BFSNA Gets Update on Proposed IBA Redevelopment Project

The Blackstone/Franklin Square Neighborhood Association was given an update on the status of IBA’s proposed redevelopment project during its virtual meeting on May 18.

Dr. Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, CEO of IBA (Inqui-linos Boricuas en Acción), the Boston nonprofit that purchased the one-time German church at 85 West New-ton St. in the ‘80s and converted it into the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, told those online for the meeting that they had selected Anne Beta Architects and STU-DIO ENÉE as the architects for the project.

The new facility, said Dr. Calderón-Rosado, would occupy no more than 30,000 gross square feet and tenta-tively be five stories high (although, she said, that re-mains uncertain), with a performing arts center on the first two levels, and office and conference rooms for IBE staff and gallery space on the floors above it.

“The main activity of this building would be arts and cultural space and a multicultural space housing a performing arts space with some type of platform for per-formances to be held within the bigger space,” Dr. Calderón-Rosado said.