Hall of Shame (CHOOSE 3)

Hall of Shame Vote- CHOOSE THREE! (see photos below)

  • 1. Warren Towers

    Votes: 7 10.3%
  • 2. McCarthy Overpass (WINNER - 3rd)

    Votes: 17 25.0%
  • 3. Landmark Center

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • 4. Former Middlesex County Court House and Jail

    Votes: 14 20.6%
  • 5. Melnea Cass Blvd (WINNER - 1st)

    Votes: 22 32.4%
  • 6. Charles River Park/West End (WINNER - 2nd)

    Votes: 18 26.5%
  • 7. Constitution Center

    Votes: 11 16.2%
  • 8. Winthrop Square garage

    Votes: 14 20.6%
  • 9. Former HoJos in Kenmore square

    Votes: 8 11.8%
  • 10. One Beacon

    Votes: 10 14.7%
  • 11. Mass Eye and Ear

    Votes: 11 16.2%
  • 12. Harbor Towers

    Votes: 10 14.7%
  • 13. 1-2-3 Center Plaza

    Votes: 11 16.2%
  • 14. Boston walk signals

    Votes: 6 8.8%
  • 15. The Pike extension

    Votes: 4 5.9%
  • 16. The "Surface Artery" between South Station and Chinatown.

    Votes: 8 11.8%
  • 17. One Exeter Plaza

    Votes: 9 13.2%
  • 18. Rutherford Ave

    Votes: 10 14.7%
  • 19. BUMC Ambulatory Center

    Votes: 5 7.4%
  • 20. Commonwealth Avenue through Allston/Brighton

    Votes: 5 7.4%
  • 21. Orange Line Relocation

    Votes: 5 7.4%

  • Total voters
    68

briv

Senior Member
Joined
May 25, 2006
Messages
2,083
Reaction score
3
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
800px-Warren_Towers_zps5ce66b6c.jpg


2. McCarthy Overpass
Mcgrath.jpg


3. Landmark Center
landmark_center_zpsf77d62e2.jpg


4. Former Middlesex County Court House and Jail
dsc01538_zpsad5ee9bd.jpg


5. Melnea Cass Blvd
melneacass.jpg


6. Charles River Park/West End
Charles-River-Park_zpscc1a969b.jpg


7. Constitution Center
constitution_center-436x302_zps62c93201.png


8. Winthrop Square garage
WinthropSquareGarage_zps1e728097.jpg


9. Former HoJos in Kenmore square
585_comm_ave_zps5f3613df.jpg


10. One Beacon
372px-One_Beacon_Street_zps4a8b08a8.jpg


11. Mass Eye and Ear
mgh_charles_st_gstreetv.jpg


12. Harbor Towers
1024px-HarborTowers3_Boston_2009.jpg


13. 1-2-3 Center Plaza
123_center_plaza_gstreetv.jpg


14. Boston walk signals
0510_walk-buttons-630x472_zpsc3ead7c3.jpg


15. The Pike extension

16. The "Surface Artery" between South Station and Chinatown.
surface_road_zps14a24885.jpg


17. One Exeter Plaza
darth_vader_one_exeter_plaza_gstreetv.jpg


18. Rutherford Ave
rutherford_ave_zpsae3216da.jpg


19. BUMC Ambulatory Center
bumc_yawkee_ambulatory_gstreetv.jpg


20. Commonwealth Avenue through Allston/Brighton
comm_ave_allston_zps4f3693c1.jpg


21. Orange Line Relocation
Boston-MBTA-Map-2001-metro-maps-46863_1024_1022_zps2104a7c3.gif
 
Whoopsies, the Landmark Center pic is of One Beacon.
 
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.
 
Photo #2 is not the McCarthy Overpass. It looks to me like southbound Fellsway (MA 28) approaching I-93 just beyond Assembly Square.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Why the heck is Landmark Center on this list?
 
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.
 
1, 4, 11. 1 and 4 were easy choices. I was going to pick Comm. Ave, but y'all convinced me not to.
 
I agree =)
Downtown_zpsc1690392.jpg


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

Back
Top