The Boulevard (née The Times/Littlest Bar) | 110 Broad St | Downtown

Was down on the Greenway the other day.
Came across this development -Incredible location---Awful architecture.
Not sure what Finegold Alexander Architects were thinking---Maybe trying to somehow resemble IP or something but this is awful.

Broad Street has become my favorite street thou. Talk about benefitting from the Greenway.

Atlantic Ave is the best strip I have ever seen in a city.
 
Idk I had the opposite reaction. I saw it in person and was like wow that looks wayy better in person. I think the copper color adds a unique and interesting color pallette here. I like it a lot, thats architecture for ya.
 
The bottom two floors are a total fail. I generally like the rest of the building though, although it does kind of give a big FU to the Littlest Bar.
 
One thing for sure if I could afford a condo in this area I would buy one in a heart beat even in the Boulevard.

Atlantic Ave is better than the Backbay now in my opinion.
 
Those of you who have been by, is this complete?
 
statler said:
Those of you who have been by, is this complete?
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Just about, but residents haven't begun moving in yet. The lobby is completed and has a really nice floor-to-ceiling living wall.
 
The tokenism of the preservation, with the lack of response by the rest of the building, bothers me.
 
Urbanism: D+ (preservation is relevant to good urbanism)

Utility D+ (is it even getting a bar)?

Preservation F

preservationists/Developer/City Hall (all) failed.
 
The preserved building reads to me like the “Up” house - they wanted to bulldoze it but they couldn’t so they canyoned around it. Kind of sad. I think that’s how it will read to most people walking by. Not layered urbanism at its finest.
 
Shepard said:
The preserved building reads to me like the “Up” house - they wanted to bulldoze it but they couldn’t so they canyoned around it. Kind of sad. I think that’s how it will read to most people walking by. Not layered urbanism at its finest.
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Ah yes. Layered urbanism

640px-Mexicanembassywashingtondc.jpg


Almost as many layers as a Marie Antoine Careme cake.
 
I know I'm late to the game, and admittedly I don't know much about this project. But I walked by it the other day and just wondered why this wasn't 2-3 times taller? For the location, it's just SO short!
 
HalcyonEra said:
As an aside, does anyone know long is that exhibit of old neon up for? It's been awhile since I'v been down there. That photo brings backed memories - loved State Line Potato Chips :)
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It's my understanding that its permanent. Although most seem to have little to do with Boston and seem out of place.
 
dotdude78 said:
I know I'm late to the game, and admittedly I don't know much about this project. But I walked by it the other day and just wondered why this wasn't 2-3 times taller? For the location, it's just SO short!
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Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
 
mdd said:
Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
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It's the middle of downtown Boston, yes you should. Especially if you're going to blow up and/or bastardize solid prewar architecture.
 
Agreed and remember theres another building of the same height going up right next door too. They want both of them to match the roof heights of the other buildings as you move down the greenway because after International place theres no more tall towers right up against the greenway, and none that are new. 1IP was built before the greenway and Im sure theyre trying to prevent it from being closed off to sunlight.

The thing is after these 2 parcels and the aquarium garage theres no more boxing in that can happen, so it wouldnt have been a big deal. If anything this spot is perfect because of its neighbors and then the rest of the greenway can stay open. The height stuff is annoying, but this is the middle of downtown... literally right next door to 1IP. Some height here would have been the perfect spot for a new standalone tower on the greenway/downtown... no garage demo, air rights..simple.
 
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stick n move said:
Agreed and remember theres another building of the same height going up right next door too. They want both of them to match the roof heights of the other buildings as you move down the greenway because after International place theres no more tall towers right up against the greenway, and none that are new. 1IP was built before the greenway and Im sure theyre trying to prevent it from being closed off to sunlight.
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Bingo. No new shadows on the Greenway. If you go to Google satellite, and look at the length of the shadow from HT at mid-day on a cold weather month (no snow on the ground, but no greening of the lawn either) the shadow reaches nearly halfway to Milk St.
 
Shepard said:
The preserved building reads to me like the “Up” house - they wanted to bulldoze it but they couldn’t so they canyoned around it. Kind of sad. I think that’s how it will read to most people walking by. Not layered urbanism at its finest.
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Preserved as in embalmed. They sucked the life from this building.
 
Suffolk 83 said:
It's the middle of downtown Boston, yes you should. Especially if you're going to blow up and/or bastardize solid prewar architecture.
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I agree with this 100%. We need to have higher standards (pun intended) when it comes to replacement buildings before we so callously allow the demolition of more historical structures. Sadly, with an eye towards Kenmore Square, nobody involved with the approval process is taking notes....
 
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