Update on Suffolk University's Proposed 31-story Dorm/Campus Center

The Commonwealth has designated Suffolk University as the developer of 20 Somerset Street, the former Metropolitan District Commission Headquarters immediately adjacent to the Garden. Suffolk has developed plans for a 792 bed dormitory (project cost $132 million) that is proposed to be as tall as the adjoining McCormack Building (31 stories). The Suffolk proposal includes a student center (5 floors), essentially making this building the heart of its campus activities as well as a dorm that doubles Suffolk's current number of dormitory beds. This proposed dorm and the existing dorm at 10 Somerset will mean a total student population on Beacon Hill of 1,000 students.

The Garden of Peace has been meeting with representatives of Suffolk University for nearly nine months voicing our concerns about the project. They fall into two categories:

1. Height: A 31 story building at 20 Somerset Street will block the southern light from March through September. The increased shadow from such a building will affect the welfare of plant material as well as diminish the environment, making the Garden a less pleasant place to be in. We are also concerned about the wind effects of such a tall building.
2. We are concerned that the sheer number of students living in the dormitory and the presence of a student center will result in the proposed building becoming the center of the campus with unsupervised student use at all hours and days and that as a result the students will appropriate the Garden of Peace, especially since the University has such limited open space in the area. We believe that a dormitory/student center is inappropriate use adjacent to a memorial.

The University Trustees gave the go ahead for the project in January. Now the project is entering the permitting phase where we will have an opportunity to express our concerns and objections to the project. We believe this process will begin in April.

• City: Boston Redevelopment Authority and Zoning Commission. We will have the opportunity to comment at various points in the review process both in writing and orally at hearings.
• State: Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) review on environmental impacts: We can submit both oral and written comments.

Your support will be essential during both the city and state processes. We will keep you posted as to what actions need to be taken, especially at hearings where large numbers can make a difference.

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