Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Expansion | West End

[stellarfun]

For the moment, it seems health care is generating most of the new projects in Boston.

Mass. Eye and Ear plans expansion of campus
By Casey Ross, Globe Staff | February 27, 2010

The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is proposing a 95,000-square-foot expansion of its Boston medical campus with a new research building and additional clinical space.

The medical facility filed its proposal with Boston officials Thursday. It calls for improvements to a cluster of buildings off Charles Street, where the hospital has been gradually expanding since it was founded in 1824.

The proposal includes: A 50,000-square-foot renovation and expansion of the main clinical building at 243 Charles St.; construction of a 25,000-square-foot annex to the John Jeffries House inn on Charles Street, where the hospital wants to add retail and office space; and construction of a 90,000-square-foot research building on Cambridge Street that would replace three buildings.

A spokeswoman for Mass. Eye and Ear said the hospital has not scheduled a start date for construction and is just beginning discussions with neighbors. Approvals are needed from the Boston Redevelopment Authority and other city agencies before the work can proceed.

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/camb...7/mass_eye_and_ear_plans_expansion_of_campus/

 

[ablarc]

Re: Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary

...a 25,000-square-foot annex to the John Jeffries House inn on Charles Street, where the hospital wants to add retail and office space...

If this replaces that little John Jeffries parking lot, Charles Street's ending will be greatly improved.

 

[found5dollar]

Re: Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary

if it fixes the absolute hideousness of their main building i approve... it it just repeats the ugliness i disaprove.

 

[JohnAKeith]

Re: Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary

Apparently, they plan to go forward with previously-announced proposal.

The Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary is planning a $150 million expansion which includes three major projects.

The Boston hospital filed plans with the Boston Redevelopment Authority yesterday for additional, modern research facilities and expanded and updated clinical facilities.

The filings will propose three projects:

* A new approximately 90,000-square-foot research facility at 325 Cambridge St.
* An "annex" to the John Jeffries House on Charles Street.
* The renovation and expansion of the main clinical building at 243 Charles St.

http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/news142119.html

 

[found5dollar]

Re: Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary

there are some basic renderingson pages 43-45 here: http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/lib/download.php?uuid=0001-812ca983-4d25d6f7-aa40-4dc1c1dd

"The rehabilitation of 243 Charles Street includes the demolition of the existing 1899
building and the construction of a structure in its place approximately to the height of Mass.Eye and Ear?s main building."

Hmmm... lets see.... lets take the only building with any architectural or historical merit and tear it down to add onto, in my opinion, one of the ugliest buildings in the city.

 

[briv]

Re: Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary

^Regarding the demolition--if this is the building I'm thinking of, this does seem like a very strange move. It looks like they went through a great amount of bother to preserve the 1899 structure when the concrete midrise that now straddles it was built. There was obviously some reason for this. The preservation of this building was once important enough that MG went through those ridiculous lengths to keep it, so what has changed?

 

[found5dollar]

Re: Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary

^ exactly.

 

[stellarfun]

Re: Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary

^Regarding the demolition--if this is the building I'm thinking of, this does seem like a very strange move. It looks like they went through a great amount of bother to preserve the 1899 structure when the concrete midrise that now straddles it was built. There was obviously some reason for this. The preservation of this building was once important enough that MG went through those ridiculous lengths to keep it, so what has changed?

Googling street view, the 1899 building looks almost to be a facadectomy, tucked into the NW corner of the main MEEI building.

 

[found5dollar]

Re: Massachusettes Eye and Ear Infirmary

no, they built the tower over the building.

 

[briv]

So according to the PNF, there are three components of this expansion.

The first would demolish the historic building at 243 Charles and add onto the existing concrete midrise.

Existing buildings from Google and Bing maps:

The proposal would add additional space, elevators and a loading dock where the existing building now stands:

The second component would demolish a small block of buildings on Cambridge St. and erect a new 10-story building that would house research space and outpatient care, and contain 4000sf of retail.

Existing 308-325 Cambridge St. from Google and Bing maps:

The proposed building seems to still be in an early phase of design:

The third component would add an addition to the John Jeffries House on the site of the current surface lot on Charles St.

Existing parking lot from Google and Bing maps:

Rough design of proposal:

Not so surprisingly, the only criticism of the proposal I could find comes from neighbors of the Jeffries House who fear a loss of their views.

From a November article in the Beacon Hill Patch:

...
Project 2

The second planned project drew the most ire from residents, especially those living at West Hill Place, a condo complex sandwiched between the Charles Street Garage to the east and the John Jeffries House to the north (see our map).

Mass Eye and Ear wants to build a 25,000-square-foot building in the now vacant parking lot on the corner of Charles St. and Embankment Rd., next to Savenor's Market, the Charles Street Garage and the John Jeffries House. Mass Eye and Ear owns the parking lot, which is now mostly used by Savenor's as a loading dock.

The ground floor of the building will be used for retail space and the rest of the building will be used for administrative functions. While Mass Eye and Ear has moved much of its administrative staff to Charlestown, Robert Biggio, vice president of support services and real estate, said this building will house human resources and training facilities that employees need more immediate access to.

Residents living in the far corner of West Hill Place are concerned the building, which will abut their condos, will block light and views.

Some residents described the new building as their "worst nightmare" -- fearing the negative affects on their quality of life and property value.

Aesthetics are also an issue. "We don't have a preconceived notion of what style building it should be -- we're open to input on that," said Biggio, noting that he was aware the building would have to jibe with the aesthetics of Beacon Hill.

"That corner, to fill it in to this extent is a very, very substantial visual change. So I would urge some flexibility," said Tad Stahl, a member of the Beacon Hill Civic Association board.

Residents expressed fears that the construction would jeopardize the existence of Savenor's -- the only grocery store on Charles St. after the loss of DeLuca's Market at the other end of the street.

"Savenor's uses your parking lot for loading and unloading right now," said West Hill Place resident and stay-at-home mom Jenny Besser.

Biggio asked the group if the grocery store was very important to them and Besser and others responded with an emphatic "Absolutely!"

Other concerns included the weight of the building which some fear will compromise the foundation, built mostly on wood pilings that have given out in the past.

"I appreciate them coming to us but this has the potential to cause serious structural damage," said West Hill Place resident Mike Novak, who works in finance.

Representatives from Mass Eye and Ear said working with residents to reach an equitable solution was a top priority.

"We've thought a lot about this. It's not something that we're trying to gloss over here," said Biggio.

A Potential Compromise?

Concerned residents suggested Mass Eye and Ear add two floors to the proposed Cambridge St. building (next to the Yawkey Center) instead of erecting a new building next to the Charles Street Garage.

Even though the addition of two floors would mean the building would stand taller than surrounding structures, a show of hands indicated the majority of residents preferred a taller building on the other side of Cambridge St. to any building at all next to the Charles Street Garage.
...

 

[BostonUrbEx]

I will bow down to any of these West End hospitals if they ever build over the Storrow ramps.

 

[czsz]

It looks like they want to eliminate the last remaining traces of the old building that was enveloped by the concrete high rise addition...do I have that right?

Sad that the best part of this proposal (covering the parking lot) is the only part opposed by anyone.

 

[jass]

It looks like they want to eliminate the last remaining traces of the old building that was enveloped by the concrete high rise addition...do I have that right?

Sad that the best part of this proposal (covering the parking lot) is the only part opposed by anyone.

Yup, they need to keep all those old buildings, except for the ugly 1 story.

 

[JohnAKeith]

I love how the Patch article gives job titles to the people, as if somehow that should give weight to whether or not they are making valid points.

"Mike Hunt, who works in finance, says he fears the loss of property values."
"Julie Chen, a stay-at-home mom, worries she won't be able to buy over-priced vegetables."
"Tom Hobo, homeless, wonders where he'll pass out if the parking lot is removed."

 

[PaulC]

Project Name: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Institutional Master Plan Notification Form/Project Notification Form (IMPNF/PNF) Public Meeting 2

Project Proponent: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary

Project Description: The IMPNF/PNF describes overall campus goals and development strategies for Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary as well as proposed institutional projects including: an approximately 89,700 SF clinical, research and administration building on Cambridge Street, the 25,000 SF construction of the John Jeffries Annex building and the Charles Street Rehabilitation, which will add 50,500 SF of new space for of clinical and administrative use.

Meeting Date/ Place: 6:00-7:00 PM, February 15, 2011, 243 Charles Street in the Seventh Floor Caf?

Close of Comment Period: February 17, 2011 (extended from February 3, 2011)

http://beaconhilltimes.com/2011/01/...ion-plans-draw-fiery-response-from-neighbors/

Mass. Eye and Ear Expansion Plans Draw Fiery Response from Neighbors
January 25, 2011
By Beacon Hill Times Staff
By Dan Murphy

The proposed expansion of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary campus drew a fiery response Wednesday as neighbors asserted that the process lacked sufficient public feedback.

?You need the input of the community. Without that, you?ll have a disaster,? Beacon Hill resident Peter Thomson said at the public meeting, sponsored by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA).

According to Bob Biggio, the hospital?s vice president of development of facilities, the expansion would consist of three projects, including a new approximately research facility at 325 Cambridge St. to replace of three outdated buildings at 307-311 Cambridge St. and 313 Cambridge St.; an annex to the John Jeffries House on Charles Street; and the renovation and expansion of the main clinical building at 243 Charles St. The proposal would result in 125,000 square-feet of net growth for the hospital.

State Rep. Marty Walz called the planned expansion ?incremental? and ?lacking in vision,? adding that the hospital should have allowed the public to vet alternatives to the proposal before the public comment period ends on Feb. 17.

?How can we collaborate when we don?t know what the alternatives are to what exists?? Walz asked hospital officials. ?Don?t do it backwards because you?re just making things harder on yourselves.?

Beacon Hill Civic Association (BHCA) Chair John Achatz expressed concern over the project?s impact on parking.

?Not necessarily that every problem needs to be solved, but you need to address long-term parking,? Achatz said. ?I think there are some big issues we have to come to grip with.?

Several in attendance expressed concern that the John Jeffries annex would obstruct access to a loading dock, located at the rear of Savenor?s Market.

Biggio named Savenor?s as a possible tenant at the Jeffries annex, countering claims that neighbors were opposed to new retail space at that location.

?We?ve heard a lot of support for that site, and that retail space is desired by Beacon Hill residents,? Biggio said.

BRA Senior Project Manager Sonal Gandhi urged neighbors to submit their opinions in writing to the city on the project.

?Part of the process is to gather input,? Gandhi said. ?I encourage you very strongly to talk to us.?

Written comments can be submitted by Feb. 17 to:

Ms. Sonal Gandhi

Boston Redevelopment Authority

One City Hall Square

Boston, MA 02201

 

[Mayor Menino's Crohn's]

"Mike Hunt, who works in finance, says he fears the loss of property values."
"Julie Chen, a stay-at-home mom, worries she won't be able to buy over-priced vegetables."
"Tom Hobo, homeless, wonders where he'll pass out if the parking lot is removed."

^^^^
I would just like to ship these NIMBY's to China (yes I have been picking on China; for good reason), I gurrantee that they will come back and never argue with any BRA proposal again.

 

[Ron Newman]

The impact on Savenor's is a valid issue -- no neighborhood wants to risk losing a grocer. The other stuff seems pretty minor in comparison.

 

[jass]

This building must be saved

I dont know if this is eye and ear or mgh...but how do ambulances get here? It was a very slow moving parking lot!

 

[Tango]

This is the Founders Building of MGH. Ambulances may go here or at other places around the hospital campus to pick up or drop off patients who are not having an emergency but need to travel by ambulance only because of a fragile medical condition. It helps to ease traffic at the front entrance.

 

[blade_bltz]

^^^ This whole MEEI (potential) fiasco makes me hate Boston. But this is a good blog post:

http://www.universalhub.com/2011/beacon-hill-residents-dont-see-eye-ear-over-hospit