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Of course I own that book, what sort of geography nerd do you think I am? I did say this wasn't a new trend but I don’t think this is simply wharfing out either. While I agree these phenomena are related, in that they are both phases of city growth, I also think the areas I highlighted and the...

I decided to highlight the areas which are now being to transition rather than those which have already transitioned, but totally. I could have also tossed in MIT too.

Agreed, it is a trend that is happening else where too. I think it is both a outcome of lack of space at the core and being driven by market forces, specifically our changing economy as well as changing physical requirements for manufacturing and logistics. The city developed with distinct...

I might be walking in front of the firing squad by saying this, but I hope the proposal is mindful about shadows on CS plaza. It is a gem and I think its unobstructed southern exposure is valuable.

^ Its all about highest and best use. As long a lab buildings are making more money than residential buildings then developers are going to build lab. Couple that with the added risk of a condo vs lab building, there are no luxury high rise (condo) precedents in Kendall to show sale values, thus...

There is certainly a cultural aversion to change but is is strongly supported by economic benefits owners reap from limiting supply. I personally think there is much to be said for thinking of homeowners as a cartel.

I hate it, but I will be surprised if they break 300 ft, assuming they go full lab. That is the height of the Center for Life Sciences in Longwood which is about as tall as lab goes as far as I am aware.

My understanding is that the Skanska team for the bridge was working out of that trailer. I think it is/will be transitioned to JMA when work begins.

That and I suspect that they are hitting constraints in terms of providing what they feel the market will require for parking and construction cost. The higher you go the most costly construction becomes. Without proven rents and parking utilization in this sub-market they are probably being...

Nor should you, it's garbage. This is 100 percent gentrification for the reasons you note. Those new higher paying jobs at this location will start to fundamentally change the land economics of the area, and are symptomatic of broader economic changes which have already happened. As it becomes...

I like it, wish the site was a little less tight so the street programming could be more robust but otherwise looks pretty good.

I say yes/it already is as Boston and the Bay Area are so much more expensive then other areas for the same reason, both cities are in roughly the same urban form and economic attributes. Although the order of magnitudes are and probably will always be different. Specifically, they both cities...

I guess it could be depending on how it is resolved at the top and bottom. Right now this is too abstract to be a clear deco reference.

A few quick photos of this from this morning. I have to say its been a while since I have been down here and I had low expectations of this based on the render but I was pleasantly surprised by the facade texture. Now lets hope the street level is as well resolved.

Firstly, that isn't Dutch so disagree in English or just don't. Secondly it is a fallacy to say strong planning traditions and government intervention result in higher unemployment and stagnant economies. The Dutch unemployment rate is lower than the United State's and similar to Massachusetts...

I always thought this site would be a good candidate for smaller scale development too. Check out Homeruskwartier in Almere-Poort, Netherlands. The problem is, in the Netherlands the government owns most of the ground and therefor can plan land use more closely. Even where they do not own the...

Way to early to call success or failure on this, though agreed renders are always silly. My biggest concern at this point is street engagement and programming which they appear to be thinking about. This is not Harvard Square (or frankly even the Seaport) nor will it ever be but perhaps it could...

I mean this is an improvement but god that original cladding and glazing is awful. One of the worst buildings left in town.

I generally agree with this thought though I do think it is worth fleshing out the complexities a bit, and I think you imply this, but really your two points are a high level net assessments. That is, [1] 'is it an improvement over what is there' and [2] 'does it create a public good' should...

A few diagrams I think are pretty useful. Program (p. 130 in the PDF of the PNF) and a site plan with the future Blueway (p. 140).