North Station Gateway | 251 Causeway St | Bulfinch Triangle

[awood91]

Its a nice proposal but I find it annoying that it calls for the demolition of an already nicely built out block.

 

[andrew.816]

Its a nice proposal but I find it annoying that it calls for the demolition of an already nicely built out block.

I agree. I'd much prefer if only a small section of the site was demolished where the tower portion would be.

 

[Patrick Winn]

Its a nice proposal but I find it annoying that it calls for the demolition of an already nicely built out block.

Agree. Especially since there's a giant parking garage right across the street that is begging to be moved underground and redeveloped. This thing is on a huge piece of land and I have no idea why it's still standing.

 

[Justbuildit]

It's still standing because it's in the North End, it's used by tourists and residents alike, the owner probably doesn't need to sell, and developing ANYTHING in the North End is a nightmare. There is a 0.0% chance that anything meaningful gets placed here. There would be a revolution if someone tried to put a high rise here.

 

[Patrick Winn]

That's a shame because it looks like absolute shit, and parking can go underground, like it did with a similar garage for the Alcott. To ascribe any sort of historical significance to this thing is a mistake.

 

[Suffolk 83]

If the developer came with a building north Enders went “oh that’s beautiful” I bet it would be a much easier path. This non descript bore isn’t getting far

 

[shmessy]

Well, a reasoned discussion on what is place-breaking encroachment on the North End? ought to ensue. This really is one block from north station, which has been a major transit hub for at least 150 years as well, and not in the historic part of the North End you refer to. I think most of us know this is not place-breaking encroachment.

I agree with Equilibria - - this really does hulk over the North End.

BP, I get when you say "This really is one block from north station" - - the problem is that it is one block in the wrong direction.

I love tall buildings as much as almost anyone, but this should be built in Rappaport City in the West End Village area - - not gloaming over the North End.

In the right places, give me 40-50 more skyscraper residential towers in Boston. Plus, Chiofaro's tower at the Aquarium garage.

 

[Java King]

My first architecture job back in 1987, was located in the building highlighted in red: Steffian Bradley Architects

That building is nothing special, and I wouldn't mourn the loss, but the nice brick building to the right shouldn't be demolished. I really wish they could at least incorporate the facade of the older brick building. I'm not wild about this current proposal, but I do like the curved low-rise portion that would replace my old architecture firm.

 

[bigpicture7]

I agree with Equilibria - - this really does hulk over the North End.

BP, I get when you say "This really is one block from north station" - - the problem is that it is one block in the wrong direction.

I love tall buildings as much as almost anyone, but this should be built in Rappaport City in the West End Village area - - not gloaming over the North End.

In the right places, give me 40-50 more skyscraper residential towers in Boston. Plus, Chiofaro's tower at the Aquarium garage.

I hear ya, shmess; I just personally feel pretty closely acclimated with this area and just don't view this site as "North End" or even really intruding on it. To me, North Washington street forms a pretty distinct neighborhood transition, and this site's on the other side of that.

Google Maps

If this were on the opposite side of North Washington, I'd completely agree with you.
Also, for this reason, it's why I don't agree that the low rise parking garage site, discussed up thread, is a better location -- that, to me, is mentally in the North End and a whole world's worth of difference. (That's not to say one shouldn't do a lot better in the parking garage site for something else.)

 

[bigpicture7]

^Addendum: A large part of why I feel, spatially/cognitively, like this is spaced away from the North End is that horrific intersection at N. Washington / Causeway is like the freaking grand canyon. I can count years of my life as a pedestrian/cyclist where I've been stuck at that thing - and the North End feels far away across a vast gulf when you're standing at Causeway/N. Washington on the Bullfinch Triangle side.

 

[shmessy]

^Addendum: A large part of why I feel, spatially/cognitively, like this is spaced away from the North End is that horrific intersection at N. Washington / Causeway is like the freaking grand canyon. I can count years of my life as a pedestrian/cyclist where I've been stuck at that thing - and the North End feels far away across a vast gulf when you're standing at Causeway/N. Washington on the Bullfinch Triangle side.

Fair enough. I still think this will get dramatically cut in height for the reasons above, and believe it SHOULD for those reasons, but I appreciate your points too. I still feel the blocks on the other side of North Station should see MULTIPLE resi towers.

 

[stick n move]

Yea I agree with the general sentiment that knocking down this nice existing building for a tower is kind of unnecessary, especially when theres still a few empty lots scattered around like this one:

Its directly next door to a 600’ tower so would be much easier to push through the planning process as well.

 

[citydweller]

From: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/09/27/business/developer-proposes-new-residential-tower/

[28causeway - A Newton-based developer is proposing a 450-foot residential tower and hotel at the corner of Causeway and North Washington Streets in the Bulfinch Triangle. (RMR Group)RMR Group]

A Newton-based developer Friday unveiled plans for what it envisions as the newest tower on Boston’s skyline, a 40-story building with housing, hotel, and retail space on a key corner near North Station.

The project, proposed by The RMR Group, would include 420 residential units and 300 hotel rooms at the intersection of Causeway and North Washington Streets, according to plans filed with the city’s Planning Department. It would be the latest section of Causeway Street and the Bulfinch Triangle to transform into a new tower.

The building, which would sit across Causeway Street from the North Washington Street bridge to Charlestown, will act as a gateway into Boston from the north, RMR said.
“We have proposed a project that we believe reflects the site’s importance and the context of this evolving neighborhood,” RMR Vice President Jesse Abair said in a statement. “Today’s filing with the City of Boston represents the beginning of a conversation with our neighbors, whose input will play a vital role in shaping the proposed project as we move forward.”

The site of the project is a triangular-shaped trio of parcels bounded by Causeway, Medford, and North Washington Streets and across from the North End. The site is currently home to two nearly vacant mid-size office buildings and a 6-unit apartment building that will all be razed.

[Newton-based real estate investment trust The RMR Group is planning a new 450-foot residential and hotel tower on Causeway Street near North Station.David L. Ryan/Globe Staff]

RMR is also planning a two-level underground garage that would contain 150 parking spots, and 30,000 square feet of space for restaurants, retail, and other amenities on the lower floors. The residential units will be a mix of studios and one, two, and three-bedrooms. Though there is no affordable housing planned on site, RMR plans to fulfill the city’s inclusionary development policy by building subsidized apartments at another nearby location.

The project will also include new sidewalks — including new trees at street level. And the project’s building orientation “is designed to respond to the surrounding context, creating a vibrant pedestrian experience at the ground and lower levels while the high-rise component of the building presents a new silhouette in the Boston skyline at this prominent gateway site,” according to RMR’s plans.

Related: Developer aims to build a skyscraper near North Station
Friday’s filing will formally kick off city review for the project, which has been in the works for at least two years.

 

[DZH22]

Referring to this as 450' is crazy. It's 447' plus 2 sizable mechanical sections on top, likely hovering around 500'. I think they should keep the new design but add back the extra 200' from the original vision. It's a great looking building on its own but we already have 4 buildings in that cluster between 449'-510' and could really use a new peak in that area. Heck, even ~550' would go a long way to breaking up the visual blob.

Still, I wish we could at least begin by reporting more correct heights. This is probably going to end up being quoted at 450' by every source!

447' to the lower of the 2 dotted lines.

 

[Smuttynose]

The height doesn’t bother me, but I’m all for preserving as much of the existing building facades as possible and incorporating them into the development. In almost every case, new facades are less interesting than what they replace ( see 334-364 Boylston). That would be a reasonable concession if the City winds up letting them build tall here.

 

[cooper]

Agree. Especially since there's a giant parking garage right across the street that is begging to be moved underground and redeveloped. This thing is on a huge piece of land and I have no idea why it's still standing. View attachment 56109View attachment 56110

The former Brink's building, home of the largest robbery in the history of the US at the time (1950). I remember walking by this building daily in the late 70's on my way to Prince St from N Station.
wiki
The Brink's Job (film)

 

[Stlin]

Not to get sucked into their neighborhood debate - I know it's tall, but it's proportions are very off to me. I wouldn't mind the tower on its own, but with how it's all matchy matchy with the low rise, all I can see in the elevation is one of those factory icons. Remove the sawtooth roof, and that's what this is in silhouette - I can't really help myself from reading the tower as smokestack, and the 2 story cutout really doesn't help. Differentiating the tower with a different facade would help, but without that I think I'd be in favor of something with better massing.

 

[Java King]

Seeing those elevations makes me chuckle. Can anyone point to a previous rendering with trees and dense vegetation on the roof or upper floors that ACTUALLY came to be implemented? There is the rooftop parking garage park at Kendall Square, but I can't think of any other examples. We aren't Singapore!

 

[citydweller]

So why is it that the nimby's only bitch when there is a new proposal? These zoning laws / FAA height limits has been in play for years. Why don't they raise their concerns to the planning board and lobby to change the zoning laws to prevent developers to even initiate a new proposal that would be deemed unacceptable. Be preemptive and get the zoning laws changed.

 

[Justbuildit]

Because it's easier to scream to a city councilor and have them threaten the planning board and/or mayor to get a project killed. Organized letter writing, raucous public meetings, and threats about neighborhood character and parking do wonders to veto otherwise good developments.