Massachusetts General Wins Approval of Expansion Project

The Boston Redevelopment Authority yesterday approved Massachusetts General Hospital's (MGH) plans for a $17.5 million expansion of the hospital's research facilities.

Two civic groups which earlier opposed the expansion project gave their support to MGH yesterday after the hospital agreed to modify its original plan.

Yesterday's approval of the expansion project probably insures that MGH will receive a $12-million grant from the Hoechst Corporation, which has stipulated that the hospital must break ground on the development by April 1 to receive the money.

Taking Steps

The approved development plan calls for construction to begin this spring of a $15-million, 11-story research building on Blossom St., and a $2.5-million, four-story addition to the Bartlett Research Library, also on Blossom St. "The research envisioned at the new facility will be entirely the same bio-medical research that is currently underway at the hospital," Dr. Lawrence Martin, assistant general director at MGH, said yesterday. The new buildings will primarily contain laboratories, he added.

The project also includes demolition of a temporary research building and relocation of the Resident Physicians' House, which has been determined to be historically significant.

John Dineen, attorney for the hospital, said yesterday the plan contains no new provisions for parking because "we already have two large lots with available spaces," and that "the fine present network of streets will sufficiently handle the increased automobile traffic."

MGH recently agreed to lower the height of the proposed research center, which the Residents of Charles River Park group had said would obstruct their view of the river, and to relocate the Resident Physician House, which the Boston Hill Society had fought to save.

William Russo, chairman of licensing for the Boston Hill Society, said yesterday his group "is in full support of the plan," adding, "the hospital cooperated enormously to arrange evening meetings with members of the community and repeatedly went over the plans with them."

Construction, which will take place on a ten-acre site, is scheduled for completion in the spring of 1984.