Arts and Culture at 290 North Beacon

290 North Beacon Street site is a 47,664 square foot parcel with a 34,802 square foot one-story building. The south end of the building was originally constructed in 1970, while the north end of the building was constructed in 1928. The northern half of the building is vacant and the other half is expected to be vacated by March 2024. 290 North Beacon abuts BHA’s Faneuil Gardens public  housing community.

The site is currently owned by the City of Boston, having come into public ownership as the result of a nearby private real estate development project (the proposed life science campus at 155 North Beacon Street) that has resulted in the loss of musician rehearsal and recording space. As a public benefit, formally negotiated during the permitting approval process for that other project, this Site has been identified as a location for replacement musician studio space and complementary arts uses.

Our goals for the 290 North Beacon development are:

• Create new, truly affordable housing for individuals and families in Brighton
• Develop a minimum of 40,000 square feet of replacement musician rehearsal/recording studio space
• Develop up to an additional 30,000 SF of arts and culture space
• Prioritize the needs of the musician community in the design and development of new rehearsal spaces 
• Integrate music and arts into the residential community to build meaningful connections that enhance everyone’s quality of life

The arts and culture community as well as the broader community will be sought for input at various stages of the process. BHA and MOAC will host a series of community meetings in the upcoming year as part of a participatory design and planning process. MOAC commits to a public presentation of the eventual proposals it receives. MOAC and BHA are continuing to develop a plan for community input.

What’s Happening Next?

• BHA and MOAC will host a Community Meeting Summer 2025
• BHA and MOAC to conduct a listening and learning tour of existing music studio spaces in Boston to understand artist community needs (more info coming soon)

Project Status 

• Site Acquired by the City of Boston March 2025
• The BHA released a co-developer RFP to assist in development activities for the site

• In June 2023, with the approval of the 155 North Beacon redevelopment project, the City and the project proponent announced the intention to transfer 290 North Beacon as a public benefit for the arts and culture community.
• In April 2024, the BPDA Board approved what is known as a “Demonstration Project” allowing the BPDA to accept possession of the property.
• In March 2025, the BPDA acquired the Site.
• In April 2025, the BHA released a co-developer RFP to assist in development activities.
• In May 2025, MOAC and the BHA released an end-user engagement consultancy RFP to assist in development activities.