BOSTON (CBS) – The BRA has approved the Millennium Tower and Burnham Building project for Downtown Crossing. The massive project, which features housing, office and retail, would add a 625-foot tower to the Boston skyline.

Mayor Tom Menino tells me the main focus is residential. He says Boston is a hot residential market and the city doesn’t have enough housing to accommodate all who want to live in Boston.

WBZ NewsRadio 1030′s Anthony Silva reports

Anthony Pangaro at Millennium Partners tells me the architectural history of the Burnham building is important to recapture. He notes that Daniel Burnham is credited with saying “Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood, and probably themselves will not be realized.” Pangaro calls Burnham a classic urban planning and city building in early 20th century America.

Pangaro promises that the facade of the Burnham building will be restored.

In addition to Millennium, the BRA has also approved residential projects at 1282 Boylston Street, 275 Albany Street and 35 Northampton Street.

In all, the city says the new projects approved Thursday night amount to more than $1.5 billion in private investment, creating about 3000 construction jobs over the next year.