Mayor Thomas Menino and Governor Deval Patrick met Monday to break ground on the new Yawkey Commuter Rail Station reconstruction project, the public transportation aspect of the Fenway Center development project.  The Fenway Center development project has been cited to be one of the best things that will have happened to the Fenway area since Fenway Park.  Yawkey Station is just the beginning and Mayor Menino expects more great things to come.

The $450 million Fenway Center development project will include more than 330 apartments, 370,000 square feet of office space, 150,000 square feet of retail space, more than 30,000 square feet of park space, and over 1,000 parking spaces.  In addition, as part of the new development, Yawkey Station is to be built into a full-service commuter rail station with full-length accessible station platforms providing access from Beacon Street and Brookline Avenue.

The station construction, which commenced today and is slated to be completed in the Spring of 2012, is expected to create 150-200 jobs to the area, a bit of fresh air to an area that has seen construction halted in the recent years.  Additionally, it is expected to increase accessibility to the area, as well as reduce vehicle traffic which has become and continues to be an increasing problem in the area.

“The new Yawkey Station is going to bring real benefits to our city and improve how people access the Fenway and Longwood Medical Area,” said Mayor Menino. “It will make traveling to and from this area easier and ease traffic on city streets while also putting 200 people back to work through the construction. Separately, the new station signifies the beginning of the larger Fenway Center project, which will significantly transform the public realm between Kenmore Square, Fenway and the Audubon Circle with the creation of a number of new amenities including retail space, housing, and new green space.”

In October 2010, Boston’s Back Bay was awarded one of the most prestigious awards in regard to neighborhood planning and development: The American Planning Association’s (APA) Great Places in America award.  On November 5th, Mayor Thomas Menino unveiled the award at the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, where it will remain on display at least through December.

The APA declared the Back Bay to be one of the 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2010.  “This vibrant neighborhood is no accident.  It is the result of a lot of hard work, planning and a lot of partnership.” Mayor Menino stated.  “…I believe people want to live in places that are unique.  We have put neighborhoods at the center of our work because we know that strong neighborhoods make a strong city.”

Boston’s Back Bay was selected for the high honor as a result of the “Victorian houses – considered by some to be the finest collection of its kind in the country; its successful retail and commercial area with some of the tallest buildings in New England; extensive public open spaces anchored by the Esplanade, the Public Garden and Commonwealth Avenue Mall; and engaged residents, business and corporate leaders, and citizen groups” stated a Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) press release on November 5th.

This is an honor that all Bostonian’s should be proud of, specifically local home and business owners.  As a result of their dedication, along with help from the city and the BRA, the Back Bay has finally been recognized for what we all, as locals, have known for quite some time: it truly is one of the most historic, classic and beautiful places to live in New England.

If you would like to see the award in person, it will be on display in the main lobby of the Library “for a couple of months” we are told.  In addition, the 2011 national APA conference will be held in Boston at Hynes Convention Center late next Spring.  During this time, the BRA will be leading a number of small workshops that will further expose the neighborhoods and quality of life here in Boston.  According to the BRA’s November 5th press release, 20 “mobile workshops” will be held, some of which will include bicycle tours of artist studios and green buildings; walking tours of the Back Bay and some of Boston’s other historic and developing neighborhoods; and mobile workshops that will address the City of Boston’s achievements in affordable housing.

For the full BRA press release, please click here.