 percent," she said.

But Mayor Walsh, a former season ticket holder at the old Garden, said, "For some of us, anyway, that have a little nostalgia, it being built on the old Boston Garden site is, you know, bittersweet."

Chris Pereira, who grew up in the North End of Boston, said, "I'm excited that they get to put new businesses in and maybe it means more job opportunities." But as he looks up and down a Causeway Street nothing like the one he knew as a boy, Pereira said: "It's all luxury condos. How many can we afford? You can't even afford to live where you grew up. It's sad."

With videographer Justin Mintzes

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