Charles River Park | West End

atlantaden said:
Frankly, many people prefer brand spanking new and are willing to pay the price for it especially if comparables are years older and have outdated interiors.
Click to expand...

Older and outdated like the majority of CRP?

I'd love to see the whole mess replaced with a new, dense neighborhood that restores the streetgrid and just generally opens up the area so that it's no longer the Lesotho of Boston.
 
yesterday
327-2.jpg
342-1.jpg
315-2.jpg
343-1.jpg
 
itchy said:
Older and outdated like the majority of CRP?
Click to expand...

I'm referring to the new construction in CRP; as Pelhamhall wrote earlier, the new building was fully leased prior to opening. Also, if I remember correctly, the residents of CRP fought Equity Residential tooth and nail against further density/construction/loss of green space for years before the 300+ units were eventually agreed upon and built. The result is what the residents/tenants demanded not what makes good urban design. This isn't surprising since this sort of thing happens over and over again in Boston. Columbus Center is the latest example. Ned F., like the older residents of CRP are happy with the results in their neighborhoods, but the results sure are big negatives for the rest of the city.
 
The one redeeming feature of that photo is the Nashua St Park. If you've never strolled through it on a sunny day, do so. 10 years ago that bank on the Charles was dump.
 
God do i hate Mass Eye and Ear.


Look at it. sitting there all smug, gobbling up a small, beautiful building.
 
Man, those three story units.... They tear down a neighborhood of 3 and 4 story buildings, put in towers in the park, and then put in much uglier 3 story buildings that are a mockery of the previous ones. They're worse than a mockery because they're insincere and insulting. What's more they manage to be both low-rise AND towers in the park at the same time. Just infuriating.
 
Those three story units are 1940-50s public housing in contemporary 'luxury' finish drag.
 
God, this city is so lacking in open space. Look how that housing is densely packed, between the buffer landscaping, open fields, and meandering gardens.
 
Joe_Schmoe said:
Man, those three story units.... They tear down a neighborhood of 3 and 4 story buildings, put in towers in the park, and then put in much uglier 3 story buildings that are a mockery of the previous ones. They're worse than a mockery because they're insincere and insulting. What's more they manage to be both low-rise AND towers in the park at the same time. Just infuriating.
Click to expand...

It's really quite impressive when you put it that way. It is basically ever bad urban planning theory of the last 50 years put into practice in one small development.
 
They're worse than a mockery because they're insincere and insulting
Click to expand...
Kinda melodramatic. They are at least human scale and the lower levels aren't blank walls, vents and loading docks (see the seaport district). There is more space for infill and those parks could evolve into streets.
 
How long have you lived in Boston? Parks don't "evolve" into anything. They are untouchable.

Has a Boston park EVER reverted to any other use? I don't count the building of roads and highways through them.
 
14 years. What was there before those buildings? I shouldn't have used the word park. Grassy landscaped areas.
 
Last edited:
Shattuck State Hospital was built inside Franklin Park. I'd love to see it someday removed, as I'm sure Olmsted would not have approved this.

Also, didn't Madison Park High School replace a park with that name (as well as lots of neighborhood streets and houses)?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top