Meredith Baumann, spokesperson for the BRA, tells GlobeSt.comthat the authority wanted to do a planning process that would help"steer further development" in the West End neighborhood, whereCharles River Park is located. She points out that the area has anumber of major projects under way including the Davis Cos.'450,000-sf lab/office project, Massachusetts General Hospital's newambulatory care center and Carpenter and Co.'s renovation of theformer Charles Street jail into a hotel.

"We can't stop development," she says, "but we can help steer itand give the community a voice."

Equity's new plan, according to Baumann, is four residentialbuildings and a replacement parking structure with 490 spaces. Thetwo main buildings would have eight stories each and the otherbuildings would be low-rise buildings of three stories each.Baumann adds that the developer plans to make 15% of the housingunits affordable.