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Haha... I know, I started rambling! I meant "far afield" in terms of ground floor planning. Looking at the layout of ground floor retail under way on Fan Pier, I don't think you can generate the energy of Liberty Wharf. Yes, it's still early. I will end this rant by suggesting that the...

Very true, but Fan Pier ground floors aren't only far afield of what I'd like to see, they are far afield of Liberty Wharf. So Empire, Strega, et al. are not going to enjoy the "destination" excitement of Liberty Wharf. Am I wrong?

Agree 100%. But circling back to my main point, neither Fan Pier nor Seaport Square have been held to the high standards this district merits. I can't see anyone arguing that Fan Pier ground floors, devoid of a broad array of civic/cultural uses and even lackluster in retail opportunities...

I hear you, but don't think anyone heading for the ICA, each of whom can see the ICA from either side of the Moakley Bridge, decides to take a left and walk down the Barking Crab parking lot.

The Innovation Center is a 12,000 square foot single story building of which 3,000 sf is a café. Of the remaining 9,000 square feet, the BRA negotiated a 5-year lease and 5-year option in the context of approvals of a 23-acre project. It's hard to wrap my head around that as a substantive move...

I brought up the Congress Street developer that subsidized retail and (temporary) civic uses only as an example of how lively and successful the outcome has been along his properties. What you have written in your second paragraph is right on target and should have been a no brainer with...

The intersection of Seaport Blvd and Sleeper, on the southern corner close to Childrens Museum has a constant stream of pedestrians who have crossed in front of the Childrens Museum. It is more intuitive to head for this corner than to head under the Moakley Bridge. Those who venture under the...

The Harborwarlk goes under the Seaport Blvd bridge and terminates at a wall, at the Barking Crab. To get to Courthouse you need to walk up ramp, through Barking Crab parking lot and across Northern Ave. Most pedestrians continue up ramp and end up bewildered at Sleeper Street extension. That's...

Tell it to the thousands of visitors who arrive at the Silver Line Station because that's where they've been directed. Tell it to the thousands of visitors who try to walk to the ICA from Fort Point. And by the way, there is no continuous pathway. Seaport Blvd. cuts across the Harborwalk...

Boston isn't downtown Laconia. There are a wealth of Boston-based civic and arts non-profits that would have thrived in ground floor spaces at Fan Pier. There are a wealth of others nationally and internationally that would likely arrive to populate spaces on Fan Pier. The ICA is extraordinary...

The civic/cultural spaces provided by this particular developer were temporary -- and quite generous in my view. But temporary space is not what I'm talking about. There are no permanent (or long-term) civic spaces across the entire district. Two signators to the BRA's 100 Acre Plan are...

Folks, Seaport development is not an exercise in capitalism. The Seaport benefits from unprecedented public investment, unparalleled resources, and tidelands regulations that could have been used to shape a visionary outcome. Standards for land use and architecture -- and requirements for...

"Seaport Square" is the excuse the BRA uses whenever anyone asks, "Where is the residential density going to be?" "Where are the civic and cultural uses going to be?" In fact, Seaport Square is just another tract of land. And none of it is at water's edge, where Chapter 91 exists to ensure that...

I've never heard anyone argue that there can be overkill of galleries, music venues, opera, theater, jazz along with restaurants, shops, etc. As for overkill, the Seaport (Fort Point included) doesn't have a single square foot of public civic space. Not one. No community center, school, etc...

^Stellarfun Terrific post Stellar, I've been curious to see examples of what other cities are doing. Most retail in Fort Point is 1/2 flight above grade. That could simply be carried forward to the waterfront, with the added cost of a single exterior ramp per building for ADA compliance...

No. Chapter 91 requires interior "facilities of public accommodation" which were intended as interior civic and public uses. Historically, when the Harbor was parceled out and filled by private owners, the intention was to ensure that the public would continue to benefit from resources available...

Let's get this straight. Four office towers on the highest potential waterfront in the USA. No residential. No public civic or cultural uses on ground floors, as was intended of all tidelands parcels when the land was filled. Scant retail and large corporate lobbies on ground floors. This...

Re: 120 Kingston, 29 Story Tower in Chinatown No no, you're not alone. I thought this was a forum for discussing architecture, my mistake. Are the pilings in yet?

Re: 120 Kingston, 29 Story Tower in Chinatown ^dirtywater — from the Boston Landmark Commission Study Report (PDF format) Underutilized, because the property owner elected to underutilize it. That was essentially my point in thanking BosUrbEx for the gist of his letter.

Re: 120 Kingston, 29 Story Tower in Chinatown Just ran across this. A quick word of thanks. Words matter. Similarly, in my neighborhood, a real estate speculator purchased and emptied an entire portfolio of historic buildings. They spent 5 subsequent years pocketing approvals from the BRA...