The Lucas | 136 Shawmut Ave | South End

... .and right on schedule, the AB community loses their collective shit.

cca
 
Its really difficult to see the final outcome of this project with the scaffolding still up. Its amazing the complaints that have already come in for a project which you cant really tell what the final look will be. Also, as its been said many times the back with be hidden by a future project so no need to get in a huff about it
 
I think the former church at the corner of Beacon and Mass Ave is a better example of reuse.
 
I'm pretty sure this will be fine. And if it isn't, it won't ruin the city, or even the South End for that matter (whatever "ruin" actually means)
 
The only thing it ruins is a beautiful old church, but that didn't have many options available to it anyway.
 
cca said:
... .and right on schedule, the AB community loses their collective shit.

cca
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Realistically, conversion of a church is an expensive proposition (which is why they sit for so long) and this is certainly one way of dealing with that proposition. And Finegold Alexander are very capable of doing this kind of project. It just feels clunkier than it needs to. I do appreciate that, at least, the insertion isn't clad in fiber cement like everything else in Boston.
 
statler said:
The only thing it ruins is a beautiful old church, but that didn't have many options available to it anyway.
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Actually, it DID have options. The Boston Chinatown Evangelical Church tried to buy the church, to use it as a (go figure) church! (They own the building right next door.) But the Archdiocese did not want to see the property used by another non-Catholic religious group (they are really averse to that kind of reuse), so they sold to a developer instead.
 
JeffDowntown said:
Actually, it DID have options. The Boston Chinatown Evangelical Church tried to buy the church, to use it as a (go figure) church! (They own the building right next door.) But the Archdiocese did not want to see the property used by another non-Catholic religious group (they are really averse to that kind of reuse), so they sold to a developer instead.
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Ha, interesting point. There has to be something ironic in the fact that the Archdiocese chose to sell a property such that would benefit the relatively wealthy few (i.e., the developer and the future residents who plunked down seven figures), rather than to an institution, albeit a "rival" one I suppose, that purportedly values community building. :rolleyes:

If I remember correctly, the Boston Chinatown Evangelical Church ended up purchasing the building next door after dealings for the church went nowhere. Taking a step further, it would've been even better if the developer purchased the building next door instead, tore it down (it's not a looker anyway), and built up a condo there instead!
 
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If they can do it to a 1960s warehouse, why not a church?
 
I still would have preferred for them to either follow the former roofline of the church, or tear the whole thing down and go wild.
 
The shape would be easier to digest if the steeple tower were similarly extended upward, approximating the original relationship between the tower and the sanctuary. Eliminates the overburdened camel effect.
 
Thats one of the ugliest buildings ive ever seen, but to each his own.
 
Haters gonna hate :) Backside notwithstanding I still like this frankenstein's monster of a building a lot.
 
This may turn out better than the renderings.

But WTF is going on with the rear elevation of the rectory?

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The only explanation I have is they expect another building to eventually butt against it separated by a narrow alley, and the recessed balconies are there for code.
 
stellarfun said:
This may turn out better than the renderings.

But WTF is going on with the rear elevation of the rectory?

34480902363_3566f36af9_b.jpg



The only explanation I have is they expect another building to eventually butt against it separated by a narrow alley, and the recessed balconies are there for code.
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Exactly correct. The parties that abut The Lucas have already filed a joint PDA for development behind (on Washington Street) and beside the building to the north on Shawmut.

FYI the PDA designation will allow the abutters to go up to 14 or 15 stories. They will basically swallow up The Lucas.
 
JeffDowntown said:
Exactly correct. The parties that abut The Lucas have already filed a joint PDA for development behind (on Washington Street) and beside the building to the north on Shawmut.

FYI the PDA designation will allow the abutters to go up to 14 or 15 stories. They will basically swallow up The Lucas.
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OMG can we get abutters to cover the other 2 sides as well?!? :rolleyes:
 
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