By Patrick McGroarty
News Editor

The Boston Redevelopment Authority last week approved a Salvation Army project to build a $40 million community center on a 6.19-acre site at 650 and 655 Dudley Street. The project will be funded with an $85 million grant from the Joan and Ray Kroc Trust and a projected $15 million in private donations solicited by the Salvation Army and the City of Boston. The proposed center will be 95,000 square foot and include 131 off-street parking spaces.

The BRA stamp of approval was an important milestone on the path to construction that could begin as early as the spring of 2007, said Drew Forrester, the Salvation Army's Project Manager for the Kroc Center development. Forrester said other factors key to maintaining this forward momentum will surface before the end of September. The city's Public Improvements Commission will vote on the project next week, and the project must also go before the Zoning Board of Appeals.

"We're certainly pleased the BRA voted us on, but we know a lot of steps remain to be crossed along the way," said Forrester.

While BRA approval was crucial to building on city-owned property along Dudley Street, 30 of the 54 parcels that comprise the site are privately owned. The Salvation Army has set an internal deadline of September 30 to close on the remaining parcels.

In addition, the $85 million grant came with a contingency that $15 million be fundraised to supplement the center's endowment, a goal that remains to be met. Forrester said the Salvation Army is in a "quiet phase" of the fundraising effort, but was confident that the goal will be met without impeding construction of the Kroc Center.

"This is a tremendous opportunity for the city of Boston. When a fundraising opportunity comes along where you're saying, 'We've got 85.5 million pledged, will you come along and support us,' people generally respond very favorable because of the project's historic nature," Forrester said.

The Kroc Center is tentatively projected to open in the fall of 2008.

Read more Dorchester Reporter coverage on this topic
• Planned Salvation Army center clears city Landmarks hurdle

• From San Diego, a glimpse of the Dudley St. of the future

•Plans for landmark community center rolled out in Uphams-Dudley