Delahunt And Mayor Koch Announce $14 Million For Quincy Center Revitalization

10/27/2009
QUINCY, MA– U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt and Quincy Mayor Thomas Koch announced today that more than $14 million in federal stimulus and transportation funding will be awarded to the City’s $1 billion plan to revitalize Quincy Center.

“The money secured with the strong support of Senator Kerry and the late Senator Kennedy will promote the economic vitality of the region and will create hundreds of much needed jobs,” said Delahunt. “Mayor Koch has made the revitalization of the downtown a top priority and this infusion of federal and state funding is a testament to his leadership.”

 “This is another major milestone for New Quincy Center, where tangible progress is now being made almost every day. I wish to thank Congressman Delahunt for his support and hard work on a project that is going to drive our local economy for years to come,” said Mayor Thomas Koch. “New Quincy Center is tailor-made to the spirit of the stimulus program: it will create 4,000 construction jobs, 7,000 permanent jobs and will be the largest private investment in our City’s history at more than $1 Billion. Most importantly, it will provide the new commercial tax revenue we need for schools, our police and fire departments and infrastructure improvements.”

On Monday, Governor Deval Patrick joined Delahunt to announce that $8.1 million in federal stimulus funding would be awarded to the construction of the long-planned Quincy Center Concourse, seen as vital to the development plan.  Also on Monday, Delahunt and Koch hosted a meeting with federal and state transportation officials and with staff from Senator John Kerry and Senator Paul Kirk, to give the green light to allocate a $6 million federal earmark for infrastructure improvements related to the New Quincy Center project.

The Quincy Center Concourse will connect Southern Artery (Route 3A) to Burgin Parkway, creating the first major East-West artery through Quincy Center. The federal funding will pay for the construction of the final phase of the project where it crosses Hancock Street, connecting what is now McGrath Highway to Burgin Parkway.

Officials consider the concourse, on the drawing board for more than 30 years, critical to moving traffic through New Quincy Center and creating a foundation for more than $1 billion in new development that is driving the current City’s plans. Construction on the second phase is ongoing today, and the final phase is expected to begin next year.

The City is now in final negotiations with master developer Street-Works on a $1.4 billion overall plan.  

The Street-Works project would widen Quincy Center’s sidewalks, alter traffic flow, daylight a portion of Town Brook, create open civic areas and green space, and add about 684,000 square feet of office space, 590,000 square feet of retail space, 1,100 residential units, a hotel and 3,734 parking spaces.

According to an economic analysis by the New York-based firm AKRF, the project will boost the city’s property tax revenues by $10 million per year and will generate 4,222 construction jobs in Quincy and 7,000 permanent jobs.   Koch recently reached an agreement with Street-Works that guarantee 25 percent of all construction jobs be set aside for Quincy residents.

-30-