The project team for Battery Wharf celebrates opening of HarborWalk

The project team at Battery Wharf recently joined mayor Thomas Menino, community leaders, and their North End neighbors to embrace their distinction as the newest extension of the Boston HarborWalk and to celebrate the official opening of the Boston Maritime Musuem. The project, which began construction in 2005, is owned by RBW LLC and built by Skanska Building USA. The project architect is The Architectural Team. The lead investor in the project is PNC Realty Investors, Inc. The completed destination will provide tourists and area residents more public access along the city's expanding waterfront and an experience that is educational, entertaining and engaging. "This project revitalized a vacant waterfront location to create a community that connects our North End neighborhood to the harbor," said mayor Menino. "We now have beautiful residential homes, a new Fairmont Hotel, 1.5 acres of open space, the newest extension of the HarborWalk, and a new free museum for the neighborhood and tourists to enjoy." Highlighting the area is the new Boston Maritime Museum, a lively pocket museum that retells the history of Mass. Bay, featuring the past, present and future of the U.S. Coast Guard and the history of Battery Wharf from colonial times to present. Mayor Menino and the newly installed U.S. Coast Guard Captain, Michael Husak, also had the opportunity to meet for the first time at the event. Along the newest extension of Boston's HarborWalk, surrounding the recently opened luxury condominiums, are nine interpretive panels explaining the significance of the area and historic milestones, informative kiosks, an observation area, and a new water taxi. Battery Wharf residential condominiums feature 104 one-three-bedroom units ranging in size from 900 to 2,500 s/f. Each unit features a private entry for condominium residents; luxuriously designed two-tone marble bathrooms with marble hand-picked from Italy; elegant, state-of-the-art kitchens; European-style balconies and terraces; four-pipe heating and cooling systems; and a designated parking space within the valet parking facility. The residential sales are being marketed by Otis & Ahearn. The first condominium units were delivered in May of 2008. Fairmont Battery Wharf opened in December 2008 and Guy Martin's Sensing restaurant opened in January. The total cost of the project is $300 million. Fireplaces are featured in selected units. The complex is set up as a park with four buildings extending out over Boston's waterfront. "This project not only created a vibrant destination along the harbor front, but it also created good jobs and wages for hundreds of people," said Kevin McCarthy, Managing Principal and President of PNC Realty Investors Inc., the lead investor in the development. "In the twenty first century we believe that Battery Wharf will set the standard for future waterfront development," said Boston Harbor Association Executive Director Vivien Li. Li, who invited other developers to witness the events, and The Boston Harbor Association have a mission to expand future waterfront development. Battery Wharf is a mixed-use development located in the historic North End of Boston, MA, featuring a 150-room luxury Fairmont Battery Wharf hotel and 103-unit hotel-serviced residential condominiums. Guests and residents will enjoy the state-of-the-art spa; a 300 linear foot marina; 7,500-square-foot restaurant and bar offering waterfront views featuring "Cuisine Extraordinaire" by Michelin chef Guy Martin; an underground 376-space valet parking garage; state-of-the-art business center; and a Boston Maritime museum. More information on the development is at www.batterywharf.com.