Bulfinch Crossing | Congress Street Garage | West End

Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

Why should anyone object to selling the police station for this development?
One, the city gets paid for the property.
Two, the property will become tax producing.
Three, the city gets a new police station at no cost to the city.
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

riffgo said:
Why should anyone object to selling the police station for this development?
One, the city gets paid for the property.
Two, the property will become tax producing.
Three, the city gets a new police station at no cost to the city.
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four, the city has done this before, the fire station on high street and ever garage that is now a building
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

I'd prefer to see the first part of the project built successfully before the developer buys occupied city-owned property. The last thing we want to see here is the Filene's scenario, where the police station is torn down and then the developer runs into financing troubles, leaving us with a vacant pit and no police station. Some sort of performance bond needs to accompany a sale of city property.
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

The comments are actually pretty decent. Not many naysayers knocking it down ...

Here's one of my favorites...

"What is it with Bostonians? As I have said before, without Harvard and all the colleges that came here Boston is a fishing village. Let the city grow, become cosmopolitan, have grand new buildings and get a decent reputation. I mean for chrissakes its the city, skyscrapers are supposed to be built here."
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

I'm really surprised by the lack of criticism that this was getting on the comments section of Boston.com...of course there were a few foolish comments, but much less than expected. I'm glad to see this project has plans to move forward. The design is awesome in my opinion--it was my favorite out of the group proposed.

I can hear the rallying cries coming from the North End...."NIMBYs ho!!!"
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

I was a little pissed initially that they chose cook and fox, as i recall from when they released the first renderings, it wasn't in my top 3. The problems I had with it were a) it looked too much like that one building in the new WTC [stupid when you consider how many look alikes there are in the world, but remember, this tower needs to be iconic considering size/setting] and b) the design wasn't really that attractive IMO.

HOWEVER, this new rendering we are seeing looks great, still not amazing, but definetely somthing that i would be able to enjoy [similar to the pru in that aspect]. Is there any differences in the actual building between the initial render and this one? it appears different to me, of course, ive yet to compare, doing that now..
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

I'm calling it now. This is the next SST / Tommy's Tower. Will not happen.
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

No way, South Station will be first. But I hope this is.

The towers will be cut 10 stories each.

Throw the neighbors some discounted parking, improve the surounding intersections, and make the street level look good and this should get approval
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

Wow, there sure is a slew of projects that may get going once this recession/depression runs its course...
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

from today's Metro:
http://www.metro.us/us/article/2009/03/04/02/5509-72/index.xml
Metro discussed the project with RPC Chairman Ted Raymond.

How economically feasible is it to continue with such a project at this time?

We?re very fortunate to have the financial partners in this deal to be very, very strong. You can?t say we?re not affected by the market. But we are pushing very hard to get approvals done. In 2014 there are a number of major leases in the city that come due and we want to be in a position to be able to, when this thing starts to turn around, go ahead with the development.

Will there be a rush for available space in 2014?

You have to bear in mind that there are only 32 high-rise buildings in the city. Their average age is 30-something years old. If Boston is going to continue to be a world-class city it does need to have a physical environment so that it can offer modern tenancies.

What will replacing this garage mean to the surrounding area?

Some have used the description that the garage is like the Berlin Wall. I think that?s not inaccurate - it really does do that. By opening it up it just totally changes the sense of the place.
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Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

it's beautiful.

::trying not to get hopes up::
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

Riverworks said:
The comments are actually pretty decent. Not many naysayers knocking it down ...

Here's one of my favorites...

"What is it with Bostonians? As I have said before, without Harvard and all the colleges that came here Boston is a fishing village."
Click to expand...

Who knew Walter Muir Whitehill was still alive and writing?
 
Next meeting: March 25

I received this today, still nothing on the official web page
Please be advised that there will be a community meeting regarding the Government Center Garage Redevelopment Project on Wednesday, March 25, 2009,
6:30 PM ? 8:00 PM, at the Government Center Garage, 10th Floor (Please enter at the One Congress lobby at the corner of New Chardon and Congress/Merrimac Streets. Please allow time for check-in with building security. You will need a photo id to enter the building.)


On March 2, 2009, Bulfinch Congress Holdings LLC, the Project Proponent, submitted a Project Notification Form for the Government Center Garage Redevelopment Project, located at One Congress Street in Government Center. The Project Proponent proposes to replace the Government Center Parking Garage and potentially adjacent city-owned buildings with approximately 3.8 million square feet of mixed use development divided among five major buildings, ranging in height from approximately 60 to 710 feet. The proposed project includes space for residential, office, hotel, and retail use, as well as space for the MBTA Haymarket Station. Approximately 2,000 total parking spaces are proposed in above-ground and below-ground garages.

The public comment period ends on Friday, April 17, 2009. Please send comments to:

MAIL TO: KRISTIN KARA
BOSTON REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
ONE CITY HALL SQUARE, 9TH FLOOR
BOSTON, MA 02201
FAX TO: 617-742-7783
EMAIL TO: kristin.kara.bra@cityofboston.gov
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Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

I like the proposal but this development will stand some serious oppositions from the neighbor activists. The North End Neighborhood will be a tough sell. They might have to Chop 10 or 15 stories smaller. I personally like the Aquarim Location better for major high rise.
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

You've got the old standby issue of height, then you've got the city land issue, and to really mix it up, the West End is ready to fight for the public school. Not to mention the issue of the impact a project of this scale is going to have on traffic patterns (oh yeah and the parking spaces that are being lost). This meeting should be a hoot. Popcorn, anyone?
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

I'll be there. I love a night at the theatre!

I'm not sure the lobby Gestapo will allow you to bring food upstairs, but there's usually some sort of spread.

And after, cocktails...
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

the pnf is now online, and yes they have great food there

http://demolishthegarage.com/pdf/GCGR_PNF.pdf

I no longer have this weeks courant but I think they said the neighbors are leaning towards this project so long as they get a school
 
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Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

And a school is a good idea. If you look at a map of Boston public schools, there's a huge swath of land with no schools at all, stretching from Mission Hill to the North End.
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

It just struck me how similar this complex would be to the TimeWarner Center at Columbus Sq in NYC:

original.jpg
 
Re: Gov't Center Garage Redevelopment

TWC is more similar to the IC, IMO.

Oooh, acronyms.
 
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