Most recently Beal built the swanky Clarendon condominium project in the Back Bay. It was an early developer of biotech space in Cambridge, and it has renovated some of Boston’s most noteworthy properties, including the Park Square building and the art deco Batterymarch in Boston’s Financial District.
Beal executives said the 20-block redevelopment will make Quincy Center a destination for health care companies, higher education institutions, and other quality office tenants, as well as an attractive residential community and shopping district that is just 8 miles from Boston. Construction will unfold over the next several years and involves about 3.5 million square feet of new development.
“We’re going to make this into something that’s very exciting,’’ said Robert Beal, president of the Boston-based developer. “There are wonderful opportunities to work with hospitals and universities, and bring in new retail and residences that will make this a truly 24-hour city.’’
That’s a far cry from Quincy Center’s condition today. Its beat up roads and aging buildings give it a tired look; much of its retail is dated and lacks appeal to shoppers from outside the community. Even its high points - such as the Adams National Historical Park, the historic United First Parish Church, and the presence of a Red Line MBTA station - seem obscured by the drab surroundings and lack of consistent foot traffic.
Beal will partner in the revitalization effort with Street-Works, a White Plains, N.Y., company that specializes in urban redevelopment projects and has spent several years designing a master plan for Quincy Center. The two firms will spend much of the next year trying to get new companies and retailers to move to the area so they can generate financing for the project’s first buildings.
