Punched windows without any articulation add weight with none of the gravitas. All the misalignment and Bolling Building curves can't save it from looking like the old Malden City Hall.
Foreground left, left to right: entrances to Pond Ave., Villa Lane, Walter Ave., the begining of today's Brook House expanse. Foreground right, right to left: houses from #5 - 27 Washington St. followed by th entrance of Brookline Ave.
Looking east on Washington St. (Rt. 9) toward the Boston line, Brookline Ave. to the left. Huntington Line of the Boston Elevated Railway. Source
"Welcome to the Brookline Commercial Architecture Museum. On the left you will find a fine example of post-dot com era Kendall Square elegance. On the right, you find a mid-80's brown-glass-on-brick specimen, seen in such glorious places, such as the Lotus Software building and far-off, exotic locales, like Burlington and Waltham."
Between this, the hotel across the street, and the eventual development of the rest of the Emerald Island parcels heading towards Brookline Ice and Coal, this area will look very different in a few years
Not sure of specific plans but an employee of the dog place said that once the hotel is finished they expect to be moving. The owner/developer of the hotel also owns their build and has given them a heads-up.