I see talk of "real" cities. I see talk of a number of criteria that make a city. I question it.
While we can say that Boston may be better off than it was in the 70's, on a number of levels, It has also lost a sense of self.
There are any number of pros and cons in the last 30 odd years. For me what makes a city it's own color, and life.
I enjoy walking the Common at night without fear, or a knife. I don't like busses with Bacardi banners in vinyl on them, or rubberstamp architecture.
The greenway is a plus. that facades are being incorporated into towers is a plus also, from my perspective.
I am into towers, but not just to have towers. I like things to work in the context of a neighborhood, or the skyline, or sometimes just to fit an aesthetic.
There is a vibrance, a pulse, even a poignance. There is a line on what to leave, what to take, and what to build on. That is often lost, sometimes ignored, and generally paid little more than lip service to in our city.
Hotels are nice, but dives have life. While that may sound callous, or naive, it is a broad brush stroke. Boston needs to consider Bostonians. It needs a reason to go in town, to keep the streets alive.
Please excuse the tangent. But 70's had people on the street after 8. Not Cabs waiting for fares to where something is actually happening.
While we can say that Boston may be better off than it was in the 70's, on a number of levels, It has also lost a sense of self.
There are any number of pros and cons in the last 30 odd years. For me what makes a city it's own color, and life.
I enjoy walking the Common at night without fear, or a knife. I don't like busses with Bacardi banners in vinyl on them, or rubberstamp architecture.
The greenway is a plus. that facades are being incorporated into towers is a plus also, from my perspective.
I am into towers, but not just to have towers. I like things to work in the context of a neighborhood, or the skyline, or sometimes just to fit an aesthetic.
There is a vibrance, a pulse, even a poignance. There is a line on what to leave, what to take, and what to build on. That is often lost, sometimes ignored, and generally paid little more than lip service to in our city.
Hotels are nice, but dives have life. While that may sound callous, or naive, it is a broad brush stroke. Boston needs to consider Bostonians. It needs a reason to go in town, to keep the streets alive.
Please excuse the tangent. But 70's had people on the street after 8. Not Cabs waiting for fares to where something is actually happening.
