Millennium Tower (Filene's) | 426 Washington Street | Downtown

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Re: Filene's

It just proves that being a developer that TIMING is everything. Just look at HYNES on the Lincoln Deal. More like a residential Flip.

If Hynes was influential he could make this happen. Nothing more than Second rate developer.
 
Re: Filene's

pelhamhall said:
It's abandoned and dangerous. The city should take it. New City Hall in a glittering high-rise in the heart of the MBTA network. Ground-floor and basement retail. City Hall Plaza sold off the development wolves at the highest bid.

Hynes banned from developing Seaport Square.

Failure should be punished, not rewarded.
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This almost isn't a bad idea. Though I'd still prefer to keep DTX a retail center if at all possible.
 
Re: Filene's

^IMO great idea. Fanueil Hall isn't suffering from city hall being next door. I guess some immediate neighbors might have to move... city hall should be out to bid no matter what. See what it fetches. Its a big piece of land, parts of it could be developed with little nimby pressure. Creative way to get modern city hall digs for zero net cost... could be possible. Revitalize the area, the white folk wouldn't be afraid of DTX anymore with city hall there (like theres not enough police now) Really you could kill more than 2 birds with one stone. Assuming Gov't center could attract some bidders.
 
Re: Filene's

What if there Suffolk University signed on as a tenet and housed some students here for a period of say 5-10 years at which point it would be converted to luxury housing?
 
Re: Filene's

probably more like 20-25 years for a university to agree.
 
Re: Filene's

pelhamhall said:
It's abandoned and dangerous. The city should take it. New City Hall in a glittering high-rise in the heart of the MBTA network. Ground-floor and basement retail. City Hall Plaza sold off the development wolves at the highest bid.
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Not a bad idea at all. It actually makes sense. Is anyone from Menino's office or the BRA reading? ...Seriously... is this thing on?...
 
Re: Filene's

The current City Hall is next to three T lines, Filene's is only next to two.

I'm really never a fan of these "let's build a new city hall!" moments. The only acceptable thing for a city like Boston is an old city hall. Move the most important offices back to Old City Hall and stuff the rest in a municipal office annex, like New York does.
 
Re: Filene's

So long as the Brutalist City Hall stays standing, I'm fine with whatever. I like czsz's idea better, it seems silly to move the government out of "Government Center," when that is a centralized transit hub, not to mention moving them to a piece of prime real estate that would make more money in private hands.

I like what St. Louis has done with their Brutalist building. If the city sold it to a private developer, I'd like to see them do something like this with offices and retail, rather than condos.
 
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Re: Filene's

Faneuil Hall isn't suffering if you don't consider its owner being bankrupt to be a sign of something bad.
 
Re: Filene's

czsz said:
The current City Hall is next to three T lines, Filene's is only next to two.

I'm really never a fan of these "let's build a new city hall!" moments. The only acceptable thing for a city like Boston is an old city hall. Move the most important offices back to Old City Hall and stuff the rest in a municipal office annex, like New York does.
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Yes, please, and while we're dreaming: If old city hall and the old annex are not enough space, tear down Pi Alley Garage and build there.

Personally I'd like to to see the brutalist building demolished, along with 1-2-3 Center Plaza and 15 New Sudbury. Restore a street pattern similar what was there before. We can't fix our mistakes but we attempt to minimize them.
 
Re: Filene's

It is amusing to recall how self congratulatory everyone was that Pi Alley was "preserved" when the garage was built. And how the garage was such a great step toward luring suburban shoppers down town.
 
Re: Filene's

The Pi Alley garage had one redeeming feature when built -- a large movie theatre.
 
Re: Filene's

czsz said:
The current City Hall is next to three T lines, Filene's is only next to two.
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There's an indoor walking connection from Park Street station to Downtown Crossing/Filene's, so I'd still say "three T lines".
 
Re: Filene's

Ron Newman said:
There's an indoor walking connection from Park Street station to Downtown Crossing/Filene's, so I'd still say "three T lines".
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4 actually.

Silver Line stops at downtown crossing.
 
Re: Filene's

Boston.com - January 4, 2010
Filene's Basement wants return to original store
January 4, 2010 01:27 PM E-mail| |Comments (4)| Text size ? +

By Casey Ross and Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff

Despite doubts raised by Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Filene's Basement today said it is still hoping to return to its original store in Downtown Crossing, which is currently the site of an long-idled construction project.

Filene's Basement president Mark Shulman said he is still discussing the matter with the development team that is hoping to rebuild the Filene's block in downtown Boston into a mixed-used complex.

"We would love to be back there if they ever built anything," Shulman said. Developers Gale International and Vornado Realty Trust have been unable to proceed with their planned $700 million redevelopment due to a lack of funding.

During a radio interview this morning, Menino said he doubted Filene's Basement would return to the site.

"I don't think you'll ever see a Filene's Basement there again, but we have some new ideas for that area," Menino said in an interview with 90.9 (WBUR FM). "It's close to the financial center of our city -- what about a financial center there?"

Although his comments appeared to be off-the-cuff, Menino also said the site could accommodate a parking garage, suggesting that he is actively considering possible alternatives to the Gale/Vornado project.

Neither developer was available to comment.

Shulman said he knew nothing of plans for a parking lot, but added that Filene's Basement is also looking for other possible locations in downtown Boston.

"We haven't found anything yet in Downtown Crossing," Shulman said.

Filene's Basement declared bankruptcy last summer and was acquired by Syms Corp, another discount clothing retailer.
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Re: Filene's

I don't think you'll ever see a Filene's Basement there again, but we have some new ideas for that area," Menino said in an interview with 90.9 (WBUR FM). "It's close to the financial center of our city -- what about a financial center there?"

Although his comments appeared to be off-the-cuff, Menino also said the site could accommodate a parking garage
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Election victory freed him up for some really big, out-of-the-box thinking, didn't it?

YIKES
 
Re: Filene's

Not that I support Menino's return, but you got a better idea? Ideally, something gets built so Filene's can return. If not, what alternatives can be built when no developer really wants to build on the spot anymore.
 
Re: Filene's

Why can't the developer build out just the basement for now, so the store can reopen? I believe they actually have an obligation to do this, otherwise they are breaching a long-term rental agreement that they inherited from the previous owner.
 
Re: Filene's

tobyjug said:
It is amusing to recall how self congratulatory everyone was that Pi Alley was "preserved" when the garage was built. And how the garage was such a great step toward luring suburban shoppers down town.
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Hindsight is always 20-20.
 
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