Hall of Shame (CHOOSE 3)

[briv]

REMEMBER TO CHOOSE 3!

Polls close 11:59pm on Mon Feb. 25.

A list of all previous winners can be found here: http://www.archboston.org/awards/

In no particular order:

1. Warren Towers

2. McCarthy Overpass

3. Landmark Center

4. Former Middlesex County Court House and Jail

5. Melnea Cass Blvd

6. Charles River Park/West End

7. Constitution Center

8. Winthrop Square garage

9. Former HoJos in Kenmore square

10. One Beacon

11. Mass Eye and Ear

12. Harbor Towers

13. 1-2-3 Center Plaza

14. Boston walk signals

15. The Pike extension

16. The "Surface Artery" between South Station and Chinatown.

17. One Exeter Plaza

18. Rutherford Ave

19. BUMC Ambulatory Center

20. Commonwealth Avenue through Allston/Brighton

21. Orange Line Relocation

 

[datadyne007]

Whoopsies, the Landmark Center pic is of One Beacon.

 

[czsz]

How the hell did the Ames Building make the Hall of Fame before the Winthrop?

Also, half these nominees don't deserve this (dis)honor. I love how Comm. Ave. in Allston extends the feeling of the city center deep into its outskirts with its dense apartment blocks and trolley tracks. And Landmark Center is a handsome building; if the complaint is about the lot out front, it belongs in Worst Empty Lots.

 

[Ron Newman]

Photo #2 is not the McCarthy Overpass. It looks to me like southbound Fellsway (MA 28) approaching I-93 just beyond Assembly Square.

 

[Matthew]

Remember to choose 3? More like: I can only choose 3? Damn.

As for Comm Ave in Brighton I thought the shame was in its decrepit condition. The extension of density into Brighton is a good thing, but that was built up before WWII. Since then it's been falling apart, and zoning won't allow the kind of construction as-of-right that was done there in the past.

 

[DZH22]

6, 13, 16

 

[czsz]

As for Comm Ave in Brighton I thought the shame was in its decrepit condition. The extension of density into Brighton is a good thing, but that was built up before WWII. Since then it's been falling apart, and zoning won't allow the kind of construction as-of-right that was done there in the past.

I think the candidate should be more specific then - "the decrepit condition of Comm Ave" in Brighton.

I still wouldn't vote for it, though. I'd rather fix bad urbanism than simply make good urbanism prettier.

 

[Ron Newman]

I can't see 1-2-3 Center Plaza as an appropriate candidate for this list. It provides a continuous row of occupied storefronts, its rounded shape mirrors the Sears Crescent across the street, and it's about the only building in Government Center that doesn't fail at urbanism.

 

[Matthew]

I think the candidate should be more specific then - "the decrepit condition of Comm Ave" in Brighton.

I still wouldn't vote for it, though. I'd rather fix bad urbanism than simply make good urbanism prettier.

I meant more than just looks. It's a 6 lane road that carries the traffic of a 2 lane road. The majority of Comm Ave's users are on foot but get treated as pins in a bowling game. That's the shame of it.

I think there's worse on this list though.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

This is too freakin' difficult to pick just 3....

 

[kz1000ps]

Why the heck is Landmark Center on this list?

 

[Proposition Joe]

Why the heck is Landmark Center on this list?

Because someone said that their friend said that it, "reminded them of New Jersey"

No joke

 

[timsox6]

4, 13, 19. Buildings that-- every time I pass them-- I just think: what were they thinking? The Govn't Center plaza building does a great job of totally blocking some very nice buildings behind it.

 

[Coyote137]

1, 4, 11. 1 and 4 were easy choices. I was going to pick Comm. Ave, but y'all convinced me not to.

 

[underground]

The Govn't Center plaza building does a great job of totally blocking some very nice buildings behind it.

That's the Adams Courthouse. Blocking it really should be a hanging crime.

 

[davem]

I agree =)

(More with this in a week or so, still working on it)

 

[czsz]

^ I like your layout but disagree with street width and wonder why you think replacing City Hall Plaza with "Pemberton Plaza" of the same size makes any sense. Because the courthouse makes a nicer focal point for a square?

 

[bosdevelopment]

Why is Comm Ave in Allston/Brighton on the list?

 

[jpdibenedetto]

Every time I look at One Beacon I just couldn't imagine the thought process when erecting this building. Even in 1971 you would think architects would want to future proof a building in some capacity and erecting an off brown building with black windows that's a perfect rectangular block which now a large beacon sits atop. Architecture wise, placement, and prominence in the city will always make this my most hated building regardless of how many Kensingtons go up.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

Why is Comm Ave in Allston/Brighton on the list?

A wide highway ROW with the highway separated from a parking strip by an impenetrable trolley reservation. And those curves... terrible.