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

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

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

Development of the project will necessitate the demolition of two two-story buildings and a parking garage and Equity will use some surface parking as well. The project will be located near Emerson Place Development.

Calls to Equity were not returned by deadline.