Builder scales back Fenway plan

Developer John Rosenthal yesterday proposed revisions to his plan for property near Fenway Park that would increase the amount of retail space, decrease the number of parking spaces and housing units, and lower the height of some buildings.

The previous development proposal for the land just west of Brookline Avenue, known as Parcel 7, called for a 1.35 million-square-foot project with 17- and 20-floor residential towers, 668 residential units, 57,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, and parking for about 1,580 cars.

The new plans, presented to the Boston Redevelopment Authority's citizens advisory committee last night, would reduce the size of the project to about 1.22 million square feet, with 353 residential units, about 220,000 square feet for office space, 108,000 square feet of retail space, and parking for about 1,344 cars.

They also call for three towers of seven, 13, and 17 floors.

"The revised plan is significantly smaller in height, density, and parking spaces," Rosenthal said. "I'm hopeful that it will be well received."

In January, Rosenthal was the sole bidder seeking to build on the site, controlled by the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

Since then he has negotiated with the city and organizations in the area, including the Boston Red Sox, to reach an agreement on details of the project, called One Kenmore. (The Globe and 17 percent of the Red Sox are owned by The New York Times Co.)

Rosenthal also has air rights, which he will use to replace parking spaces in an open-air lot with a parking facility over the turnpike. The lot will be converted into residential, retail, and office space.

Some residents said the number of parking spaces in the earlier plan would worsen traffic. They also questioned the height of the residential towers, saying they would set a precedent and lead to proposals for even taller buildings.

But Larry Cancro, senior vice president of Fenway affairs for the Red Sox, said the organization supports Rosenthal's plans.

The proposal is in keeping with the overall development of the neighborhood, Cancro said. He added that much of the proposed parking would replace existing spaces, not add more to the area.

Marc Laderman, a Fenway Community Development Corporation board member and a member of the BRA advisory committee, said the Fenway organization understands the need for parking to support new residential and retail space, but opposes adding spots unrelated to the new spaces because that would worsen traffic.

The group has also been talking with Rosenthal about maintaining economic diversity in the area, Laderman said.

"I like this project," he said. "I'd like to see it move forward, I'd like to be able to support it. It's stuff you want to discuss, not something you want to dismiss."

Se Young Lee can be reached at vlee@globe.com.