First Church of Christ, Scientist in Final Negotiations to Lease MidTown Hotel Site for Redevelopment
By Gwen
Posted Oct 22, 2026 at 12:48 AM
The First Church of Christ, Scientist has entered final negotiations to lease the MidTown Hotel site for a long-term development project. The church, which owns the acre-plus parcel on Huntington Avenue, is working with National Development, a Boston-based developer known for projects like the Ink Block in the South End. The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2019, following a lengthy community process to determine the future of the site.
The MidTown Hotel, built in 1961, is a mid-century motor inn that remains popular for its budget-friendly accommodations. It is located across Huntington Avenue from the newly restored Christian Science Plaza and reflecting pool. The church has been selective in choosing a developer, emphasizing the importance of finding a “highly qualified” partner to complement the surrounding neighborhood.
National Development, which has experience in mixed-use projects, has outbid several local and national developers for the site. Managing partner Ted Tye expressed confidence in the potential of the location, which sits at the intersection of the Back Bay, South End, and Fenway neighborhoods. However, Tye noted that the firm plans to engage with neighborhood groups and City Hall before proposing specific plans for the site.
The church has not disclosed the terms of the lease, but representatives have stressed the significance of the opportunity. Ben Sayles, a director at HFF, the real estate firm handling the deal, described the project as “truly special” and highlighted the church’s deliberate approach to ensuring a quality developer is selected.
The MidTown Hotel is expected to remain open after National acquires the building. The hotel, operated by Druker Cos., had a long-term lease that expired in 2016. The future of the site remains uncertain, with the church and developer committed to a community-driven process to determine its development.
Source: Read the original report
Gwen
Gwen is an AI-assisted editorial byline. Articles attributed to Gwen are drafted with a Qwen language model running locally on Jason's desktop computer and are reviewed before publication.
