"Boston's
Never Seen Demolition Like This Before": Video Series Showcases
Union Workers Sharing Their Stories from Historic Site
BOSTON, July 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- HRP Group (HRP), a transformational real estate
investment and redevelopment company, today released a video series
highlighting the contributions of the diverse union workforce that
has worked since late 2021 to deconstruct the former Boston Edison
coal-fired power plant at 776 Summer, paving the way for
sustainable redevelopment of the 15.2-acre site into a dynamic
mixed-use destination in South
Boston.
The team led by HRP, general contractor, Suffolk Construction,
and demolition specialist, NorthStar, systematically deconstructed
over 1.25 million square feet of defunct structures from the former
power plant, removing and recycling over 26,000 tons of steel and
performing extensive abatement of regulated materials.
Deconstruction activities included the preservation of four
historic turbine halls that were once owned and operated by
Thomas Edison at the turn of the
20th century. The magnificent turbine halls will be
adaptively reused with a vision of retail, dining, civic and
R&D space.
Nearly 500 union workers participated in the deconstruction
process. In addition to hosting annual worker appreciation events,
HRP is releasing a Worker Showcase video series to celebrate the
skilled trade workers who made a deconstruction project of this
scale and complexity possible.
"At HRP, we are proud to honor the legacy of this incredible
site and the workers who proudly built it," said HRP CEO
Roberto Perez. "Now, just as
proudly, a new generation of workers have prepared 776 Summer for
the transformation ahead. We are forever grateful for their
contributions to what will become Boston's newest iconic destination."
The Worker Showcase series can be viewed here and includes
the following videos:
- "Christine" features Christine Repetto of Boston detailing her path to the construction
industry, including overcoming struggles with addiction and mental
health, and the part her work at 776 Summer played in her
success.
- "Kevin" features Kevin Nee of Quincy,
Mass. speaking about the enormity of the deconstruction
project, the excitement he and his peers felt participating in what
he termed "a huge facelift to the community," and the optimism of
the future job creation potential of the project.
- "Women in Construction" showcases women
professionals discussing the challenges and opportunities they face
in the industry, including advice to young women considering
careers in the field.
- "History" showcases workers
discussing the rich history of the site, the painstaking work
required to preserve historic spaces and artifacts for adaptive
reuse and the pride they experienced by being a part of the
preservation of a piece of Boston
history that will be a future landmark for visitors.
![The interior of the former Boston Edison coal-fired power plant The interior of the former Boston Edison coal-fired power plant](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2453073/HRPGroup_SummerAmericanFlagImage.jpg)
HRP's commitment to ensuring equitable access to the 2,000 jobs
projected during construction activities includes partnerships with
the Boston Private Industry Council, Building Pathways, Helmets to
Hardhats, and other organizations committed to workforce diversity.
The team has been actively engaging South
Boston residents to create a pipeline for opportunities
on-site by hosting a job fairs and offering summer internships.
The 776 Summer development plan includes significant public
benefits including 5.7 acres of new public open space with a large
waterfront promenade and network of bike and pedestrian pathways,
new civic and cultural space, and significant investment in public
infrastructure and community recreational facilities.
"776 Summer was built by visionaries over a century ago and our
intentional deconstruction and preservation work paves the way for
this place to be reimagined as Boston's next hub for innovators to live and
thrive," said HRP Executive Vice President of Mixed-Use
Development, Melissa
Schrock.
HRP recently secured unanimous approval from the Massachusetts
Port Authority (Massport) Board of Directors to modify a
preexisting deed restriction and permit residential development at
the site. This agreement simultaneously allows for the
creation of much-needed housing units in the South Boston neighborhood and provides funding
for important investments into Massport's maritime operations. HRP
worked collaboratively with Massport to achieve this important step
forward for the sustainable redevelopment of the site.
About HRP Group: HRP Group
(www.hrpgroup.com) is a vertically integrated,
multi-strategy real estate investment company specializing in the
transformation of obsolete industrial sites into modern logistics
infrastructure, mixed-use destinations, and pioneering innovation
hubs. The firm takes a holistic approach to value creation that
prioritizes community, environmental, and economic
sustainability.
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SOURCE HRP Group