Hotel in Theater District Gets Approval

BOSTON-City Hall gave final approval for a hotel and retail complex in this city’s theater district. Shubert Enterprises and Loews Hotels are developing the hotel, which would replace a parking lot and will be located here on Stuart Street next to the Shubert Theater.

The $150 million project, which will total 350,080-sf, will include a 390-room luxury hotel, a 3,500-sf lobby, a 4,000-sf restaurant and a 121-car underground garage. Ground floor retail will be developed on Stuart Street as well as a structure of 30,580 sf that will be utilized as Emerson College’s Development Center.

In a released statement, City Mayor Thomas M. Menino says, “The new space designed for Emerson College’s Development Center will free up their current theater space and allow non-profit cultural organizations to host an additional eight weeks of performances annually, which will be very important for Boston’s performance artists.” The Performance Center will replicate Emerson’s Majestic Theatre stage.

Currently, Emerson’s Majestic Theatre stage is used for both rehearsals and performances. The new Performance Center will be used for rehearsals so that the Majestic Theatre can entertain more public performances.

According to the statement, the project will provide the city with over $1.3 million in housing linkage and over $250,000 in jobs linkage payment. Developers anticipate breaking ground this coming fall.