Kenmore Square, Citgo Sign, Proposed Makeover

FENWAY, MA — Kenmore Square may be in for a bit of a makeover: First New England School of Photography Closed up shop, then Bertucci's. Today, the developer who bought the building where the Citgo sign sits filed plans with the city that propose to overhaul the building where the sign sits, demolish six other buildings and build a new eight story office building.

Related Beal filed documents with the Boston Planning and Development Agency Thursday detailing its proposal to redevelop seven pieces of property along 533-541 Commonwealth Avenue and 650-660 Beacon Street in Kenmore square, beginning in 2019 and finishing sometime in 2021 with two new buildings, including an eight story office building with ground-floor retail, widened sidewalk space and a buffered bike lane, and an underground parking garage.

The Proposed Project is now in the review phase and open for comments from the public.

So what does it mean for the 60x60 ft Citgo sign that's been atop 660 Beacon since 1965? When the developer bought the building in 2016 from Boston University it sparked debate and opposition to the idea that the sign - a land mark - would be taken down. In the end, the developer agreed to keep it up. And according to the developer, that's still the plan after some renovation to the sign.

The building at 660 Beacon, would be renovated and turned into office space, the sign would get some renovation, though it's not clear what kind, and go back on top, according to the plans.

After the six buildings next to it were torn down the new building would be eight-stories and called the Commonwealth Building at the corner of Comm Ave and Deerfield Street with office and retail space, 60 underground parking spaces, and rooftop terraces.

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Related stories:

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Over 1000 Petition to Make Citgo Sign Boston Landmark

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File photo by Jenna Fisher/Patch