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

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If the Winthrop Square tower does get going it will most likely be primarily office. This is another reason I believe the tower at Filene's should be primarily residential.
 
In today's Globe I see display ads with both the Macy's and Filene's logos in them. (Pages A4, A5, A18).
 
Barnes & Noble, Downtown Crossing

Ron said:

B&N's downtown store is old -- I've read that it was the first B&N to open outside New York, in the late 1970s.

I think I'm forgetting something ... didn't the B&N open about ten years' ago, replacing the Strawberries record store?
 
No, Strawberries is a separate store on the same block, and is still there.

B&N replaced a WT Grant department store in the late 1970s.
 
The Globe said:
Filene's project to feature a high-rise
Condos, offices, hotel, stores part of plan in Downtown Crossing

By Thomas C. Palmer Jr., Globe Staff | September 29, 2006

The buyers of the historic Filene's property in downtown Boston are proposing to build a modern 38-story tower over the four-building complex that would include brand-name retailers, luxury condos, a hotel, and office space.

Developers John B. Hynes III and Vornado Realty Trust are expected to file plans today for a $620 million project that would be filled with upscale shopping destinations, high-dollar business space, and tony residences, which Mayor Thomas M. Menino enthusiastically predicted yesterday would transform the sometimes gritty Downtown Crossing area.

``It will begin a new chapter in the life of Downtown Crossing," Menino said.

Hynes, the partnership's local developer, did not return a call seeking comment.

Vornado recently signed an agreement to buy the Filene's block from Federated Department Stores Inc., for about $100 million, and separately struck a deal with Hynes to jointly redevelop the site.

Hynes is president of Gale International and developer of the successful One Lincoln Street office tower downtown.

Vornado is a huge national retail center developer based in New York. It recently reached a deal with Boston developer John E. Drew to build Waterside Place, a proposed residential, retail, and supermarket complex on the South Boston Waterfront.

Federated, which operates Macy's stores, retired the Filene's name after purchasing its parent company last year and brought the retail operations under the Macy's brand.

The Filene's property includes four buildings of various ages, including the original 1912 department store on Summer Street. Designed by Daniel Burnham, it was designated as a local landmark in May by the Boston Landmarks Commission. The designation means the building must be substantially preserved.

Susan Elsbree, a spokeswoman for the Boston Redevelopment Authority, said the original Filene's and a second older building would be restored in detail. ``This is downtown's most significant historic preservation ever," she said.

Under the plan to be submitted, the team appears to be moving quickly to do a thorough restoration of the 1912 building, preserve a 1905 structure on the opposite corner at Franklin and Hawley streets, tear down the two more recent buildings, and erect a tower 495 feet high.

The tower would contain much of the new complex's 500,000 square feet of office space and would be topped by condos with sweeping views.

Filene's Basement has a long-term lease in the complex and would be guaranteed renovated space on three below-ground levels. The Basement is a separate company that was independent of Filene's.

Menino also reacted positively to earlier reports that the developers are pursuing the retailer Target for the project, as well as an upscale grocer -- two tenants the mayor said are crucial to improving the retail climate in Downtown Crossing.

``This will give energy to other people who own property in the neighborhood to invest in them," Menino said. ``It will really be a catalyst for a lot of things."

Target did not return a call seeking comment.

Of the 1.2 million square feet of development, about 180,000 would be devoted to retail, in keeping with city officials' desire to see more shopping opportunities downtown.

``Vornado specializes in multistory retail, which is one of the reasons we were overjoyed to have them at Downtown Crossing," Elsbree said.

The development would also have 140 residences, 20 of them at below-market prices, a boutique hotel with 207 rooms, and a health club and spa.

Menino said Vornado is interested in securing permits soon, so the company can get construction going. ``I've met with Vornado, and they're ready to go," he said. ``They want to go out and start construction next year."

Thomas C. Palmer Jr. can be reached at tpalmer@globe.com.
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1159527711_5571.jpg
 
Wonder if the upscale grocer will be Trader Joe's. We could use one more of those on a transit line.
 
This is great news! Looks like a Manhattan skyscraper to me. Where are all the anti-Manhattanization folks?

I doubt that Trader Joe's will be chosen...is that even upscale? It will probably be, you guessed it, Whole Foods.
 
ZenZen said:
This is great news! Looks like a Manhattan skyscraper to me. Where are all the anti-Manhattanization folks?
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A <500ft flat top box with a stripe on top? Looks like a Boston tower to me.
 
This made my day. That would be the perfect addition to the site, and I really like it! It's always nice to see a detailed rendering as well.

I would say that Trader Joes and Whole Foods are about the same caliber of "upscaliness" (Colbert, this one is mine). Would Roche Brothers be another probable tenant?
 
It's too bad they couldn't build all the way out to the corner of Franklin and Washington (and put the T access in the lobby.) That would have more interesting building and better streetwall up Franklin. But I given that it is public space and the connection with the Hawley St building would have been awkward, it probably wasn't feasible.
 
If they put the right use next to that plaza, it could become an attractive and popular public space, just like the one in front of Borders.

Picking a local 'upscale' grocer, such as DeLuca's or Savenor's, might be a nice touch.
 
statler said:
ZenZen said:
This is great news! Looks like a Manhattan skyscraper to me. Where are all the anti-Manhattanization folks?
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A <500ft flat top box with a stripe on top? Looks like a Boston tower to me.
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I was just going to post that same thing.
 
That rendering is atrocious. Is this 2006 or 1966? The world is going through a skyscraper renaissance and Boston is still getting stuck with tired old Miesian boxes. Come on!
 
I agree. When I said Manhattan skyscraper, I was referring to the many boring boxes that were built between 1955-1965...you know what I am talking about!
 
Who is the architect of that rendering? And what happened to Menino's "no flat top" rule for new skyscrapers?
 
shiz02130 said:
Who is the architect of that rendering?
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According to the paper version of the Globe it's Elkus|Manfredi but there is nothing on their site about it.
 
ZenZen said:
I agree. When I said Manhattan skyscraper, I was referring to the many boring boxes that were built between 1955-1965...you know what I am talking about!
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It looks like the Leaver House only someone built some parts around the base because they don't understand design.
 
....

honestly, that is not a terrible design, and i find it quite handsome. Too bad there is a grotesque multi-level parking garage accross the street.
 
Re: ....

Merper said:
honestly, that is not a terrible design, and i find it quite handsome. Too bad there is a grotesque multi-level parking garage accross the street.
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The fact that that wasn't torn down when they built 33 Arch is a sin.
 
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