Lyra (née The Huntington) | 252/258/264 Huntington Avenue | Fenway

Like every single tower built in Boston over the last decade (One Congress being the best example), this tower would have been better if it were 20% slimmer and 20% taller.
 
JohnAKeith said:
I don't understand what you mean? b/c it needs something taller? Denser? Or because now they can?
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One end of the building is being held up with large girders. Every other year they add more girders. That end of the building cannot be used. Basically, the building is on the verge of collapsing. The cost or remediation would cost an estimated $100 million.
 
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Jeremi said:
Excellent. A little awkward on its “thin” sides. I don’t think that the grey panel/white panel interplay is serving it well. But it looks great from Mass Ave.
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It really does look like a great addition to the Boston skyline. Idk if its all the low rises around it, but it looks absolutely massive from down Huntington Ave in Back Bay/Copley.
 
From that vantage point, the 3 towers look out of place. I realize the "high spine", as it's known, allows for the tallest buildings in the city but it looks somewhat disjointed. Now, let the flames begin ...
 
citydweller said:
From that vantage point, the 3 towers look out of place. I realize the "high spine", as it's known, allows for the tallest buildings in the city but it looks somewhat disjointed. Now, let the flames begin ...
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Easy there, fella. Another 200 years and 6ish towers from now and you'll be regretting these words!
 
citydweller said:
From that vantage point, the 3 towers look out of place. I realize the "high spine", as it's known, allows for the tallest buildings in the city but it looks somewhat disjointed. Now, let the flames begin ...
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You gotta start somewhere.
 
TomOfBoston said:
The Boston Symphony is planning to build a high-rise condo building across the street. The Midtown Hotel will eventually be replaced with a high rise.
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Is this true? It makes sense but I haven't seen this anywhere.
 
Jeremi said:
Is this true? It makes sense but I haven't seen this anywhere.
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8 or 9 years ago, I recall they were quietly talking with some neighbors about redeveloping the low-slung Huntington Ave annex buildings in hopes of securing some partner financing and participation. Best recollection is, it was better/more practice space for BSO artists using the basements and St. Stephen's parking lot, a parking garage above the said lot, Huntington Ave retail, a few floors of office/institutional use (hey-o, NEU!), and a residential tower sitting in the shadow footprint of Symphony West.

To my knowledge, it never really went beyond informal conversations, tours, and a few proof-of-concept pieces of art. Then Covid happened, and money got expensive. Haven't heard anything more since about 2019.
 
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bbfen said:
8 or 9 years ago, I recall they were quietly talking with some neighbors about redeveloping the low-slung Huntington Ave annex buildings in hopes of securing some partner financing and participation. Best recollection is, it was better/more practice space for BSO artists using the basements and St. Stephen's parking lot, a parking garage above the said lot, Huntington Ave retail, a few floors of office/institutional use (hey-o, NEU!), and a residential tower sitting in the shadow footprint of Symphony West.

To my knowledge, it never really went beyond informal conversations, tours, and a few proof-of-concept pieces of art. Then Covid happened, and money got expensive. Haven't heard anything more since about 2019.
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I heard back then that they were waiting for the Lyra to be finished as the city would not allow both sidewalks on Huntington to be blocked at the same time. That is an old memory.
 
TomOfBoston said:
I heard back then that they were waiting for the Lyra to be finished as the city would not allow both sidewalks on Huntington to be blocked at the same time. That is an old memory.
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I don't remember that, exactly, but it sounds real.

There was a similar shoulder dance going on east of Mass Ave when National was proposing the Midtown redevelopment at the same time FCCS was going to redevelop the plaza to restore a path to the Mother Church through the reflecting pool, add an elevator to the Sunday School building and so on. The BRA and BFD had strong concerns about navigating Huntington with two major projects happening directly opposite the other.
 
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