585 Commercial St | North End

[JohnAKeith]

Bitch.

 

[tmac9wr]

I haven't been following this project that much, but one of the articles at the beginning of the thread said a couple people were upset that this project didn't help the housing shortage in the neighborhood since it's a luxury development. I guess that kind of relates to affordable housing, right?

But like you said before 95% of the people just thought it was too tall.

 

[underground]

People were/are against this because it'll block their views of the water.

 

[PaulC]

Another back from the dead proposal.

There’s talk on the streets about possible development projects moving forward at 585 Commercial Street (the
former home of Roche Bobois Furniture and two failed presidential campaigns) and at 44-46 Cross Street,
including a portion or all of the block along Cross Street between Salem and Endicott. Both projects have the
potential for considerable expansion of existing footprints and for increase in height. The existing buildings,
especially at Cross Street are below the 55-ft. height limit. Early proposals at 585 called for expanding the
building over the adjacent parking lot and there’s been talk of the Cross Street development expanding over the
Cross Street sidewalk plaze now used for limited parking and pedestrian way. Both projects also have the
potential for adversely affecting park land and park uses, 585 Commercial being within the stretch of waterfront
that is otherwise state and city parks, recreational facilities and ballfields, and the Cross Street project backing
up to Morton Street and Cutillo Park

source: http://www.newra.org/ZLC/ZLC-Committee-Report-2013-02-14.pdf

also:

Surveyors have been seen in the area taking measurements for some type of plans. A new project could significantly expand beyond the footprint and height of the current 3-story building which is significantly under the North End’s general 55 foot zoning limit.

http://northendwaterfront.com/2013/02/new-development-chatter-at-585-commercial-street/