South Station Tower | South Station Air Rights | Downtown
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TheRifleman
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Re: South Station Tower
What are they doing to that site. I actually like the renderings to North Station site.
I'm starting to feel like there are no pride in these buildings just build as fast as they can--- dump and sell it.
Liberty Mutual Building in the Backbay was one of the best well thought-out architecture that actually fit with the location and the history of Boston.
An insurance company hit the homerun--
Architect --Childs Bertman-- Grandslam---Understood Boston
What are they doing to that site. I actually like the renderings to North Station site.
I'm starting to feel like there are no pride in these buildings just build as fast as they can--- dump and sell it.
Liberty Mutual Building in the Backbay was one of the best well thought-out architecture that actually fit with the location and the history of Boston.
An insurance company hit the homerun--
Architect --Childs Bertman-- Grandslam---Understood Boston
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cca
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Re: South Station Tower
In that you are not wrong. For buildings to be more than just frozen money the people to put the money on the table need to attach cost to abstract values like, contextualize, being a good neighbor, being environmentally responsible and at the very least aesthetics. Most of these buildings are first-cost driven and in general are short sighted.
cca
In that you are not wrong. For buildings to be more than just frozen money the people to put the money on the table need to attach cost to abstract values like, contextualize, being a good neighbor, being environmentally responsible and at the very least aesthetics. Most of these buildings are first-cost driven and in general are short sighted.
cca
TheRifleman
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Re: South Station Tower
The city of Boston deserves something better for South Station besides another Glass Piece of shit in one of the most prime building locations in the city.
I say send the Hines group back to Houston where they belong.
Proposal was way to underwhelming for me.
--SO BASICALLY DEVELOPERS/CORPORATIONS DON'T BUILD FOR LONG-TERM VALUE ANYMORE--
The city of Boston deserves something better for South Station besides another Glass Piece of shit in one of the most prime building locations in the city.
I say send the Hines group back to Houston where they belong.
Proposal was way to underwhelming for me.
--SO BASICALLY DEVELOPERS/CORPORATIONS DON'T BUILD FOR LONG-TERM VALUE ANYMORE--
bigpicture7
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Re: South Station Tower
Nope, don't believe they'll lose the rights at all. The reason I extracted the quote was actually the opposite: they are through most of the hurdles and have until April 30th to clear the last one, MassDOT. They'll be starting soon.
And as far as the design, it's not my fav but it's not horrible...it looks really bad from one angle. It does not look like a ketchup bottle from all of the other angles.
Nope, don't believe they'll lose the rights at all. The reason I extracted the quote was actually the opposite: they are through most of the hurdles and have until April 30th to clear the last one, MassDOT. They'll be starting soon.
And as far as the design, it's not my fav but it's not horrible...it looks really bad from one angle. It does not look like a ketchup bottle from all of the other angles.
Re: South Station Tower
How many floors were you planning on leasing? Maybe if it's a big enough chunk they'll consider reworking it for you.
How many floors were you planning on leasing? Maybe if it's a big enough chunk they'll consider reworking it for you.
statler
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Re: South Station Tower
This quote can be used to shut down every discussion on this board. Nobody here has any financial stake in any of the projects discussed here and yet we continue to carry on.
This quote can be used to shut down every discussion on this board. Nobody here has any financial stake in any of the projects discussed here and yet we continue to carry on.
Re: South Station Tower
I think given that this is being done over an active rail hub people should stop bitching and enjoy what's proposed to be built. Geesh. Nothing wrong with it and it will look great rising above the old station from street level.
I think given that this is being done over an active rail hub people should stop bitching and enjoy what's proposed to be built. Geesh. Nothing wrong with it and it will look great rising above the old station from street level.
odurandina
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Re: South Station Tower
Still a fantastic tower for Boston, this time, this site and this market. Not random. Not as good as the previous, but one of the tallest, densest (economically doable) designs.... Bravo to the architect and developer for pulling this off.
If there's anyone we should be criticizing, it's Simon Properties.
A bonafide laughingstock.
Still a fantastic tower for Boston, this time, this site and this market. Not random. Not as good as the previous, but one of the tallest, densest (economically doable) designs.... Bravo to the architect and developer for pulling this off.
If there's anyone we should be criticizing, it's Simon Properties.
A bonafide laughingstock.
Re: South Station Tower
It's easy to think that "commence building by April 30" means we have to see cranes rising by then or they're toast. I don't think that's at all right. If they have a contract signed, even just for site work, and have commenced any staging at all, that will get them over the "commence building" hurdle.
I realize there's a bunch of footings in place, so that eliminates a lot of steps from the normal site work process. However, the logistics and staging to build this one will be wickedly complex, since they have to keep the station running - they will have nothing remotely comparable to normal site control. That means the negotiation with MassDOT and the resultant documents guiding site access will be wickedly complex, too, so I'm not surprised that they're getting worrisomely close to the edge.
And then when* they "commence construction", I won't be at all surprised if there are quite a few weeks where the only activity is pretty modest in appearance to the layperson - but actually pretty complicated to the engineers doing it.
*Using "when", not "if", without any sense for whether that's right. If I were betting, and allowed to keep my bet at a low and easily foregone value, I'd bet it's going to happen.
My response to the design is .... better than "meh", but not enthusiastic. I'd have liked something better for such a gateway location, but I won't hate it, either.
It's easy to think that "commence building by April 30" means we have to see cranes rising by then or they're toast. I don't think that's at all right. If they have a contract signed, even just for site work, and have commenced any staging at all, that will get them over the "commence building" hurdle.
I realize there's a bunch of footings in place, so that eliminates a lot of steps from the normal site work process. However, the logistics and staging to build this one will be wickedly complex, since they have to keep the station running - they will have nothing remotely comparable to normal site control. That means the negotiation with MassDOT and the resultant documents guiding site access will be wickedly complex, too, so I'm not surprised that they're getting worrisomely close to the edge.
And then when* they "commence construction", I won't be at all surprised if there are quite a few weeks where the only activity is pretty modest in appearance to the layperson - but actually pretty complicated to the engineers doing it.
*Using "when", not "if", without any sense for whether that's right. If I were betting, and allowed to keep my bet at a low and easily foregone value, I'd bet it's going to happen.
My response to the design is .... better than "meh", but not enthusiastic. I'd have liked something better for such a gateway location, but I won't hate it, either.
Re: South Station Tower
I agree 100% that this could and should be better. It's unfortunate that the FAA caps this one at what will be the city's 5th tallest. Considering it is designed to the height limit, it would likely be even taller if it was allowed to be. (contrast that with North Station or Back Bay Garage, as THOSE are the 2 that make me want to punch a wall)
Without any hope of this getting taller, I would rather just see it built as is. I have a feeling it will look better in person from most angles, and will be overshadowed by other new buildings except from the South. Mostly I am just tired of waiting. Things move slowly in this town. The SST has been on the docket since at least the 1990's. It's time to get going on this before we miss the boat, again. If a bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush, a skyscraper built is better than 3 on the drawing board, especially in Boston.
I agree 100% that this could and should be better. It's unfortunate that the FAA caps this one at what will be the city's 5th tallest. Considering it is designed to the height limit, it would likely be even taller if it was allowed to be. (contrast that with North Station or Back Bay Garage, as THOSE are the 2 that make me want to punch a wall)
Without any hope of this getting taller, I would rather just see it built as is. I have a feeling it will look better in person from most angles, and will be overshadowed by other new buildings except from the South. Mostly I am just tired of waiting. Things move slowly in this town. The SST has been on the docket since at least the 1990's. It's time to get going on this before we miss the boat, again. If a bird in the hand is better than 2 in the bush, a skyscraper built is better than 3 on the drawing board, especially in Boston.
odurandina
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Re: South Station Tower
^^Precisely; just the paperwork. First the Globe drama followed by a miraculous, 60-day extension, and a few handshakes over Martini's....
We'll see the Suits Ceremony no later than June 30th.
^^Precisely; just the paperwork. First the Globe drama followed by a miraculous, 60-day extension, and a few handshakes over Martini's....
We'll see the Suits Ceremony no later than June 30th.
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Suffolk 83
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Re: South Station Tower
Its all personal opinion but how do people hate this and like the Winthrop square proposal?
Its all personal opinion but how do people hate this and like the Winthrop square proposal?
JeffDowntown
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Re: South Station Tower
I put myself in the opinion camp of not being particularly fond of either tower's architecture.
But I like both project going forward, because the towers proposed are better than the current state of either site.
I put myself in the opinion camp of not being particularly fond of either tower's architecture.
But I like both project going forward, because the towers proposed are better than the current state of either site.
TheRifleman
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Re: South Station Tower
I actually like the proposal for Winthrop Square because of the location. I think that tower fits perfectly in that area--
I guess you can say this: Just because I think the architecture for SST is very poorly chosen doesn't mean that for somebody-elses view.
The 4-major-sites I believe should absolutely change Boston Skyline with something amazing are these sites in order.
#1 SST
#2 Harbor Garage
#3 Congress garage
#4 North Station
#5 Winthrop Square (Location) Is a more filler into the core of the city. The tower does not have to be anything epic concerning this location.
I actually like the proposal for Winthrop Square because of the location. I think that tower fits perfectly in that area--
I guess you can say this: Just because I think the architecture for SST is very poorly chosen doesn't mean that for somebody-elses view.
The 4-major-sites I believe should absolutely change Boston Skyline with something amazing are these sites in order.
#1 SST
#2 Harbor Garage
#3 Congress garage
#4 North Station
#5 Winthrop Square (Location) Is a more filler into the core of the city. The tower does not have to be anything epic concerning this location.
BostonDrew
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Re: South Station Tower
The article has an image I hadn't seen before that I figured was worth sharing
The article has an image I hadn't seen before that I figured was worth sharing
TheRifleman
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Re: South Station Tower
^^^^^^
This rendering feels like futuristic corporate robot America and takes the Character out of Boston.
I'm not crazy about this ground level rendering. Hopefully I'm wrong.
^^^^^^
This rendering feels like futuristic corporate robot America and takes the Character out of Boston.
I'm not crazy about this ground level rendering. Hopefully I'm wrong.
bigpicture7
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Re: South Station Tower
^ I respectfully disagree. I think that portion of the design looks great - a grand, welcoming concourse for those arriving in Boston. Keep in mind what it replaces - a dingy, '70's-ish low-ceilinged area that greets passengers as their trains pull in.
^ I respectfully disagree. I think that portion of the design looks great - a grand, welcoming concourse for those arriving in Boston. Keep in mind what it replaces - a dingy, '70's-ish low-ceilinged area that greets passengers as their trains pull in.
TheRifleman
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Re: South Station Tower
^^^^
It's more like what LOGAN airport should be designing.
^^^^
It's more like what LOGAN airport should be designing.