[ARCHIVED] Harbor Garage Redevelopment | 70 East India Row | Waterfront | Downtown

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Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

datadyne007 said:
Also of interest is that Two International Place has core space for two additional elevators, should the tower ever be finished to its designed height:
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First i've heard of this, any details?
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

BostonObserver said:
First i've heard of this, any details?
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You can clearly see the two missing ones in the top left of the core, lol. It's pretty common when buildings get chopped down to leave future space. Saw it on some other projects I worked on.
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

datadyne007 said:
Also of interest is that Two International Place has core space for two additional elevators, should the tower ever be finished to its designed height:
Click to expand...

What was the original height supposed to be? Was 2 supposed to be taller than 1? I'm pretty sure they aren't going to remove the crown at this point (or ever) to add more floors.
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

DZH22 said:
What was the original height supposed to be? Was 2 supposed to be taller than 1? I'm pretty sure they aren't going to remove the crown at this point (or ever) to add more floors.
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I thought it was supposed to match 1.
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

As proposed, 1 IP was to be 52 stories and 2 IP was to be 46.

They got chopped a bit (and not by the FAA) and then 2 IP was delayed and got a redesign sans Palladian windows.
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

From the BBJ article,
Tom Palmer, who represents Harbor Tower residents, said no one from the building has heard from Chiofaro’s representatives.
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I believe this is the same Tom Palmer who once covered real estate for the Boston Globe.

As has been discussed before, the residents of Harbor Towers hold easements and covenants with respect to right of entry and use of some of the garage; after all, the garage was originally built for them. When Chiofaro begins discussions in earnest with these residents, that would be a signal he's serious.

Meanwhile, IIRC, Chiofaro is now about a year away from having to pay a $50+ million balloon note, --money he used to purchase the garage.
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

I find this statement alone to be disturbing

"Sources tell the Boston Business Journal that Meade told Chiofaro: “Ill help you get the project built, but you have to stop talking to the press.”

What is wrong with having an open process with the public?



stellarfun said:
From the BBJ article,

I believe this is the same Tom Palmer who once covered real estate for the Boston Globe.

As has been discussed before, the residents of Harbor Towers hold easements and covenants with respect to right of entry and use of some of the garage; after all, the garage was originally built for them. When Chiofaro begins discussions in earnest with these residents, that would be a signal he's serious.

Meanwhile, IIRC, Chiofaro is now about a year away from having to pay a $50+ million balloon note, --money he used to purchase the garage.
Click to expand...

If Chiofaro was in trouble then why doesn't he just move forward and build on top of the garage with the 200ft that was approved by the BRA.
I guess in the end it comes down to money. So why bother knocking down the garage? Just clean it up and build on top of it. I think this would be very profitable and less headaches for the developer.

Yes………. this would be catastrophic leaving that wall for the Greenway and the BRA planning agency. But in the end it comes down to money. I believe parking garages in this location are priceless and I'm sure developer feels the same way.

That parcel has the most potential for the Greenway and the BRA should be ashamed of themselves for not working with the developer to get something done.

The sad part is the city will continue to push to collect the Greenway Tax if the businesses around the area approved it. Which sets another perfect example of the city trying to extort the area by being anti-development.
 
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Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

TheRifleman said:
I find this statement alone to be disturbing

"Sources tell the Boston Business Journal that Meade told Chiofaro: “Ill help you get the project built, but you have to stop talking to the press.”

What is wrong with having an open process with the public?





If Chiofaro was in trouble then why doesn't he just move forward and build on top of the garage with the 200ft that was approved by the BRA.
I guess in the end it comes down to money. So why bother knocking down the garage? Just clean it up and build on top of it. I think this would be very profitable and less headaches for the developer.

Yes………. this would be catastrophic leaving that wall for the Greenway and the BRA planning agency. But in the end it comes down to money. I believe parking garages in this location are priceless and I'm sure developer feels the same way.

That parcel has the most potential for the Greenway and the BRA should be ashamed of themselves for not working with the developer to get something done.

The sad part is the city will continue to push to collect the Greenway Tax if the businesses around the area approved it. Which sets another perfect example of the city trying to extort the area by being anti-development.
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Riff - that disturbing statement is how deals get done

Remember whenever the public realm is involved in Boston -- everything is a deal

Rev 3.0 will get built -- it will be some more than the BRA has offered and some less than DC has publicly stated he wants -- the garage in gone in less than 5 years unless the economy tanks again
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

Don Chiofaro ditches tower plan
Will develop smaller waterfront project
By Greg Turner
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 - Updated 10 hours ago

Developer Don Chiofaro — long at loggerheads with Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino over the Harbor Garage redevelopment — has officially scrapped the skyscraper project and signaled his willingness to work closely with city planners before going back to the drawing board.

“We’re working hard to be on the same page as the city,” said Ted Oatis, co-founder of the Chiofaro Co. “We’re planning something for the garage that’s going to work for the city, the neighborhood and for us.”

Chiofaro and Oatis sent a letter to Boston Redevelopment Authority director Peter Meade late last month stating they “wish to formally withdraw our proposal” and participate in the agency’s upcoming municipal harbor planning process for the downtown and wharf district.

That prompted the BRA to change the project’s status to “inactive.”

The hatchet-burying comes 31⁄2 years after Chiofaro first filed his $1 billion plan to replace the squat Harbor Garage with soaring twin skyscrapers filled with offices, residences and a hotel.

The project, located on a key waterfront spot between the Greenway and the New England Aquarium, tested the city’s height limit — and the mayor’s patience. A downsized plan unveiled in September 2010 was essentially dead in the water because it still surpassed the height limit by hundreds of feet.

“We’re thrilled they’re finally moving forward in an appropriate manner,” said BRA spokeswoman Susan Elsbree. “We feel we need to go through a planning exercise ... to make that and all the other projects on the waterfront better.”

Chiofaro recently hired Hub public affairs expert Pam McDermott to advise him and work with abutters and waterfront advocates. McDermott handled the real estate strategy for the Atlantic Wharf and Fan Pier projects.

Next week, the BRA board is expected to approve a plan to hire its own consultant for the municipal harbor plan. Chiofaro noted in his letter he will develop a new project “consistent with the findings” of that plan.

-— gturner@bostonherald.com
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This city skyline SUCKS

So Chiofaro ends up keeping the garage intact and builds the 200ft on top.
The BRA should be dismantled after this.
Another BOX POS being built.

Imagine the garage won't be buried infront of the Greenway?

Instead of investing his time in working with developers on good projects like this the Mayor is out doing public relations for a Casino in E.Boston/Revere. The mayor has become a serious IDIOT.
 
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Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

Rifleman; elevating the level of debate since 2008.
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

In 2050, residents will stare at the garage, and they'll think back to 2012, and they'll say we must have all been fucked up in the head.
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

BostonUrbEx said:
In 2050, residents will stare at the garage, and they'll think back to 2012, and they'll say we must have all been fucked up in the head.
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Urban planning in the 60s and 70s was essentially "fucked up in the head."

You have to be really fucked up in the head to build a gigantic parking garage on the waterfront, Central Artery or not...
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

I think what we'll end up seeing is the current garage pared back to the bare minimum number of spaces that Harbor Towers requires, with a new mid-rise "skin" wrapped up and around it. Personally, I'm not against this if the street level is right. I was never comfortable with the tower proposals on that front
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

They could easily bump out the existing ground level retail to the street, pop on a few more floors, re-skin the whole thing, and it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Personally, I've never really hated this building other than it being ugly as sin. There's ground level retail (albiet bumped back too far), and I'd rather have a city with a few huge garages than tons of lots. Parking's gonna happen, so it might as well be efficient.
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

Really? Couldnt give him 300-400 feet?
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

The Greenway is so underused. This development could have opened up the Greenway in a major way.
The Streetscape alone could have been unbelievable.

The BRA, The Mayor and the Greenway Conservancy are responsible for this FAILURE.

The most important parcel on the Greenway and they are busting the guys balls with 200ft. What a bunch of hypocrital fucking scumbags.

Oh we need the Greenway Tax now.......because we need to charge 8.5 Million in maintenance fees to mow the cement.

I'm sick........
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

underground said:
They could easily bump out the existing ground level retail to the street, pop on a few more floors, re-skin the whole thing, and it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. Personally, I've never really hated this building other than it being ugly as sin. There's ground level retail (albiet bumped back too far), and I'd rather have a city with a few huge garages than tons of lots. Parking's gonna happen, so it might as well be efficient.
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A CEMENT BLOCK of Parking on the Waterfront next to the Aquarium and across the street from the Greenway? Where are you orginally from Mother Russia?
 
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Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

Rifle, of all the things to get worked up about, I'm not sure this is it. A complete demo was always unlikely given the contractual obligations to Harbor Towers over parking and, I believe, some HVAC in the building. Your comment about "Streetscape" can still apply with a midrise and become as you put it "unbelievable." And, finally, you pretty much played right in to Chiofaro's media blitz despite him having few plans, little money, and shooting in the dark for a parcel which was zoned very differently than what his proposed towers required. If Chiofaro really had the money and know-how for a new tower, why wouldn't he play around Winthrop Square, or any number of other similar sites ?
 
Re: The Boston Arch (Aquarium parking garage)

TheRifleman said:
A CEMENT BLOCK of Parking on the Waterfront next to the Aquarium and across the street from the Greenway? Where are you orginally from Mother Russia?
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So, you missed the part where I said re-skinned?
 
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