Hello All. Long time lurker, first time poster.
I want to preface this by saying that I find the comments here interesting, though often cranky. The opinions here are usually on target, but they also come off sometimes like the complaining of people who have been excluded from the decision making process. I understand that feeling, as we all know that a very small number of people in Boston actually get to make important decisions on the direction of development in the City. I, like many of you sense a creeping mediocrity that is the product of a Mayor who despite his good intentions lacks the vision and imagination this City could so desperately use.
Now, after seeing the pics of the Greenway and your comments I decided to get on my bike and see for myself what was going on. I rode from Brookline, along the Esplanade, down to the Greenway and finally over to the Seaport. Here the observations I made.
First of all, it was a great day, the Esplanade was not too busy but full of happy people, baby ducks and people with strollers who think they are the only people on the pathway.
The first "new" thing I saw was the new park in front of the Suffolk County Jail. I thought this was a nice addition and I liked that it was more than just a path and trees. The boat dock and views of the old bridges over the Charles made it feel more urban and less suburban.
From that park I cut across the Bulfinch area to the Greenway. I have to say, it was very hard to judge most of the Greenway since you can only look at most of it right now through chain link fences. As I rode along the perimeter, I felt that this is of course a great improvement over the elevated highway, but I also kept telling myself that what I was seeing was not yet what would eventually be built. Most of the parcels looked like they were being built to be temporary parks while Bostonians claw each others eyes out trying to decide what "permanent" structures will eventually take shape there. Some trees, a little bit of pathway. It was nice enough, but obviously this string of little parks is not revolutionary design.
Whether these temporary parks remain that way for 5, 10 or 20 years is the question. But if the shape of the Greenway eventually does mean enclosed greenhouses, cultural museums and some other low rise structures, then I think that most people on this board would be happy. I think the complaints here will be dead on however if these temporary parks become something that we look at for 20 or more years. That would be a disappointment.
From there, I went over the Moakly bridge, which I hated. It looks like a glorified highway overpass. And from there I went down Seaport Blvd. The area is a bit better in person than in pictures, and it being a nice day, everything took on a happy persona. But, let me say this: That mess called the Park Lane is the worst thing I have seen go up in Boston, maybe ever. What a lousy looking bunch of building. Boring, stale, uninviting. Whoever approved that thing should be tarred and feathered in the Boston Common.
On the way back, I rode up the ICA. Very nice I thought except for the mechanicals visible on the roof. Other than that though, this is the kind of thing we could use more of - it looks to the future, not to a past of Limestone and brick. I looked over the Fan Pier area, and I hoped that it would not be populated by more "Park Lane" buildings, god help us.
Overall, I saw a City that is changing quickly and much of it is a vast improvement. But in the end, is improvement enough? Is getting the City a bit more beautiful and welcoming good enough when the potential for greatness is there? Well, to this Bostonian the answer is no. If Boston can't seize this opening for greatness in new civic design, then it will probably not get another chance for decades to come.
Unfortunately, until we get a new Mayor who shares a passion for excitement, risk and imagination, we are likely to see more pre-cast beige buildings, and neighborhoods that boast of little more than cafes, CVS and maybe a tree lined path or two. Those hoping for youthful creativity, edginess and forward thinking design had better hope for new Mayor in their lifetimes.
And In case you are wondering I have no training in design. I'm just an amateur observer.
