Extreme Makeover Will Transform Area Surrounding New England’s Fenway Park in Boston

It's extreme makeover time for the iconic Lansdowne Street and Fenway Park area.  No, the ABC reality television series isn’t a part of this, but they could be with what’s about to happen.

So are you ready for a complete transformation surrounding the park?

If you’re like me, you’ve have a pit in your stomach, because while change and development are part of life, touching anything around Fenway Park feels blasphemous.

It is what it is, though, so here we go.

According to Boston.com, it’s called Fenway Corners. Fenway fundamentalists need not worry, because the Boston builder WS Development promised to preserve the neighborhood’s “grit and grain”.

Phew!

I’m going to trust. I mean, a more modern, up-to-date area mixed with that grit sounds like a lot of fun, and a necessity to bring fresh vibrancy to the area.  And let's be honest, we know it's going to happen at some point.

Fenway Corners is nearly five-and-a-half acres. Basically, four blocks surround Fenway Park, with the largest of the lots on the corner of the Jersey Street block. Anyway, the plans are still in the works, and include air rights above the Mass Pike.

According to Boston.com, when all is said and done, there will be two million gross feet of office, retail, and residential space spread out over 13 parcels of land and air space.  The project plans also include an amphitheater and public roof deck to create a year-round pedestrian plaza.

So when will construction start, and how long will this take?

Well, since the Boston area is no stranger to construction, hopefully this five-to-seven-year project won’t throw Bostonians off too much when it kicks off sometime this year, according to Boston.com, WS Development is responsible for building the 7.6 million-square-foot Seaport District project, which is the single largest active development in Boston’s history.

Hmmm, I thought that was the Big Dig (*winky face*).