Rose Kennedy Greenway

I love how they planted the trees so that in twenty or thirty years the cars driving by will be able to enjoy the shade.
 
At ground level these parcels are a lot better than what I had expected. They're a good start, and a lot better than some of the parcels further up, with too much hardscape, not enough trees and boring plantings. The variety of blooming plants is lush, the grass came in beautifully, and, given the slope of the parcels, I think the designer did a decent job giving walkers plenty to enjoy. They require a purposeful decision to meander through. My wish-list at this point: paving/edging for the paths, benches, and lighting. When Russia Wharf is occupied, I could see the lunch time crowd enjoying the area. Maybe someday these parcels will offer more opportunities; being on top of a number of tunnels and ramps I doubt they can be developed with large buildings.
 
In some ways the RKG is a bigger, newer version of the Commonwealth Ave Mall. What makes the Comm Ave Mall work so much better than the Greenway? In my mind there are three things:
1. Well defined edges in the form of mature trees.
2. More shade (again, mature trees).
3. Dense, 24-hour, residential neighborhood.

The first two will obviously improve on the RKG with time. The third will hopefully improve if the city comes up with a coherent master plan for the area (that includes residential and appropriate density). I think with time, the RKG will live up to its potential.

The only other advantage I can think of that the Mall has over the RKG is being surrounded by two lanes of traffic instead of three, but that?s mitigated by the fact that Surface Artery traffic is comparable in speed to Comm Ave, the RKG is 30-50 feet wider than the Mall in most places, and the RKG is longer and has more frequent signaled intersections.
 
These 2 parcels are not the best one's, on the RKG In 5-10 years we'll wonder what all the fuss was about,these parks and surroundings need to mature! look at all the change's already happening!
 
Boston Globe - August 14, 2009
Tired of awaiting payoff on Greenway

By Ren?e Loth | August 14, 2009

THE Rose Kennedy Greenway was supposed to be a kind of peace dividend for Bostonians who endured decades of Big Dig construction. Five years after the last section of the elevated Central Artery was demolished, however, plans for building, programming, and basic amenities are tentative, mired in process. No one wants to see the Greenway become a honky-tonk of cheap T-shirt and fried-dough stands. But the space shouldn?t be so precious that no one uses it.

The native plants that line the park parcels from South Station to Rowe?s Wharf - lush waves of echinacea, yarrow, and ornamental grasses - are thriving, thanks to the ministrations of the Greenway Conservancy?s horticulture staff. The flora is nice, but how about the fauna -- the people?

The Ring Fountain of water jets in the Wharf District attracts a diverse, delighted group of children. The North End parks have a cozy feeling and are close enough to take-out restaurants to be a spot for tourists and workers to eat lunch. A carousel nearby is cute, but only a pilot, pending neighborhood approval.

Too much of the Greenway is still hot, unshaded, and vacant - a desert in the city, not an oasis. There aren?t enough places to sit in quiet contemplation. Something as simple as a cold drink seems an unreachable mirage. It?s daunting to navigate the cross streets.

Nancy Brennan, the determinedly upbeat head of the Greenway conservancy, says, ?We are working on a protocol?? for vendors, and soon will have proposals for shade structures and furniture such as benches. It?s important to ensure that they have ?the right look and feel for the Greenway,?? she says. Of course, there has to be a public comment period. After all that, Brennan hopes to get these improvements in place by next spring.

The Greenway?s original sin is that it has always lacked a single client with a clear vision. At least four public entities hold sway over the place: the Massachusetts Turnpike, which (for now) owns the land; the conservancy, charged with maintenance and programming, which just got legal control of the parks in February; the state, which pledged a $5 million annual appropriation to the conservancy but already has cut that in half; and the City of Boston, which is engaged in at least two massive rezoning studies of the surrounding area. And that doesn?t count the various business, civic, and neighborhood groups.

Paradoxically, so many competing visions tend to cancel each other out into generalized blandness. There have been plenty of stupid ideas for the Greenway, like Venetian canals and even a Colonial Williamsburg-type theme park. But the only alternative shouldn?t be just flowers and grass, as some advocates still claim.

Challenging such inertia takes fortitude. Developer Frank Keefe and a group of civic leaders have a plan to develop a $120 million Boston history museum on a parcel along Blackstone Street. Keefe?s proposal was originally designated for an abutting parcel, which would have covered open highway ramps. He now calls that parcel ?a void and abyss?? and proposes a curving pedestrian bridge there instead.

On Thursday, the Turnpike Authority is expected to designate a developer for the Blackstone parcel Keefe now covets, currently a no-man?s land of jersey barriers and chain-link fencing. His chief competition is a proposal for 78 units of housing. Both proposals wisely include Mayor Menino?s request for a large public market on the first floor.

On the edge of the Greenway, developer Don Chiofaro wants to build two towers - one 40 stories and the other 59 stories - on the site of the ugly Harbor Garage he owns near the Aquarium. Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Ian Bowles said some nice things about it in a scoping letter last month, but added the obvious: Chiofaro?s proposal is way out of scale and would violate several zoning restrictions. It?s going to need a rethink.

Proponents of all these projects go on about how they will help ?activate the Greenway.?? But it will be well into the 2010s before they are activating anything other than construction cranes. Meanwhile, how about a few tasteful carts selling Italian ice in summer and roasted chestnuts in the fall? This fall.

Ren?e Loth?s column appears regularly in the Globe.
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There have been plenty of stupid ideas for the Greenway, like [...] a Colonial Williamsburg-type theme park.
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Did someone other than bostonbred suggest the theme park? And, if not, does that mean Ms. Roth not only reads ArchBoston but actually took 'bred's suggestion seriously? :eek:
 
I am NOT licking this Remy Tott stoly about BOSTON HISTORY!!! He DOESNT know the HISTORY, IMO!!! He would rather EAT crapacino all day and kissy kissy newspapertoads then do something GOOD hear. How about memorial to dead stupid Glob. Make big black LIMOZINE full of mangy fat cats wearing HAVARD YARD pink shorts with green wales on them.

I WOULD RATHER SEE FREE CITY POT FARM here THEN MORE DEAD MIMORILS TO OTHER DISASTERS. At least we feel good again.
 
Ok, moving right along. Something that I haven't seen much commentary on is how much of a disaster the idea that the ramp parcels would be built on was. No one wants to build on them, they are the real tragedy here. Before we talk about developing the other parcels, lets see how it works once the parcels that are sated for development are actually developed. I'd suggest that the ramp parcels be dedicated to housing with ground floor retail, especially restaurants and cafes. I think that when the greenway was originally proposed people envisioned sitting in outdoor cafes and restaurants along. Between the Haymarket T Stop, the parking garages, International Place, and the Intercontinental, and Rowes Wharf, there are so few structures facing the greenway that offer these uses. I believe that the greenway can support up to 8 story buildings.
 
bostonbred said:
I WOULD RATHER SEE FREE CITY POT FARM here THEN MORE DEAD MIMORILS TO OTHER DISASTERS. At least we feel good again.
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Bostonbred I must say you are unique and very entertaining, I enjoy your posts. I think you are referring to the Armenian Memorial. I agree that the Greenway should not be filled with memorials, however this particular one will offer shade and seating and not cost the taxpayer anything. It will be funded by an Armenian group. As presently presented I think it is tasteful and with any luck there may even be some vendors on its periphery.
 
Personally, I hate mimroils even more than newspapertoads - but maybe that's just me.

It's been interesting tracking the Greenway in the press. My overall impression is that the media is picking up on the "disappointments" and actually starting some worthwhile public dialogue about its future - and even hyping the Aquarium garage towers. Pretty refreshing, actually. Does anyone have a different take?
 
Wow... that's not even silly. That's just plain careless of me. Of course I meant mimorils. Admins, if this isn't a case for implementing spellcheck here, I don't know what is. Next I might egregiously misspell "crapacino" or, heaven forbid, "LIMOZINE."
 
AmericanFolkLegend said:
In some ways the RKG is a bigger, newer version of the Commonwealth Ave Mall. What makes the Comm Ave Mall work so much better than the Greenway? In my mind there are three things:
1. Well defined edges in the form of mature trees.
2. More shade (again, mature trees).
3. Dense, 24-hour, residential neighborhood.

The first two will obviously improve on the RKG with time. The third will hopefully improve if the city comes up with a coherent master plan for the area (that includes residential and appropriate density). I think with time, the RKG will live up to its potential.

The only other advantage I can think of that the Mall has over the RKG is being surrounded by two lanes of traffic instead of three, but that?s mitigated by the fact that Surface Artery traffic is comparable in speed to Comm Ave, the RKG is 30-50 feet wider than the Mall in most places, and the RKG is longer and has more frequent signaled intersections.
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The parcels of the mall are also longer for the most part. Not having to cross a street every ten seconds makes a large difference. Some of the pointless cross streets on the greenway need to be removed. The parcels above, specifically, should be combined. Do we really need to continue Pearl St. through the parks just to have it dead end on the other side?
 
Oh, my.

I'm fairly certain that historical theme parks fall under the mimorils category. And please, I wear my Harvard Yard shorts a seersucker with crimson whales when I ghost-ride the limozine with my mangy fat cats.

I'm beginning to think we've all been had, and that Bostonbred is a brilliant comedian in disguise.
 
kennedy said:
I'm fairly certain that historical theme parks fall under the mimorils category. And please, I wear my Harvard Yard shorts a seersucker with crimson whales when I ghost-ride the limozine with my mangy fat cats.
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This killed me.
 
"And please, I wear my Harvard Yard shorts a seersucker with crimson whales when I ghost-ride the limozine with my mangy fat cats."

That quote is destined to become part of song lyrics at some point.
 
bostonbred said:
I am NOT licking this Remy Tott stoly about BOSTON HISTORY!!! He DOESNT know the HISTORY, IMO!!! He would rather EAT crapacino all day and kissy kissy newspapertoads then do something GOOD hear. How about memorial to dead stupid Glob. Make big black LIMOZINE full of mangy fat cats wearing HAVARD YARD pink shorts with green wales on them.

I WOULD RATHER SEE FREE CITY POT FARM here THEN MORE DEAD MIMORILS TO OTHER DISASTERS. At least we feel good again.
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Agreed! This is Boston, NOT HITLER!
 
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