Westin Copley

You posted a link, not a copy of the article, so no problem.
 
They just finished an $18 million renovation this past year making it ridiculously energy efficient (winning a slew of awards) too.
 
vanshnookenraggen said:
Let's knock it down and build something better.
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That was my thinking about this. If they are on the verge of bankruptcy and they cannot get refinancing I'm curious if major developers in the city would be interested in this Hotel for a major development and change in the BBay Skyline.

Copley Tower and Westin new towers.

I have to admit I love the backbay but I hate walking around Hancock tower on Windy days.
 
TheRifleman said:
Westin Copley Place In Danger Of Default

http://www.bankerandtradesman.com/news148001.html


This is interesting......

If I can't post this due to BankerTradesman copyrights then to the Admin please delete.
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This sounds like a speciousness rumor -- go to the website and this is what you see
" Friday, December 30, 2011
This Article Has Been Removed
By Jim Cronin
Banker & Tradesman Staff Writer

This article has been retracted by Banker & Tradesman. "

But even if it did default all that means is an auction for the building -- it very well might remain a Westin as the hotel branding and ownership of the building are quite independent
 
^^^

Whigh,


Agree......We can only dream for that tower to be redeveloped. A developer might look at that situation as opportunity.
 
The retraction happened within the last two hours then, because when I followed the link (and posted my comment) the article was still there intact.
 
Knocking down the tower would require whatever is built there be significantly taller to recoup the costs. With the pike below, no option for below grade parking, and adjacency to Copley Square handicapping height, I don't really see that as a realistic option. The best we could hope for is a significant re-skin of the building and reconfiguration of the garage and drop off area to present a better street-wall to Huntington Avenue.
 
Lurker said:
The best we could hope for is a significant re-skin of the building and reconfiguration of the garage and drop off area to present a better street-wall to Huntington Avenue.
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I could probably live with that. The massing of the hotel is pretty terrible, but its interaction with the street and its pure-80s facade are bad enough that I'd be happy seeing some improvements just in those areas.
 
itchy said:
I could probably live with that. The massing of the hotel is pretty terrible, but its interaction with the street and its pure-80s facade are bad enough that I'd be happy seeing some improvements just in those areas.
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Lurk, itch -- once again someone buying the hotel at an auction -- at a discount to the total of the original mortgage and the recent spending on the interior is unlikely to spend any money on the exterior facade as that would hardly make the property more attractive to another buyer

If they chose to put any more money into the property -- it would be in public spaces such as the lobby or the mini-mall and restaurant area which can influence the class of any future retail / restaurant who might be a future lessee -- or if they were able to expand the building at all in more public space or more meeting rooms as these influence the income of the property and the quality of the hotel brand if there was any rebranding

But none of that is likely -- any buyer at an auction would just re-sign with Westin and continue as is with a lower cost basis -- essentially the equivalent of a Chap. 11 for the building as a business
 
Building a green roof/winter garden over the low convention hall would be a great thing to do. Open that up to hotel guests, have a restaurant or something up there and dine overlooking Copley Sq.

The biggest problem though is the traffic pattern around the building. Having all the Pike ramps here makes it one of the worst pedestrian experiences in the city. I don't even know where to begin with this.
 
Squaring off the entrance to eastbound Stuart Street from the Pike would help. The off-ramp should meet the street at a 90-degree angle instead of merging in as it does now.

That would allow reopening a proper sidewalk along Stuart Street. The resulting pedestrian experience would be no worse than crossing the westbound Storrow Drive off-ramp on the Mass. Ave. bridge sidewalk.
 
That sounds good Ron, except I think would cause q terrible backup in the Pike. It's probably a non-starter.
 
vanshnookenraggen said:
Building a green roof/winter garden over the low convention hall would be a great thing to do. Open that up to hotel guests, have a restaurant or something up there and dine overlooking Copley Sq.

The biggest problem though is the traffic pattern around the building. Having all the Pike ramps here makes it one of the worst pedestrian experiences in the city. I don't even know where to begin with this.
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I thought putting a new Olympic size pool in that area would be a good idea!
 
Interesting that B&T retracted their earlier article. The Palm did close on Dec. 31 though.
 
This is my thinking, Get it for the right price continue Hotel operations until it finally drys up. Then follow Lurker idea about the reskin of the property, some upgrades and renovations inside and use Van idea for Building a green roof/winter garden.

After that sell it.

I just thought it was interesting since it was in financial trouble and I think the location seems to be good for a developer to do this.

It's interesting the Palm closed its doors. So I'm assuming that for such a busy area that restaurant is having trouble surviving is even more troubling.
I just think that the Palm is very expensive and restaurants are a dime a dozen in the Backbay.
 
bbfen said:
Interesting that B&T retracted their earlier article. The Palm did close on Dec. 31 though.
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The Palm's moving to International Place. I'm not sure what the name of it is, but some Mexican or Brazilian steakhouse is opening up in the Westin.
 
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