45 Province St | Downtown Crossing

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Re: 45 Province St

I know you all know a ton more about how the BRA works than I do, but the big blank wall seems to be a function of the site being a zero lot line site (no?). If that is true the building code does not allow openings of any kind when your building is along a lot line, and allows more and more as the building sets back (which may be why the balconies are possible to either side). This line extends into infinity and is expected to be a party wall to the building that gets built next to it someday in the future. This is quite common in multi-plot blocks but we don't see it so clearly because it is rare a building built in one of these blocks is so significantly taller than the rest.

What should the BRA have done to deal with this issue? Make them pay for temporary windows that will get blocked up ... or force the client to pay for expensive materials that will eventually be covered? The previous post says yes ... but is that really realistic?

All in all ... this is still a very elegant building ... and contributes nicely to the skyline. The blank wall has even been handled with a bit of proportion and artistry. I just think its a shame to crap on a good design job for something that is forced on the owner and the designer.

cca
 
Re: 45 Province St

I wish someone could find out why this was allow,this really destroys the skyline in this area,not that it was hard to do to begin with!
 
Re: 45 Province St

cca said:
What should the BRA have done to deal with this issue? Make them pay for temporary windows that will get blocked up ... or force the client to pay for expensive materials that will eventually be covered? The previous post says yes ... but is that really realistic?

All in all ... this is still a very elegant building ... and contributes nicely to the skyline. The blank wall has even been handled with a bit of proportion and artistry. I just think its a shame to crap on a good design job for something that is forced on the owner and the designer.

cca
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I don't know what the BRA could have done but the developer/architect could have at least switched up the colors of the Alucobond panels and tried to make some sort of interesting design, rather that a solid blank wall. I doubt there is much difference in cost among different color panels.
 
Re: 45 Province St

^ agree! yesterday
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Re: 45 Province St

It is possible that the "black wall" is there because there is future expansion of this building planned. It is possible that the owners of this building are eyeing the adjacent building/s across the alley and plan to buy them, tear them down and build on to the existing structure. Seems far fetched, but it is after all a possibility.
 
Re: 45 Province St

Anything's possible, but the Omni Parker would have to consent to losing their south wing in order for anything to happen. Beyond that (heading west), you've got the Tremont Theatre.
 
Re: 45 Province St

Tremont Temple Baptist Church did once have a plan, in the 80's, to add a skyscraper over it's church/office complex.
 
Re: 45 Province St

Another of the building, earlier today. You can see all the empty floors in the sun's rays.

45_province.jpg
 
Re: 45 Province St

cca said:
I know you all know a ton more about how the BRA works than I do, but the big blank wall seems to be a function of the site being a zero lot line site (no?). If that is true the building code does not allow openings of any kind when your building is along a lot line, and allows more and more as the building sets back (which may be why the balconies are possible to either side). This line extends into infinity and is expected to be a party wall to the building that gets built next to it someday in the future. This is quite common in multi-plot blocks but we don't see it so clearly because it is rare a building built in one of these blocks is so significantly taller than the rest.

What should the BRA have done to deal with this issue? Make them pay for temporary windows that will get blocked up ... or force the client to pay for expensive materials that will eventually be covered? The previous post says yes ... but is that really realistic?

All in all ... this is still a very elegant building ... and contributes nicely to the skyline. The blank wall has even been handled with a bit of proportion and artistry. I just think its a shame to crap on a good design job for something that is forced on the owner and the designer.

cca
Click to expand...


Yea they should have payed for windows or materials that may get covered because theres a 99% chance whatever is built in front of it wont be nearly as tall as this is so it would only cover the bottom few floors. That allows the top that will be visible for years and probally forever to look nice the whole time.
 
Re: 45 Province St

If you have windows, I believe you need several feet of horizontal setback or an easement from the property line....this building is probably directly on the property line. Therefore windows would be impossible. They could have clad it in reflective glass to create the illusion of windows....there is a very narrow mid-block building in Manhattan that was just completed that did that I believe.
 
Re: 45 Province St

But, isn't there is a thin vertical row of windows on the wall now? Not nearly enough to break up the sheer expanse of wall, but if the could put one row, why not more?
 
Re: 45 Province St

commuter guy said:
But, isn't there is a thin vertical row of windows on the wall now? Not nearly enough to break up the sheer expanse of wall, but if the could put one row, why not more?
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The code reads that if you are 0-5' back from the adjacent property line you can have no openings unless its a property line in which a street abuts. Then there is a percentage of opening that are allowed for every 5' back from the property line until you reach 30' which you can have unlimited openings.

I am guessing that they are in the 5-10' range which allows some ..but not many opening.

All I am saying is understand that there is a million reasons why a designer might be limited to certain choices. Feel free to message me if you would like to hear some real life examples of this sort of thing.

cca

Ps. The property lines extend to infinity because there is no knowing what the height of the adjacent buildings might be. In the mid 1800's no one would imagine that this building could have ever been built to start with.
 
Re: 45 Province St

cca,

Thanks for pointing out the code. The blank wall on 45 Province St. actually does abut a public way, which looks like an alley . I checked google maps and its called the public way is called Chapman Place, so it seems that code restrictions would not have precluded windows on the the blank wall in this particular instance.
 
Re: 45 Province St

No problem,

I am not defending the design here, all I am saying is that there are literally hundreds of reasons that things happen in the design and execution of a piece of architecture, and in general this is a well designed building that I am quite pleased is in my backyard. Even if there are a couple of warts here and there.

cca
 
Re: 45 Province St

today shineing in the setting sun
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Re: 45 Province St

I didn't even recognize it there...you can barely see any of its signature red.
 
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