Downtown Waterfront MHP

[Equilibria]

Started a new thread for this because it touches on three developments at the same time (and because the Aquarium thread was reasonably locked some time ago). Draft Downtown Waterfront MHP is out:

http://www.bostonredevelopmentautho...anning/draft-downtown-waterfront-mhp-2016-9-6

Highlights:

- Aquarium Garage is given a height limit of 585' to highest floor and 600' structural (or whatever the FAA height limit is). Development cannot cast additional shadows on Long Wharf (groan) and has to be "exceptional". Remediation includes renovated public access on Old Atlantic Avenue - I'm not sure if that means the vehicular stretch adjacent to the site or the pedestrian segment that runs behind the garage.

- James Hook and Co. site is given a height limit of 285' to highest floor and 305' structural. This one seems like tacit approval of the specific proposal that's already been made. Remediation includes over-water pedestrian connection (i.e., under the Moakley Bridge) to Independence Wharf and the Intercontinental Hotel.

They also touch on the Marriott Long Wharf in some detail. All other projects are limited to 20' above the height of current buildings or 200', whichever is lower.

 

[bigpicture7]

^Well, at initial scan, this seems to heed the call for a "comprehensive plan for the entire waterfront instead of one-off approvals" issued by critics of the previous Chiofaro discourse at city hall.

Let's hope this is an impetus for reasonableness by all parties and a re-initiation of forward progress. That Hook site, in particular, is rapidly decomposing...a bit of an embarrassment as one walks over the Moakley bridge from the shiney new seaport.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

and has to be "exceptional".

But not "iconic" -- iconic buildings are strictly forbidden.

 

[tysmith95]

600 ft is totally reasonable for the harbor garage. It dosn't look like this plan addresses a gsf limit which looks promising.