South Station Tower | South Station Air Rights | Downtown

[stellarfun]

There was also discussion of radar coverage during the Winthrop Center height question. That may be for separate areas of downtown.

Also, while the FAA does not determine Zoning, the Boston Zoning Code does incorporate the FAA Determination of No Hazard to Air Navigation (or similar determination) as a requirement for plan approval. This is pretty common in zoning codes.

I believe it was Chiofaro's Harbor garage, the version of 16 years ago.
https://www.universalhub.com/node/28629#comment-106558

IIRC, the FAA complained that Chiofaro's proposed tower(s) would interfere with FAA terminal radar coverage of helicopters flying down the Charles River toward Logan.

 

[SMCYB]

Sure. For the same reason I don't wish the arches had doors. It's the outdoor part of the station and all aspects that enhance the "outdoors-ish-ness" of it are fun. The notion that walking under that extremely narrow "gap" will somehow ruin a person's outfit or hair or bag or whatever if it's raining or snowing is ridiculous. It's outdoors and you will encounter outdoor-type stuff.

Respectfully (really, I'm not arguing. I'm discussing) it has a ceiling and walls to provide protection from the elements (see your most recent photo above). I'm fine with the open ends; I just think it's short sighted of the architect or decision makers to leave that one gap open in the area where people walk from being comfortably indoors to their train under the covered platform. On a cold, rainy, windy day, some people are going to get wet and not appreciate it (especially people who spend time on their hair, etc.). It's sorta like the car driving through the puddle and splashing you, or your umbrella getting blown inside out causing you to momentarily get wet.

Anyway, you're welcome to your opinion and I won't call it ridiculous.

 

[chrisbrat]

Respectfully (really, I'm not arguing. I'm discussing) it has a ceiling and walls to provide protection from the elements (see your most recent photo above). I'm fine with the open ends; I just think it's short sighted of the architect or decision makers to leave that one gap open in the area where people walk from being comfortably indoors to their train under the covered platform. On a cold, rainy, windy day, some people are going to get wet and not appreciate it (especially people who spend time on their hair, etc.). It's sorta like the car driving through the puddle and splashing you, or your umbrella getting blown inside out causing you to momentarily get wet.

Anyway, you're welcome to your opinion and I won't call it ridiculous.

Totally get where you're coming from. My guess(es) are thus: as regular riders become more familiar with it, they'll know to (for example) open their umbrella earlier (or leave it open longer) or truly torrential days; I expect there will ultimately be some type of "join" between the headhouse and the new roof and that will eliminate the current gap. Why it hasn't happened yet? No clue.

 

[SMCYB]

Totally get where you're coming from. My guess(es) are thus: as regular riders become more familiar with it, they'll know to (for example) open their umbrella earlier (or leave it open longer) or truly torrential days; I expect there will ultimately be some type of "join" between the headhouse and the new roof and that will eliminate the current gap. Why it hasn't happened yet? No clue.

That last part is what I've been waiting for.

 

[TC_zoid]

I'd like to see a pinnacle design like One Vanderbilt in Manhattan (just beneath the spire). It's all glass and was converted into observation and F&D space. Originally, the force behind the building wanted one part of it to open up like a giant door to accept eVTOL aircraft for landings and takeoffs. It was inspired by the neighbor, Grand Central Station. Yesterday was the first successful paying flight for passengers in an eVTOL, from The Hamptons to JFK.