Re: 120 Kingston, 29 Story Tower in Chinatown
^czsz
Let me preface my statements by saying I have no professional interest, but I have diligently attended planning meetings and observed how the process works enough to make some observations which I think can be proven.
In Boston, the decision on what gets built and where is based on factors far beyond what the community activists want or what the various "Master Plans" suggest.
One factor is obviously the political relationship between a developer and City Hall. The disparities in approvals based on a developers history, pro or con, I think are widely known. As I've mentioned before, there are a handful of developers in Boston that somehow get approvals for a lions share of projects.
There are also a legion of connected insiders in the approval process. I am aware of three ex-BRA directors who have made themselves available for hire as consultants to work with the BRA to gain approvals. There are legions of connected insiders who know the permitting process, etc. The process is set up so an outsider has to negotiate a million minefields other than NIMBY's to get anything approved.
The exaction of benefits from developers also plays a huge role in what gets approved. There are onsite benefits, offsite benefits, and (I believe) the BRA's own budget is derived from payments made based on what gets approved.
The community process does not, in my view, play a major role in the outcome with respect to architecture, density or design. But the community process does take time, and any delays certainly take a toll on each project.
Lastly, the BRA is responsible for creating instability in the process. The BRA sees zoning as a baseline for negotiation, not an envelope or guideline, so neither the developers or residents have a clear understanding of what the goals are for their immediate area. Worse yet, over the past decade, the BRA began using a PDA (Planned Development Area) to spot zoning large parcels. This takes the large project out of the context of its surroundings.
I hope others chip in in this subject, because others know more than I do. But I do know that NIMBY's are more often a distraction than a cause for significant change.