BPDA Approval Sets 75 Morrissey on a Housing-First, Resilient Path

Location: 75 Morrissey Boulevard, Dorchester, MA
Partners: Copper Mill, POB Capital, CBT Architects, and H+O Structural Engineering
Milestone: BPDA approval → design phase now underway

A Milestone for Dorchester’s Future

Dorchester’s Morrissey Boulevard just reached an inflection point. With the Boston Planning & Development Agency’s approval of Phase I of the 35–75 Morrissey Boulevard master plan, the team—Copper Mill with POB Capital, CBT, and H+O Structural Engineering—has moved from entitlement into active design.

Phase I centers on two residential towers framing a new neighborhood park, prioritizing housing, public realm, and climate resilience near JFK/UMass.

From Master Plan to Momentum

The 2023 master plan envisioned a mixed-use district across seven buildings. In response to market need, the team pivoted decisively toward housing for Phase I, proposing:

• 754 apartments (with 20% income-restricted units),
• Ground-floor civic/retail space, and
• A ~23,900 SF public park.

With BPDA approval secured, design coordination is now in full swing—aligning urban design, structural systems, building performance, and resident experience.

Design Underway: Resilience as a First Principle

Morrissey Boulevard’s waterfront adjacency demands climate-smart design. CBT and H+O are collaborating to elevate the site and integrate flood-resilient strategies while maintaining an active, welcoming streetscape.

H+O is advancing structural concepts that:

• Support elevated grades and barrier strategies without compromising ground-floor transparency.
• Optimize podium/garage spans for parking efficiency and future flexibility.
• Coordinate early with MEP systems to keep floor-to-floor heights efficient.

Housing + Mobility + Open Space

Phase I weaves together housing supply, mobility infrastructure, and high-quality open space. Plans include:

• Underground garage with 414 spaces (25% EV-ready),
• 760 bike storage spaces, and
• New roadways connecting into Morrissey Boulevard and improving access around JFK/UMass station.

Structural grid decisions are being calibrated to maximize unit planning and minimize material tonnage, a hallmark of H+O’s cost-informed design approach.

Community-First Programming

At ground level, 7,450 square feet of civic space for nonprofits and locally-oriented retail ensure the project is an extension of Dorchester, not an enclave.

Copper Mill’s local roots and CBT’s urban design sensibility shape these choices, while H+O’s Boston-based team provides structural solutions that preserve generous ground-level volumes and protect long-term flexibility.

What’s Next

With BPDA approval in place, the design team is moving forward with the detailed design and coordination phase. CBT, a nationally recognized architectural firm, brings expertise in resilient urban design to this master plan.

As the structural engineering partner, H+O is focused on structural solutions balancing design vision with cost efficiency, constructability, and long-term value for ownership.

If you’re a CRE developer or architect working on large-scale, mixed-use multifamily developments, let’s talk about how H+O’s cost-informed structural design can de-risk your project.

Stay tuned for more updates as we progress through system selection and design development. The next major milestone on the horizon: groundbreaking in 2026.