13 Express Interest in City's Tallest Building

BOSTON-Ten local developers and three from out-of-state have responded to a Boston Redevelopment Authority request for proposals to redevelop a city-owned parking garage in the heart of Downtown Crossing into the tallest skyscraper in the city.

Among the players jockeying for a shot at building the 1,000-foot tall project is Chicago-based Equity Office Properties Trust, which owns a high-rise office tower next door to the 115 Federal St. garage; the Abbey Group, of Boston, which is currently preparing to break ground on a 32-story condo tower on Province Street; Beacon Capital Partners, of Boston, which recently put the 60-story Hancock Tower on the market; and locally based Boston Properties, owner of the Prudential Center.

Also on the list of potential developers are local brokers Meredith & Grew, Pappas Properties, MDA Partners LLC, the Beal Cos., Hines, Northland Investments, of Newton and Boston-based Gale International, according to a list of RFP respondents provided by the BRA. Tishman Speyer/Travelers US, of New York and NII Architects of Oakland, CA, have also expressed interest in the project.

The BRA will review the proposals before selecting a plan.