Cambridge Crossing (NorthPoint) | East Cambridge/Charlestown | Cambridge/Boston

Still, I grew up in the Andover area. It's a little sad that all of the companies are moving from there down to Cambridge/Boston. First Converse and now this. A bunch of my classmates from high school had parents who worked at philips

Still the Merrimack valley is doing worse then the Metro West as far as attracting new employeers. I guess since most families are 2 income households in the 21st century, it's better to have employeers be at the center of the city. It gives people more flexibility. For example it would be hard to live somewhere if husband works in Braintree and wife works in Andover. Having jobs in the center encourages transit use and makes it easier for people with signigant others, or people who change jobs and don't want to move.
 
Heres a new render from a diff angle.

Cambridge-Crossing-e1515768083566.jpg


bldup-cambridge-crossing.jpg


Phillips is apparently moving into the tower on the right in the above pic.

12philips_NEW_biz.jpg
 
Yes, Stick: Philips' lease will be in one that is under construction. No new renders, though (save for the addition of the Philips name); those are the images that literally surround the site and have been online since the rebranding.

I'll upload an image or two soon. These folks have been mucking through a lot of wind, snow, and rain to keep these projects moving...was surprised some of the days they worked.

BTW, with 2,000+ people in that building, the density will be reminiscent of the Partners Health Care building in Assembly (a bit less than there, but still a dramatic increase from the current figures).
 
I havent seen that top render here before, I could be wrong but the other one is from a diff angle. If it has I apologize but I havent seen it frm that angle.

Either way good to see phillips consoidating into the area.
 
Those pictures remind me that JK was designed as lab space - note the vents on top and the high mechanical wall. Philips doesn't do that kind of work, AFAIK. Will they be able to improve the aesthetics of the building to accommodate them, or will we be stuck with the ugly but necessary lab stuff on a building that doesn't need it?

EDIT: Actually, the building HAS changed in appearance between the two renders. I wonder if the Philips deal was pretty done when they made the updated designs, and they therefore got rid of the vents?

Also, the way the site is laid out, that corporate signage will be really visible from Lechmere and down First St.
 
ivyhedge said:
Yes, Stick: Philips' lease will be in one that is under construction. No new renders, though (save for the addition of the Philips name); those are the images that literally surround the site and have been online since the rebranding.

I'll upload an image or two soon. These folks have been mucking through a lot of wind, snow, and rain to keep these projects moving...was surprised some of the days they worked.

BTW, with 2,000+ people in that building, the density will be reminiscent of the Partners Health Care building in Assembly (a bit less than there, but still a dramatic increase from the current figures).
Click to expand...

Your thinking of this:

CambridgeCrossing_Park_Parcel_I.jpg


The area I feel looks pretty good and unlike the seaport its transit oriented. The park actually looks pretty nice too vs just some grass somewhere seems like itll actually be a nice place to relax. I like what I see here and it all has ground floor retail as well. The first few iterations were looking office park-ey but it seems like it will be a fully functional urban neighborhood with much needed added lab office retail and housing in another area close to downtown that was nothing before. I love that we have these huge open spaces where we dont have to demolish anything to build whole neighborhods.
 
Apologies...I was unclear. You’re correct, the render evolved to accommodate the removal of the ventilation system.

The third render (before the name addition) was in the rebranded Cambridge Crossing material when the new website launched and also in what DivCo West used at our condo association meeting in early December.

I was surprised Philips is going into that structure, figuring it would be into one of the two lots nearer to Twenty|20 that were approved in November (if memory serves), around the time that DivCo got really excited about a new tenant.
 
stick n move said:
Your thinking of this:
Click to expand...

Yes, that’s a view of I Lot, looking south. That was released as part of the rebranding rollout. Big I will be the tower and Little I will be the amphitheater-esque mini park.

We’re pleased that was locked (supposedly) as a condo building. DivCo told us that most of the planned residences remain undecided but that I is being designed for ownership.
 
Is that building at the edge of the park the ampitheater? Im liking this a lot looks like a really well put together cohesive neighborhood and the best part as stated is its all on open land. This means the city is expanding and nothing is being lost which is almost always the best case scenario. The Cambridge we have is going nowhere while gaining an entire brand new neighborhood. Its crazy we have these spaces on both sides of downtown thats a gem you will rarely see. Northpoint, the seaport, and Assembly are all huge additions with no subtractions from the city stock.
 
Arlington said:
Always worth re-Googling "Logan Airspace Map" (or similar) which shows that "Greater Kendall-Lechmere" is all solidly in the 900' ~ 1000' range, and North Station-West End is in the 800' to 1000' range (but note that this is altitude so building height can be limited on higher land)

And then zoning works within the FAA envelope.

logan-airspace-map-jpg.jpg
Click to expand...

Its cool that the entire cambridge skyline can go to 1000ft plus the pike parcels. Whos gonna have the balls one day? The pike parcels you would think someone would try. Get a glass esb/vanderbilt with a spire and enter into the big leagues. Ah nevermind dont even go off topic f it.

Northpoint could have been a SUBSTANTIAL skyline though vs the small mid rise offices its getting. Every parcel could have been 500ft-1000. That would have been some shit. I wouldnt even mind a taipei 101 out of nowhere dominating monster between a bunch of mid rises. I wonder if someone had the nuts how much backlash it would get off in no mans land over here.
 
Area looks pretty solid, and the parks are cool, but I think they are missing a few things. Mainly a sports field and playground. This area will have its fair share of younger people. Maybe Im different, but even at 37 do I rarely just sit on grass and call it an activity. Sure lunch time on a weekday is one thing, but I don't graze on the weekends. A half soccer field, basketball court, and playground would truly be an asset. It will be fine w/o one, but better with one.
 
Have you not been over here? Theres literally a world class skatepark right around the corner.

boston-DJI_0005skatepark.jpg
 
Yea that is cool, but I'm not sure that many people that live there skate board. I'd say that is more of an attraction for skateboarders in the metro region. Where as athletic fields get used by a higher percent of the people in any neighborhood.
 
GW2500 said:
Yea that is cool, but I'm not sure that many people that live there skate board. I'd say that is more of an attraction for skateboarders in the metro region. Where as athletic fields get used by a higher percent of the people in any neighborhood.
Click to expand...

There's a playground in North Point Park... other than that I don't see one anywhere in the open space proposals for Cambridge Crossing itself. There probably should be.

Now, the lawns essentially function as athletic fields for informal sports. It looks like DCR was going to build an athletic field adjacent to the development on the other side of the Baldwin Bridge, but that plan has been abandoned in favor of a maintenance yard.

Maybe one of our CX residents can fill us in more.

EDIT: The "common" will have bocce/horseshoes/cornhole facilities...

http://www.cambridgema.gov/~/media/...179/sp179_design_TheCommon_20171205.pdf?la=en
 
The new EF Education building that just started construction will have some outdoor fitness facilities open to the public. They are also developing the small former Cambridge College Building at the corner of Monsignor O'Brien and Museum Way. That will have a tennis court, half basketball court and other fitness amenities open to the public. So technically it is not within the Cambridge Crossing boundaries but pretty close. That lot was used for parking and the rest was overgrown with weeds. It will be nice to see something there that people can enjoy.
 
Pile driving has started for a new building(?) behind the U/C Phillips headquarters
 
We just got our monthly update from Divco West and they mentioned that pile driving just started for Building EF. That building is listed under Phase I b so I was surprised to see that they started on this one now without completing Phase I a. As mentioned in the link above it will be lab/office with some retail. I was expecting to see a condo/apartment building next but maybe they want to complete the buildings containing retail first?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top