BU Reaches Deal For Kenmore Properties, Including Citgo Sign Building

The future of Boston's iconic Citgo sign is coming into focus.

Boston University announced Friday it has reached a deal with local developer Related Beal to sell a package of nine buildings that includes 660 Beacon St., home of the 3,600-square-foot sign.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed and neither the university nor the developer specifically mentioned the sign.

But Gary Nicksa, BU senior vice president for operations, told BU Today he hopes community concerns about the future of Kenmore Square will subside with news that the buyer is Related Beal, which he described as "a very high-quality firm with extensive experience in Boston."

There are concerns that new owners of the building would remove the 50-year-old sign.

Greg Galer, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, said he's encouraged by the sale to a Boston developer that has a reputation as being sensitive to historic concerns.

Galer's group is behind a push to grant official landmark status to the sign.

Last month, the Boston Landmarks Commission voted to grant preliminary landmark status to the sign. Preliminary status prevents removing the sign until the commission conducts a study and votes on permanent landmark status.

Landmark status would mean that the commission would review any development proposals.

With reporting by The Associated Press and the WBUR Newsroom