Best New Development of 2011

[briv]

Please choose one. Polls close 11:59pm on March 01.

A list of all previous winners can be found here: http://www.archboston.org/awards/

In no particular order:

1. Liberty Wharf - THREAD

2. Atlantic Wharf - THREAD
(photo:Bruce T. Martin)

3. 691 Mass Ave. - THREAD

4. Harbor Islands Pavilion - THREAD
(photo: kz1000ps)

5. Hubway Bicycle Implementation - THREAD

6. Whittier Health Clinic - THREAD

 

[kz1000ps]

The Hubway choice really throws me off.....on one hand I think Liberty Wharf is the clear architectural winner, but the Hubway program has had way more of an impact on overall city life.

Just thinking aloud here, but perhaps next year it'd be worth creating a new poll for best quality-of-life improvements?

 

[found5dollar]

^ Thats what I think makes these awards, and this website, so interesting. The mix of architecture, urban planning, and urban quality of life stuff make a really rich variety of nominees. I to had a hard time choosing between hubway and liberty wharf, but I think that is how it should be.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

The Hubway choice really throws me off.....on one hand I think Liberty Wharf is the clear architectural winner, but the Hubway program has had way more of an impact on overall city life.

Just thinking aloud here, but perhaps next year it'd be worth creating a new poll for best quality-of-life improvements?

Yeah, I was coming into this thread expecting to choose Liberty Wharf, but Hubway stole my vote. I'm not sure we need a separate category, though, as per found5dollar's reasoning.

 

[czsz]

Agree with found5; it means something when an infrastructure/QOL improvement can top an architectural one.

Besides, what else would have gone in that category with Hubway?

 

[briv]

What held the Hubway system back in my view was the careless placement of some of the racks. The BPL rack was particularly bad. It was placed perpendicular to the sidewalk rather than parallel to it, creating an annoying obstacle which bottlenecked the very busy corner at Dartmouth and Boylston. The racks have been removed for the winter and hopefully when they return they'll be placed more thoughtfully.

 

[kz1000ps]

Agree with found5; it means something when an infrastructure/QOL improvement can top an architectural one.

Besides, what else would have gone in that category with Hubway?

The opening of the seaport Remy's??

 

[bdurden]

I have to go with Liberty Wharf -- a single development that has significantly altered the Seaport landscape and experience for the better.

Honorable mention to Hubway but it has shortcomings. Other cities have done it better (Paris, Miami Beach, Barcelona).

691 Mass Ave, Atlantic Wharf, Harbor Pavillion (struggle with this one a bit) -- decent infill.

Whittier -- why is this on the list at all? Bulky, awkward landscaper.

 

[czsz]

Other cities have done it better (Paris, Miami Beach, Barcelona)

Agreed, but other cities have done waterfront restaurants and infill better as well...

 

[bdurden]

^Apples to Oranges. The bicycle sharing program is tried and tested. I'm sure it'll improve over time with the addition of stations and cities to provide a more comprehensive experience. There is nothing wrong with it, really, but best new development?

Liberty Wharf broke the Seaport mold. It doesn't matter if there are better versions of it somewhere else.

 

[whighlander]

My vote is for Atlantic Wharf -- I think that it can be the Rowe's Wharf of the 20 teens -- its especially important because it combines:

1) preservation of the existing nice streetscape of the old Russia Wharf facades
2) important location on the Fort Point Channel and the Harbor Walk
3) important location on the Greenway
4) a good mix of uses
5) some interesting architectural features both inside an out
6) could serve as a model for Millennium Crossing

 

[blade_bltz]

I love that the Harbor Island Pavilions and Whittier HC made this list. World class.

But seriously, there were literally no other contenders? When was the Dana Farber building finished? What about that infinitely more mundane MGH building? Anything??

 

[palindrome]

I love that the Harbor Island Pavilions and Whittier HC made this list. World class.

But seriously, there were literally no other contenders? When was the Dana Farber building finished? What about that infinitely more mundane MGH building? Anything??

Dana Farber came in second place last year.

http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=3758

 

[Ron Newman]

IWhat about that infinitely more mundane MGH building? Anything??

If you mean the MGH museum, it is not yet open and therefore not eligible for the 2011 awards. We can nominate it next year.

 

[Ron Newman]

Anyone know where to find the discussion threads that preceded this poll (and produced its nominations)?

 

[datadyne007]

Anyone know where to find the discussion threads that preceded this poll (and produced its nominations)?

Yeah, I must have been snoozing or something when Whittier was nominated. Seriously, dubya-tee-eff.

 

[briv]

Ron, I temporarily removed the nominations thread just to avoid confusion while the final voting is up. I'll put it back when the polls close.

Regarding the Harbor Islands Pavilion and Whittier: What can I say, it's been one of those years.