The Hub on Causeway (née TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
I really really really hope they redesign the office tower. Also, I hope they make some changes to the heights. In the first render on the link type001 posted, the roofs of Avalon and this project almost make a perfect line - may end up looking strange.
I really really really hope they redesign the office tower. Also, I hope they make some changes to the heights. In the first render on the link type001 posted, the roofs of Avalon and this project almost make a perfect line - may end up looking strange.
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
The BCDC met tonight from 5-7 to review Phase II and III (towers). Awaiting results.
The BCDC met tonight from 5-7 to review Phase II and III (towers). Awaiting results.
Equilibria
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
I wonder if that will give them a chance to replace the tiles...
EDIT: Also, three years? The building will be open in three years. The passageway could be completed with the basement levels and be done in one. Why not?
I wonder if that will give them a chance to replace the tiles...
EDIT: Also, three years? The building will be open in three years. The passageway could be completed with the basement levels and be done in one. Why not?
Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
^ What a joke. By the way anyone remember how long it took them to dig the new garage entrance right next to the headhouse? It was <6 mos. as I remember it.
^ What a joke. By the way anyone remember how long it took them to dig the new garage entrance right next to the headhouse? It was <6 mos. as I remember it.
Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
^ Yeah - but in theory, at least, you could close one lane of the garage ramp, do a little digging, and build a plywood passageway to the platforms. I mean over 3 years you can even amortize a escalator meaningfully. There's enough space there that you could even build a continuous concrete ramp up the CR level ... This headhouse has well-groomed open space on all four sides of it - this ain't copley. Yes I know it's going to be an acive construction site but civilized people accomodate continuous access in construction zones all the time.
I mean - 3 years is a freaking long time. Everyone transferring CR / GR-OR is going to have to walk across causeway street and then the length of beverly? I mean I know it's not exactly Bataan but it still sucks if that's your daily.
It also sucks if you're trying to load the evening rush at the same time people are arriving for an event. In the winter.
And this is a freaking private development - at the risk of getting all demagogue on y'all they're literally taking 3 years if incremental pain-in-the-ass for thousands of people and turning into cash in their pockets. Why can't they pay for some temporary access?
... am i over the top here? I have visions of hoards of grumpy people crushing a single crosswalk on causeway st all morning and all night and it ain't pretty.
^ Yeah - but in theory, at least, you could close one lane of the garage ramp, do a little digging, and build a plywood passageway to the platforms. I mean over 3 years you can even amortize a escalator meaningfully. There's enough space there that you could even build a continuous concrete ramp up the CR level ... This headhouse has well-groomed open space on all four sides of it - this ain't copley. Yes I know it's going to be an acive construction site but civilized people accomodate continuous access in construction zones all the time.
I mean - 3 years is a freaking long time. Everyone transferring CR / GR-OR is going to have to walk across causeway street and then the length of beverly? I mean I know it's not exactly Bataan but it still sucks if that's your daily.
It also sucks if you're trying to load the evening rush at the same time people are arriving for an event. In the winter.
And this is a freaking private development - at the risk of getting all demagogue on y'all they're literally taking 3 years if incremental pain-in-the-ass for thousands of people and turning into cash in their pockets. Why can't they pay for some temporary access?
... am i over the top here? I have visions of hoards of grumpy people crushing a single crosswalk on causeway st all morning and all night and it ain't pretty.
Downburst
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
You're not over the top at all.
I and thousands of others use that entrance every day. When a suggested alternative is shoving people back and forth across Causeway- an already congested street lined with narrow sidewalks- it's simply a poor alternative. When this alternative is expected to be in place for three years- longer than the closure of Government Center- it's simply unacceptable.
The new connection should be prioritized and completed ASAP. Yes, I'm biased, but I don't think it's wrong to say that anything less is shameful.
You're not over the top at all.
I and thousands of others use that entrance every day. When a suggested alternative is shoving people back and forth across Causeway- an already congested street lined with narrow sidewalks- it's simply a poor alternative. When this alternative is expected to be in place for three years- longer than the closure of Government Center- it's simply unacceptable.
The new connection should be prioritized and completed ASAP. Yes, I'm biased, but I don't think it's wrong to say that anything less is shameful.
Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
Wow. Just wow. During PM peak, that corridor between the fare gates and the headhouse is at crush capacity on every OL train arrival. Causeway Street is going to be a MESS.
Put me in the camp of "I can't believe they allow the closure of this, for three years, for a private development." I'm all for this development, it's going to be an amazing improvement for the site, but there's no reason the City/MBTA can't force the developer to maintain access 100%, or at least minimize closures.
Wow. Just wow. During PM peak, that corridor between the fare gates and the headhouse is at crush capacity on every OL train arrival. Causeway Street is going to be a MESS.
Put me in the camp of "I can't believe they allow the closure of this, for three years, for a private development." I'm all for this development, it's going to be an amazing improvement for the site, but there's no reason the City/MBTA can't force the developer to maintain access 100%, or at least minimize closures.
JeffDowntown
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
I have to agree -- this closure is truly insane and unjustified.
Why is the City/MBTA not all over this developer for a better plan?
I have to agree -- this closure is truly insane and unjustified.
Why is the City/MBTA not all over this developer for a better plan?
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
Call your state and city reps as well as MassDOT/MBTA, people. Don't just bitch about it online. Just in the past 3 days, the T has flipped positions on allowing political ads, GL art cancellation, and Commuter Rail schedules because reps spoke out/for their constituents. The T is very weak and vulnerable right now, making terrible, ill-informed decisions that they are backtracking on because customers are calling them out.
Call your state and city reps as well as MassDOT/MBTA, people. Don't just bitch about it online. Just in the past 3 days, the T has flipped positions on allowing political ads, GL art cancellation, and Commuter Rail schedules because reps spoke out/for their constituents. The T is very weak and vulnerable right now, making terrible, ill-informed decisions that they are backtracking on because customers are calling them out.
Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
They could construct a temporary raised walkway above Causeway St quite simply, IMO. If this is going to take 3 years, crossing Causeway St. is going to be (and already is) absolute chaos, and there needs to be an alternative.
They could construct the raised walkway so that it starts on the opposite side of the head house on Legends Way, so that the median on Causeway St. can be utilized to build a couple temporary support columns. Placing the stairs on both ends might be tricky, but it's so much easier for commuters this way, rather than having to cross Causeway St.
Whether BP or the MBTA does it, they could easily make back the money spent on this by opening the sides of the walkway for advertisements over the 3 years.
They could construct a temporary raised walkway above Causeway St quite simply, IMO. If this is going to take 3 years, crossing Causeway St. is going to be (and already is) absolute chaos, and there needs to be an alternative.
They could construct the raised walkway so that it starts on the opposite side of the head house on Legends Way, so that the median on Causeway St. can be utilized to build a couple temporary support columns. Placing the stairs on both ends might be tricky, but it's so much easier for commuters this way, rather than having to cross Causeway St.
Whether BP or the MBTA does it, they could easily make back the money spent on this by opening the sides of the walkway for advertisements over the 3 years.
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
I will contact my reps/senators. I also object to the last plan I saw which, even after rebuilding was going to require not only walking all the wy to causeway but the multiple switchbacks (180 deg turns on a staircase) to get down to the fare lobby--lots of extra walking and crowding forever by 20,000 people per day.
I will contact my reps/senators. I also object to the last plan I saw which, even after rebuilding was going to require not only walking all the wy to causeway but the multiple switchbacks (180 deg turns on a staircase) to get down to the fare lobby--lots of extra walking and crowding forever by 20,000 people per day.
TheBostonian
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
Any of you contacting your legislators about this: Please be very clear that your concern is about this specific construction period impact. You want to make sure the legislator's staff doesn't lump your complaint with comments in opposition to the project.
Construction ain't pretty. It's basically a major industrial activity temporarily wedged into a neighborhood, disrupting the normal use and enjoyment of a place. Greenfield development is much easier in this regard than urban redevelopment.
Any of you contacting your legislators about this: Please be very clear that your concern is about this specific construction period impact. You want to make sure the legislator's staff doesn't lump your complaint with comments in opposition to the project.
Construction ain't pretty. It's basically a major industrial activity temporarily wedged into a neighborhood, disrupting the normal use and enjoyment of a place. Greenfield development is much easier in this regard than urban redevelopment.
Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
The current plan has a direct connection to OL from inside north station. It will take 3 years to get to that though.
The current plan has a direct connection to OL from inside north station. It will take 3 years to get to that though.
Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
I have a hunch that this closure was the price of getting an indoor connection in the revised plan. Maybe the developer was trying to poison-pill it and the T either called them on it or just assented to it obliviously
I have a hunch that this closure was the price of getting an indoor connection in the revised plan. Maybe the developer was trying to poison-pill it and the T either called them on it or just assented to it obliviously
whighlander
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
CSTH -- you are way over the top
Remember or ask someone to remember for you -- the temporary solution to the Green Line at North Station after the Old Garden came down and took with it the connection to the elevated Green Line on Causeway St. -- you used to walk down those stairs to get to anything in the area except the Garden that had its own private entrance to the Green Line
There was another Green Line Track that came out of the Haymarket Tunnel at street level and it ended on Canal Street about where the current North Station T's other exit is located -- it had a separate ground level Green Line Station -- which was the only Green Line Station in the area for several years -- and of course you couldn't get further North toward Lechmere without back-tracking to Haymarket
and later for several years when the elevated tracks were being demolished and the Green Line new North Station and its new incline was still under construction -- you had to take a Bus to Lechmere
CSTH -- you are way over the top
Remember or ask someone to remember for you -- the temporary solution to the Green Line at North Station after the Old Garden came down and took with it the connection to the elevated Green Line on Causeway St. -- you used to walk down those stairs to get to anything in the area except the Garden that had its own private entrance to the Green Line
There was another Green Line Track that came out of the Haymarket Tunnel at street level and it ended on Canal Street about where the current North Station T's other exit is located -- it had a separate ground level Green Line Station -- which was the only Green Line Station in the area for several years -- and of course you couldn't get further North toward Lechmere without back-tracking to Haymarket
and later for several years when the elevated tracks were being demolished and the Green Line new North Station and its new incline was still under construction -- you had to take a Bus to Lechmere
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DigitalSciGuy
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Re: The Boston Garden (TD Garden Towers) | 80 Causeway Street | West End
Agree with all these points. TransitMatters will also be looking into this to see what, if any, impact we can have and any answers we can get directly from the city/MBTA.
The way I see it - what does the developer care? Few people are going to see it as the developer imposing this closure, but rather the T will be on the hook. The T is likewise in a position where it would be more prudent to over-estimate how long the closure will take and just open it up early as a 'surprise'. A lot of planning has been consolidated into MassDOT, but I don't know if this some new conservative approach that MBTA Design and Construction is suddenly doing.
36 months sounds like a VERY conservative estimate, but it's a blink of an eye compared to the (hopefully) decades the underground connection will be in use once it's opened. Remember: Causeway Street is also getting a complete overhaul in the next few months to improve biking and pedestrian safety. That might at least ameliorate some of the issues of crossing that street.
One thing we can look into for the coming months is when scaffolding will be installed on the continuation of Haverhill St up to the Garden and whether we can push that schedule to ensure at least a modicum of protection from the elements on a portion of that walk this winter.
Agree with all these points. TransitMatters will also be looking into this to see what, if any, impact we can have and any answers we can get directly from the city/MBTA.
The way I see it - what does the developer care? Few people are going to see it as the developer imposing this closure, but rather the T will be on the hook. The T is likewise in a position where it would be more prudent to over-estimate how long the closure will take and just open it up early as a 'surprise'. A lot of planning has been consolidated into MassDOT, but I don't know if this some new conservative approach that MBTA Design and Construction is suddenly doing.
36 months sounds like a VERY conservative estimate, but it's a blink of an eye compared to the (hopefully) decades the underground connection will be in use once it's opened. Remember: Causeway Street is also getting a complete overhaul in the next few months to improve biking and pedestrian safety. That might at least ameliorate some of the issues of crossing that street.
One thing we can look into for the coming months is when scaffolding will be installed on the continuation of Haverhill St up to the Garden and whether we can push that schedule to ensure at least a modicum of protection from the elements on a portion of that walk this winter.