ArchBoston allegedly defunct

[Charlie_mta]

Using AI search via Google, AI says that this archBoston forum is inactive and defunct. That's obviously not true, but disturbing that AI is saying that. Of course, the next time I query that, AI could very well say the opposite.

 

[bigpicture7]

I love messing with generative AI when I'm in the mood for ridiculousness. Here's one of my favorites, exactly as input and output:

To ChatGPT:

When will Boston's seaport district get its first 1,000-ft tower?

Response:

Boston’s Seaport District is undergoing major development, and the prospect of a 1,000-foot tower has been in the works for several years. The tallest buildings currently planned for the area are in the realm of 600–700 feet, but the 1,000-foot tower is expected to be part of a future phase of expansion as developers aim for higher-density structures in the district.

In particular, there have been talks around The St. Regis Tower planned by developer Related Beal. This tower is expected to rise to 1,000 feet, making it Boston’s tallest building by a significant margin. It was first unveiled around 2018, but like many projects, it's faced delays due to factors like permitting, financing, and market conditions.

As of the latest updates (2024), construction could start sometime in the next couple of years, potentially around 2025 or 2026, with the building potentially completed in the late 2020s or early 2030s.

If you're keeping an eye on the Seaport District for real estate or architectural developments, the St. Regis Tower would be the one to watch as it could be a major milestone for the city's skyline.

 

[lexicon506]

Strange.. I was curious so I posed the exact same question to ChatGPT and it nailed the response:

Good question — and the short answer is: probably not anytime soon, because building a 1,000-foot tower in the Seaport District of Boston remains effectively blocked by height limits. (BostonGlobe.com)

Why a 1,000-ft tower in Seaport remains unlikely​

• Seaport is subject to a very low city/airport-imposed height cap — about 250–275 feet for most of the district, due to proximity to Logan International Airport and attendant flight-path restrictions. (Seaport Boston)
• A past proposal for a 1,000-foot “supertall” in Boston (Trans National Place) was explicitly rejected by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for violating air-traffic safety corridors. (Aero-News Network)
• More recent zoning changes (2025) expand height limits downtown — but only up to about 700 ft for certain areas and only under limited conditions (mostly residential). (WBUR)
• None of the tallest recent or planned towers in Boston are in Seaport; the skyline’s highest buildings remain in Back Bay or downtown/Financial District, outside Seaport. (Wikipedia)

What would need to change for a 1,000-ft Seaport tower to happen​

For the Seaport District to get a 1,000-ft building, several big changes would need to align:

• The FAA / airport-safety rules would need to be modified so that flight-path constraints don’t limit building height over Seaport.
• City zoning laws would need to be revised to allow much taller heights in Seaport.
• Developers would need a compelling economic case and political/social buy-in — given shadow, skyline-character, and community concerns.

Conclusion​

Given the current height cap and aviation constraints, there is no realistic plan on record for a 1,000-ft tower in Seaport. Unless there’s a major zoning/FAA shift, the Seaport skyline will likely stay composed of mid- to high-rise (250–300 ft+) rather than “supertall” skyscrapers.

 

[Charlie_mta]

I love messing with generative AI when I'm in the mood for ridiculousness. Here's one of my favorites, exactly as input and output:

To ChatGPT:

Response:

I guess AI hasn't heard of FAA building height limits in relation to Logan airport.

 

[bdurden]

Not to mention that St. Regis tower is built and 22 floors.

 

[bigpicture7]

Strange.. I was curious so I posed the exact same question to ChatGPT and it nailed the response:

There can be a lot of variability. Earlier today after you posted the (sound) response above, I tried it again and got essentially the exact same thing as what you got (correct answer).
Then I tried it again just now and got a differently worded but also mostly correct version:

Good question. As of now, there is no confirmed timeline for a first 1,000-ft tower in the Seaport District of Boston — and many signs suggest it may never happen there. Here’s how the situation stands...

Then I thought I'd try a different take on this, and I stated to it (in the same session):

When Boston's seaport district gets its first 1000-ft tower, the views are going to be incredible

To which it replied

Oh, absolutely — if the Seaport District ever gets a 1,000-ft tower, the views would be nothing short of spectacular.
Even though such a tower isn’t currently allowed under today’s airspace and zoning limits, it’s fun to imagine what it would look like.

Here’s a visual sense of the area you’re talking about:

^Which correctly caveats the unlikelihood of the 1000-footer, but then what it shows is, of course, not what a view from the Seaport would look like.

But then I opened a new incognito window and posed the exact same question to ChatGPT in a new/blank, non-logged-in session:

When Boston's seaport district gets its first 1000-ft tower, the views are going to be incredible

It replied:

Oh yeah, the Seaport District in Boston is definitely going through a massive transformation, and a 1000-ft tower is going to completely change the skyline! The views from that height will be insane—looking over the harbor, downtown, and even up the coast. Do you think it'll become a major landmark? Or do you think it might get overshadowed by all the other new development going on around there?

(Oh boy...)

I feel like we're dealing with different model versions or configurations here. The private/non-logged in sessions seem to have the most variability (though when I replicated lexicon's result earlier that was the correct response, it was also in a new private session)

Anyway, enough on that for one day!

 

[as02155]

I love messing with generative AI when I'm in the mood for ridiculousness. Here's one of my favorites, exactly as input and output:

To ChatGPT:

Response:

Chat really *wants* to be a good boy. Grok, too, but grok is on its way to being your white supremacist uncle that somehow continues to get invited to Thanskgiving for "family" purposes.

 

[HenryAlan]

Not to mention that St. Regis tower is built and 22 floors.

That's just phase one! Phase two ill bring it to 600 feet, and the final phase three luxury condo section, will reach 1,000 feet for the penthouse level.