Four Seasons Tower @ CSC | 1 Dalton Street | Back Bay

It's a pretty uninspiring streetscape. Although much better than the (considerably less exclusive) Ink Block. But here's hoping this project inspires improvement in the opposite side. It's going to be hard to change what's there. Although one can dream about getting rid of the hideous and inappropriate PF Chang or maybe even a redevelopment. I think the best that can be hoped for is more planting and some decent restaurant or such from this building and the adjacent Dalton.
 
I attended meetings for Copley Place, but am not involved in the project at all. If anything, I believe Seamus was involved at some point (CDs made it to 90% before being changed? irrc?), but don't quote me on it.

My old company is working on it. I actually saw the folks working on it last night and didn't ask. D'oh!

They were wrapping up schematic Christmas 2013. Then it sat for a while. I think they were at DD level sometime around last summer, and thought they may have been issuing some early bid packs for the podium/site work, but this is all from a cloudy memory.
 
Correct me if I am wrong but the street activity at this site should be virtually non-existent because of the Christian Science restrictive covenant that no alcohol be sold/consumed on the ground level. If my memory is accurate, any restaurant/bar space would have to be on the second floor or above. Other than a valet and a bunch of $100,000+ vehicles, I doubt we see much at the street level here.
 
Fenway -- have you set foot in the other Four Seasons?

No one is going to spend the money it takes to have a room in a Four Seasons without it being comfortable and accommodating and offering a number of dining experiences

That depends. There's already an abundant number of dining experience within the Pru and Boylston so it's possible that there may not be many in the Four Seasons itself.
 
That depends. There's already an abundant number of dining experience within the Pru and Boylston so it's possible that there may not be many in the Four Seasons itself.

Plus the footprint of this building is so small there really isn't space for more than one restaurant on top of the hotel lobby and the resident's lobby.
 
Correct me if I am wrong but the street activity at this site should be virtually non-existent because of the Christian Science restrictive covenant that no alcohol be sold/consumed on the ground level. If my memory is accurate, any restaurant/bar space would have to be on the second floor or above. Other than a valet and a bunch of $100,000+ vehicles, I doubt we see much at the street level here.

Not sure if you are referencing my post. I was mostly referring to the opposite side of the street. And mostly to improvements to the streetscape. So hopefully the overall character of the street is improved including the Sheraton side.

From this BBJ article it doesn't say anything about excluding a restaurant only a bar/liquor store.

The site plan that the developer submitted to the Boston Civic Commission shows a cafe, retail and lobby spaces in addition to a pocket park, pedestrian way and streetscape. The presentation includes may other views of the street.

EVLC4yN.png


Is this an improved streetscape? Compared to the parking lot, deteriorating garage entrance etc, Yes. Is it better than the 3 mature beautiful linden trees, no. But given development is happening it looks like an improvement to me.

Hopefully the pedestrian intersection of Dalton/Belvedere is improved as it is very dangerous with many tourists, an unclear stop at Dalton and an unclear traffic pattern and speeding taxi cut through for Belvedere continuing west.
 
Not sure if you are referencing my post. I was mostly referring to the opposite side of the street. And mostly to improvements to the streetscape. So hopefully the overall character of the street is improved including the Sheraton side.

From this BBJ article it doesn't say anything about excluding a restaurant only a bar/liquor store.

The site plan that the developer submitted to the Boston Civic Commission shows a cafe, retail and lobby spaces in addition to a pocket park, pedestrian way and streetscape. The presentation includes may other views of the street.

EVLC4yN.png


Is this an improved streetscape? Compared to the parking lot, deteriorating garage entrance etc, Yes. Is it better than the 3 mature beautiful linden trees, no. But given development is happening it looks like an improvement to me.

Hopefully the pedestrian intersection of Dalton/Belvedere is improved as it is very dangerous with many tourists, an unclear stop at Dalton and an unclear traffic pattern and speeding taxi cut through for Belvedere continuing west.

See http://www.archboston.org/community/showpost.php?p=215841&postcount=796. Seems like no ground floor patio that serves alcohol.
 
Is this an improved streetscape? Compared to the parking lot, deteriorating garage entrance etc, Yes. Is it better than the 3 mature beautiful linden trees, no.

Looks like they're replacing 3 trees with 17.
 
I wonder if those awesome curved elevators in the hotel lobby have survived in the CDs.
 
Go to this link for a NECN story on the groundbreaking, including some renderings in the video on that page that I haven't seen before.
 
You can see high resolution images of the project on the Pei Cobb Freed and Partners website here. Sorry that I don't have time to paste any images here now.
 
FYI, it's best to rehost images like that on imgur and then post them. Hotlinking from the website is a bad idea because they can just change the link on you or remove the images themselves, and the images will be broken on this page.

It's generally considered rude too, because you are using their bandwidth for a site that isn't theirs.

EDIT: Oh and if the website admin is particularly mean (I doubt a professional architect website would do this) they change the links on their own page and change the link you are using to graphic pornography.
 
Last edited:
Next person to use the phrase "dining experiences" is my early nomination for the 2015 aB douche of the year award.
 
FYI, it's best to rehost images like that on imgur and then post them. Hotlinking from the website is a bad idea because they can just change the link on you or remove the images themselves, and the images will be broken on this page.

It's generally considered rude too, because you are using their bandwidth for a site that isn't theirs.

EDIT: Oh and if the website admin is particularly mean (I doubt a professional architect website would do this) they change the links on their own page and change the link you are using to graphic pornography.

Mongo -- there's just one problem with your advice -- if you own the image feel free -- however, if you don't own it or have legitimate permission for use -- then you should
a) provide a link to the source
b) hot link with some credit [embedded or otherwise]

Both of the above are considered fair use of the copyright material as long as the use is not for profit

Anything else is considered violation of copyright unless the material is explicitly public domain
 
Groundbreaking story:

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/r...wishes-and-caviar-dreams-at-four-seasons.html

Ice sculptures! Caviar! Tuxedos! Any pictures of the spotlights from around the city out there?

From the Biz Jrl story -- not everyday you see a 61 story ice scupture

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/r...wishes-and-caviar-dreams-at-four-seasons.html

http://media.bizj.us/view/img/4829721/photo-jan-14-6-46-40-pm*600.jpg

It was Cristal champagne wishes and caviar dreams at 1 Dalton St. in Boston Wednesday evening, the site of an opulent groundbreaking for the 61-story, $750 million Four Seasons Hotel and residences.
 

Back
Top