Shreve, Crump & Low Redevelopment | 334-364 Boylston Street | Back Bay

What is the point of the BCDC, seriously have they ever made any binding suggestions or improvements to designs that were approved? They let horrid pieces of design like this go forward, what is the point if they just let things go through with only minor tweaks for rare things that are just impossible to approve (like that cyclindrical tower for Bromfield site with car entry onto public realm lol) if they are not improving the things that get approved or built?
 
Wow, and this is in Back Bay, half a block from the magnificent building (1862) where RH Boston is. Kind of embarrassing here.
 
RandomWalk said:
The street level with the grilles over the flat windows and the minimal articulation is awful. It reads as dated from the 80s.
Click to expand...
The grilles will be covered (or at least mostly obscured) by awnings. You can see them in the earlier renderings and there are tabs for them to be installed eventually.
 
JS38 said:
What is the point of the BCDC, seriously have they ever made any binding suggestions or improvements to designs that were approved? They let horrid pieces of design like this go forward, what is the point if they just let things go through with only minor tweaks for rare things that are just impossible to approve (like that cyclindrical tower for Bromfield site with car entry onto public realm lol) if they are not improving the things that get approved or built?
Click to expand...

I sincerely recommend you check this out: https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/improving-development-review-process-article-80

Everyone acknowledges the current Article 80 process is broken, dysfunctional, nonworkable; hence, this ongoing initiative. Emblematic of that is the BCDC's role: where is the predictability, transparency, certainty, with them? Certain projects get caught in a BCDC merry go-round, and have to have BCDC hearing after BCDC hearing after BCDC hearing, thus driving up costs, etc.
 
Like most I preferred the original buildings that once occupied this site and wasn’t too fond of this design when it was proposed but think it wd have fit better in this corner than what was built.This new building reminds me of the WOOP building in Kenmore sq and looks out of place imo
IMG_6579.jpeg
 
Stayed out of this thread because the plans depressed me.
Saw it in person.
It's awful.
Even small changes to materials could have made it so much better.
 
The concrete-like exterior frame already looks a bit stained or streaked from weatherization. I think the only save for this structure will be in maybe 15-20 years when someone with an ability has said "enough", and then does something a bit creative with it. And that could be a variety of subtle and complimenting colors over this exposed concrete. This part of the city is too architecturally important to allow something new that is simply blah.
 
TC_zoid said:
The concrete-like exterior frame already looks a bit stained or streaked from weatherization. I think the only save for this structure will be in maybe 15-20 years when someone with an ability has said "enough", and then does something a bit creative with it. And that could be a variety of subtle and complimenting colors over this exposed concrete. This part of the city is too architecturally important to allow something new that is simply blah.
Click to expand...
Believe it or not thats supposed to be limestone not concrete. Def doesnt look like it though. Maybe they switched it out at some point and it wasnt reported.


HelloBostonHi said:
View attachment 61023
I'm just excited for the sidewalk to reopen personally
Click to expand...

Zoomed way in, it looks pretty bad. Is it just very dirty or something and will be cleaned before opening?
IMG_2311.jpeg
 
Last edited:
For the exact location, essentially the entrance building to the Back Bay high spine area, it sucks. F-
For the block of old buildings it replaced, it sucks. F
In a vacuum compared to everything else built nowadays, across this city, country, and beyond, it's mediocre. D+/C- depending on the day.
Overall grade: F
 
I was there myself today. And surprised to see that looooong streetfront on Boylston - yet only 2 trees. How the heck do they get away with that?


IMG_2372.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top