The Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) president Bradley Campbell expressed concerns regarding the proposed redevelopment of the mothballed East First Street Edison Plant in a letter to the Massachusetts Port Authority on Monday. CLF is demanding answers from the Authority and a development firm, citing a possible conflict of interest if the company is allowed to build condos, offices and shops at a decommissioned power plant in South Boston.
CLF said Massport had acted to “insulate maritime and industrial operations, and the associated heavy truck traffic, from encroaching residential development.” But CLF “found it odd and inexplicable that the proposed Redgate redevelopment of the Edison Electric parcel has proceeded on the implicit assumption that Massport would lift the prohibition on residential use of the parcel.”
Redgate Capital Partners and Hilco Redevelopment Partners formed a joint venture to redevelop the decommissioned Edison power plant in South Boston. In 2016, the two firms purchased the 15-acre parcel from energy company Exelon Corp. for $24 million. Both Massport and Redgate told the Herald their arrangement for consulting services ended in 2014 and there are no conflicts of interest.
“Massport has taken no action on the release of the deed restriction,” a Massport statement said. “Once the project has definition and the community agrees to proceed, and as we do with similar real estate transactions, we intend to present the project and the deed restriction issue with the Massport Board at an appropriate time should it become necessary.”
