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

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statler said:
I would love to see the Aquarium redone, but I still think that even in it's current condition it is a major asset for the city and the city would be worse without it.

Honestly the waterfront is mostly boring as fuck. The NEA is probably the most interesting thing there. Take that away it it's...a nice walk? Kinda?
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I agree with you that the Aquarium could be a major Asset. But these lazy executives need to step up and build something of some value to the city.
Start raising money for their vision and incorporate it with chiofaro's development.

The current aquarium is garbage. There is a major opportunity here with Chiofaro willing to build something of substance.

CHIOFARO has the vision for the area. The only solution Harbor Towers and the Aquarium have is KEEP THE GARAGE and their inground pool from blocking access to the waterfront.

FUCK THEM.
 
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statler said:
I would love to see the Aquarium redone, but I still think that even in it's current condition it is a major asset for the city and the city would be worse without it.

Honestly the waterfront is mostly boring as fuck. The NEA is probably the most interesting thing there. Take that away it it's...a nice walk? Kinda?
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I agree with this. I walked down SF's Fisherman's Wharf and Embarcadero and the whole area is packed with activity because SF made them into destinations. The waterfront in Boston? Well Boston's idea of a waterfront destination is creating a boardwalk for people to stare into the water for hours which is more closer to 5 minutes. If Boston can translate Faneuil Hall into the waterfront, then the waterfront is a place worth visiting.
 
If you ask me, the only "must see" part of the Harborwalk is the stretch between Carson Beach and UMass Boston. Park at the beach, walk out towards JFK, and when you get tired turn around and you're treated with a great skyline view on the walk back. Then keep going the other way and climb the hill to get another great view from Dorchester Heights Monument. (the park, not the monument itself)

The Harborwalk by the Courthouse is also nice but we are talking a ~100 meter stretch here.

Otherwise, it couldn't be any less special if it tried. This development has the ability to change that, if given a fair opportunity.
 
bigeman312 said:
You should check out the new Lovejoy Wharf stretch.
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I know they recently moved Converse there but besides the view of the Zakim bridge, the area looks pretty sketchy. It's much better when you cross over to Charlestown to Paul Revere park and into Cambridge.
 
Someone should start a Go Fund Me drive for Chiofaro, ---given that the last report was that the BRA is no longer discussing development of the site with him.
 
This has become a classic Boston spite fest, years in the making. It started with Menino's autocratic, kiss-my-ring heavy handedness and has metastasized into the intractability of aquarium and HT objections. Chiofaro's general vagueness and combative personality just throws more gasoline on the fire. Get some adults into this process please and make this project happen.
 
tangent said:
The Aquarium has invested millions in their current location since Menino blocked the relocation. They get good numbers on how many people use the garage when they visit. Members get validated for a small discount, so they know.

The Aquarium IS what enlivens the waterfront, not condos.
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They do? I was told specifically by Aquarium employees that they do NOT validate that garage.
 
The point upthread about our Harborwalk being mostly a chance to look at...water, can be contrasted with Baltimore which has done a much better job of massing its attractions in a single sweep actually ON THE WATER'S EDGE:
  • Maryland Science Center (their smaller MOS) is on the harbor next to
  • Harborplace (their scratch-built Quincy Market) is on the harbor next to
  • USS Constellation (their faux USS Constituttion) is on the water next to
  • USS Torsk (a submarine) is on the water next to
  • National Aquarium (their better NEAQ) is on a pier next to
  • Wharf/Loft/Redone buildings with lots of character
All with their convention center and MLB ball park within 3 blocks.

I think I'd rather move the Aquarium to the Science Park stop on the Nashua St waterfront (either on the Suffolk Jail site or across Nashua St from it) and leave the future Central Station to maxed out office towers.
 
Arlington said:
I think I'd rather move the Aquarium to the Science Park stop on the Nashua St waterfront (either on the Suffolk Jail site or across Nashua St from it) and leave the future Central Station to maxed out office towers.
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Not to derail into NSRL, but if the link has a half chance of getting built, the Central Station concept will probably get the axe...
 
BussesAin'tTrains said:
Not to derail into NSRL, but if the link has a half chance of getting built, the Central Station concept will probably get the axe...
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Well, it deserves to be axed if it only has the Aquarium, garage, and Long Wharf Marriott sitting on top of it.

But if a second Red Line tunnel gets run on 2 out of 4 NSRL tracks, from say JFK-SS-CS-NS-Union-Porter, then Central Station and a cluster of tall buildings (Chiofaro, Gov Cen Garage, etc) make a whole lotta sense.
 
For all of you imagining a moved and rebuilt aquarium, to be competitive in the market, it would realistically need to compare favorably to the Georgia Aquarium. It was built on donated land at appx. $300,000,000 in 2005 dollars.
 
For the record, for as big of a POS the Aquarium garage is visual wise, it's also incredibly expensive. I would love to see some dynamite level this thing, and the Harbor towers with it, while we're at it. This could be an incredible wharf/plaza.

I like the idea of a skyscraper, but it cannot be too large base wise. 600 feet and fairly thin sounds great.
 
Arlington said:
The point upthread about our Harborwalk being mostly a chance to look at...water, can be contrasted with Baltimore which has done a much better job of massing its attractions in a single sweep actually ON THE WATER'S EDGE:........
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On the flip side, most out Baltimore outside of the Inner Harbor is positively dreadful. Don't wander more than a block or 2 away!

Then it turns out, despite all its accolades, the aquarium in Baltimore doesn't have any penguins! So, score a point for Boston over Baltimore. They also have a "4D" movie theater there that is akin to torture.

My end point is, let's not compare Boston to Baltimore for any reason whatsoever. We have the better city, the better skyline, the better sports teams, better colleges... frankly we almost have a better everything. The inner harbor isn't even that big anyway. It's literally the one thing they have going for them down there.
 
They put up a new project website: www.harborgarageproject.com

There are no new renderings but a tantalizing note: "Exciting new details coming soon! Sign up to be the first to see them."

I think other developers could take note that this is how civic engagement should be done in 2016, there's still a lot of foam-core boards and wonky powerpoint slides out there.
 
Mike02125 said:
They put up a new project website: www.harborgarageproject.com

There are no new renderings but a tantalizing note: "Exciting new details coming soon! Sign up to be the first to see them."

I think other developers could take note that this is how civic engagement should be done in 2016, there's still a lot of foam-core boards and wonky powerpoint slides out there.
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I don't believe the current website is new. I recall seeing it circa 2014.. The renderings are out-of-date. IIRC, this version was launched about the time Chiofaro came out with the four seasons open space, and there was going to be tennis, or basketball, or ice skating between the two towers. It in turn was succeeded by the beach, cabanas, and pool on the south side presentation, which was short-lived.

The Commonwealth shot down the 'open space', saying it did not meet Chapter 91.

The last reports were that the city was now talking with Prudential, and Chiofaro was out of the picture.
 
Mike02125 said:
They put up a new project website: www.harborgarageproject.com

There are no new renderings but a tantalizing note: "Exciting new details coming soon! Sign up to be the first to see them."

I think other developers could take note that this is how civic engagement should be done in 2016, there's still a lot of foam-core boards and wonky powerpoint slides out there.
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They've been spamming Facebook with "support us" stuff too.
 
Nope, it's a brand new site, launched last week - I'm involved with the development of the website (but I do not work for Chiofaro Company).

In just the brief time that it's launched, the feedback and support numbers are truly astounding. We are doing our best to get the word out!

This is just too important of a site for all Bostonians to let it turn into another Seaport box (and I can say that because my offices are in one of those Seaport boxes!)

Mike
 
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