Oldest Commercial Building in Boston is not a landmark

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stellarfun

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Talk about the Landmarks Commission being asleep at the switch.

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http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/07/13/chipotle_moving_to_historic_boston_building/
 
It's possible that the building has not been landmarked simply because it is owned by a non-profit historic preservation organization, and is therefore not in any danger.

I had thought the building was continuously occupied by publishers and bookstores from the 1830s to the closing of The Boston Globe Store; the article proves I was wrong. I'm surprised that it doesn't mention the Globe Corner Bookstore, though, as it was The Boston Globe Store's immediate predecessor. The photo in fact shows the storefront as the Globe Corner Bookstore.

In the 1970s, before Globe Corner opened, I recall the first floor containing a classified-ad office for the Globe.
 
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Ron Newman said:
It's possible that the building has not been landmarked simply because it is owned by a non-profit historic preservation organization, and is therefore not in any danger.

I had thought the building was continuously occupied by publishers and bookstores from the 1830s to the closing of The Boston Globe Store; the articles proves I was wrong. I'm surprised that it doesn't mention the Globe Corner Bookstore, though, as it was The Boston Globe Store's immediate predecessor.

In the 1970s, I recall the first floor containing a classified-ad office for the Globe.
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What happens if the city marks a building as a landmark? What are the percs?
 
Ron, I understand that the current owners may be Historic Boston, but a nomination and designation of Landmark should be made independent of ownership. A building or site should be reviewed on its own merits, not on ownership, condition, or potential use or change.

The exception would be buildings that are protected because they are owned by the government for the specific purpose of protecting and preserving them.
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Rifleman, I don't know the specific perks in Boston. (At the Federal level, there can be tax credits for preserving historic structures.) IMO, a designation as a landmark is often detrimental, because the building cannot be changed to a better or higher use, and thus be more valuable for what it can become than for what it is now.
 
No, but something along this lines of Fajitas n' Rita's would be preferable to Chipotle.

It's not really a black and white thing, more of a good, better, best thing.

A costume jewelery place is better than nothing, a Chipotle is better than the jewelery shop... etc, etc...
 
Ideally, I'd prefer a bookstore (especially if Borders across the street eventually closes), but Chipotle is better than the jeweler that last occupied the space. If it's going to be fast food, I wish they'd rented to a local company (such as Finagle-a-Bagel, which just lost its Tremont Street shop)
 
Some of the most annoying words in the English language are "Somebody should do something.... or putting in a bookstore would be nice." If it is that important to you get off your arse and open a bookstore in that spot or a spot nearby. Take the risk. If you can pull off paying a rent of $75 to $100 /SF NNN then go for it. We have homogenized parts of downtown into a tourist corridor on purpose to draw money into the area. That location is going to draw the Freedom Trail foot traffic and the office lunch traffic. Perfect for a store like Chipotle.

I'm sure Boloco would have loved this site but they are getting their Copley Square store off the ground and they have another store close by on Congress Street.

Hate to paraphrase Rick Pitino but Filene's is not coming through that door, Strawberries is not walking through that door. They are done. DTX is a dead mall with no roof. Time to start over.

There is a reason why the Globe Corner Bookstore failed in that site; it couldn't make money. I'm sure Commonwealth Books or other bookseller would have loved that spot and then go out of business in a matter of minutes because of expenses.
 
^^ +10000
Finally, someone said it.

This side of Washington desperately needs ped. activity. Everyone wants DTX to be revitalized, but how the heck can that happen if modern businesses that a.) make a lot of money and b.) have mass appeal are rejected? This is a great move for DTX.
 
Boloco is already here, a few doors west at 27 School Street.

Also, forget that I ever mentioned Finagle; their competitor Bruegger's Bagel is already next door in the same building.
 
I think converting it into a small art gallery catering local artists can fit very well there. On my trip to Philly, there were many of these studios throughout the city.
 
The real question is why Boston hasn't gotten over this burrito craze. It's 2011 people!
 
God damned fast food burritos. Border Cafe should open up at DTX. A nice sizzling beef burro or beef fajita. And nice appetizer of cajun popcorn shrimp. Don't forget the bayou sauce and salsa for those tortilla chips!
 
If this is such an historic building, where is all the air handling equipment going to go. Are we going to have an Olive's level obscenity of duct work to vent this place?
 
JohnCostello said:
Some of the most annoying words in the English language are "Somebody should do something.... or putting in a bookstore would be nice." If it is that important to you get off your arse and open a bookstore in that spot or a spot nearby. Take the risk. If you can pull off paying a rent of $75 to $100 /SF NNN then go for it. We have homogenized parts of downtown into a tourist corridor on purpose to draw money into the area. That location is going to draw the Freedom Trail foot traffic and the office lunch traffic. Perfect for a store like Chipotle.

I'm sure Boloco would have loved this site but they are getting their Copley Square store off the ground and they have another store close by on Congress Street.

Hate to paraphrase Rick Pitino but Filene's is not coming through that door, Strawberries is not walking through that door. They are done. DTX is a dead mall with no roof. Time to start over.

There is a reason why the Globe Corner Bookstore failed in that site; it couldn't make money. I'm sure Commonwealth Books or other bookseller would have loved that spot and then go out of business in a matter of minutes because of expenses.
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My faith in humanity has almost been restored. Almost.
 
If only the people who have the means and ability to open shops and start new construction are the only ones to post criticisms and suggestions, this place is going to get really quiet really fast.
 
statler said:
If only the people who have the means and ability to open shops and start new construction are the only ones to post criticisms and suggestions, this place is going to get really quiet really fast.
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No it's not. The mayor's bragging of this area will prevent that.
 
statler said:
If only the people who have the means and ability to open shops and start new construction are the only ones to post criticisms and suggestions, this place is going to get really quiet really fast.
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Yes, you are right. With that in mind I would like to build a series of 4,000 square foot single family houses on 1/2 acre lots along the Greenway abutting a 95-story office tower on the site of the Harbor Garage with a new 15,000 person stadium on the roof for the Revolution.

I don't know how many real estate people we have on this thread. I am one and yes it is nice to dream, but there is also a practical side to development. Please face the music, book stores in high rent areas are done. Music stores in high rent areas, save for Newbury Comics, are done. There is plenty of room for critics and plenty of room for dreamers, but there is also cold hard facts of real estate, which enables development and architecture.
 
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