Whats left to build on?

Has anyone ever proposed a 1,000 footer on either side of ring rd? That's the only spot imo that a building that size would ever fit in. Either on top of lord and Taylor, star market, saks, or Cali pizza kitchen.
 
617 said:
Has anyone ever proposed a 1,000 footer on either side of ring rd? That's the only spot imo that a building that size would ever fit in. Either on top of lord and Taylor, star market, saks, or Cali pizza kitchen.
Click to expand...

You can make a technical argument that Boston has the demand for a supertall. However, i don't know if the numbers work. Since 1971 when the JHT topped out, we've built our tall office towers in the 36-46 story range. Someone with whom i put faith, said recently, that it was determined some time ago that 60-65 stories is close to the limit for Boston. Our recent condo towers are near those limits – but, building over 60 stories gets more expensive, quickly.

With respect to demand, with several, high floor space/mid-rise towers going up in the Seaport, we don't yet have tenants for the 2 office towers approved for 1 Congress and TD Garden... then add to that, all the luxury condo towers planned.... maybe this saturates the market, or proves all the more that very tall construction is viable in Boston.

There was a +15 minute exchange between BRA board member Theodore Landsmark and the representative of 40 Trinity yesterday about the project nearly having to be scrapped due to the severe cost challenges of building at this site. And we're talking just about 40 Trinity! Landsmark added that he'd like to see their lengthy exchange become 'viewable' (my words) such that the people become better informed about the severe cost challenged nature of highrise construction in Boston.

The easy and semi-hard parcels are gone. Now, all that remain range from next-to-impossible on up. You're dealing with labor costs, a bureaucracy and a process that has simply grown to nightmare proportions. In New York, you're probably a couple of tiers above Boston for the value of completed construction.

to make One57 work, they had some of the highest real estate prices in the world. I realize they paid much more for the parcel than you'd have to do in Boston. Still, i believe you'd have a tough time making the argument to finance a similar, 1005' tower in Boston. i believe we'd more likely be getting taller in baby steps. look at the current valuation for the JHT and built it. An economic model acceptable return vs risk might drop our skyscraper ceiling to as low as 800~825'. Does that number sound low? maybe.

If Boston added a supertall in Back Bay, it might make the skyline look stunted.... Despite the recent drama over the Garden Garage, the West End might be the ideal place for a new tallest. There's a few turd buildings that can come down. And the FAA limit appears to take you slightly over 900' - a good height for Boston.
 
Last edited:
617 said:
Has anyone ever proposed a 1,000 footer on either side of ring rd? That's the only spot imo that a building that size would ever fit in. Either on top of lord and Taylor, star market, saks, or Cali pizza kitchen.
Click to expand...

Or on top of the Hynes!
 
tangent said:
Plans to further push industry out of the metropolitan area a bit concerning. Maybe Boston and the metropolitan area can focus our economy on things that don't require industry. And less labor intensive industry can just relocate to areas with lower land values. But to eliminate industrial areas means fewer jobs and less diversity in the local economy. I don't think we should dismantle our industrial infrastructure with too much haste.
Click to expand...

Borderline Robert Moses talk there.
 
BussesAin'tTrains said:
I think part of it is yet another consequence of our balkanized municipalities. Hyper-local governance has its virtues, but damn if it doesn't simultaneously create intense insularity, provincialism, spite, and inefficiency. Regional planning in this state is nigh impossible.
Click to expand...

The roots stem from our Puritan heritage. The unbuilt highways throughout the Commonwealth is further evidence of your hypothesis. Hell, look at Westwood Station. In a perfect planning world, that would be a very dense mini city. Instead, there are a couple of four story apartment buildings, a few secondary mid-tier hotels in the pipeline and a bunch of box stores and chain restaurants. Such as colossal waste.
 
??? from University Ave it seems like a pretty large-scale housing development for a town such as Westwood. Aren't they going like, 4 or 5 stories there? does anyone know the number of units? And how do you get a town to support building a small city?
 
odurandina said:
??? from University Ave it seems like a pretty large-scale housing development for a town such as Westwood. Aren't they going like, 4 or 5 stories there? does anyone know the number of units? And how do you get a town to support building a small city?
Click to expand...

Westwood tried. The original plan was much more ambitious and urban. If I remember correctly, Canton threw a fit and sued over traffic stalling construction and then the recession hit and we get this lovely big box strip.
 
I would add that there is at least 5 parking lots in Bulfinch triangle that could be built on and would make for some nice infill, continuing the streetwall on many sections of that neighborhood. The fact that its right on top of transit is a huge bonus. I'd love to see something cool built on that triangular parcel in between Friend St. and Merrimac where CuppaCoffee currently sits. In fact im kind of suprised these lots haven't had any activity yet.
 
Developers too, are left wondering what land there is left to build on. Instead of parking lots downtown they're looking at Readville though: Link.
 
I can understand - who wants to deal with adverse neighbours showing up to public meetings and unpredictable approvals process with BRA? A wide open lot with low-intensity development seems like easy cash right now. And Commuter Rail isn't going to make this like some of the transitional urban developments like those going up in Virginia around Silver Line stops...we're gonna get some shitty, car-dependent, low walkability developments.

Anyone ready to start the Boston arm of SF BARF or NY YIMBY?...
 
 
617 said:
Has anyone ever proposed a 1,000 footer on either side of ring rd? That's the only spot imo that a building that size would ever fit in. Either on top of lord and Taylor, star market, saks, or Cali pizza kitchen.
Click to expand...

Cali-Pizza and Star I would estimate are above the E-line of the Green Line. Could be a bit of a challenge.
 
Yes, there was a proposal to build on-top of Lord & Taylor maybe ten years ago. Jordans Furniture was involved, or Barry / Elliot. Died with the recession.
 
Theres no proposal here but Im gonna be watching this parcel after the govt center garage towers go up. I think it will be a perfect spot for a slim triangular tower to go once the neighbors go in.


 
This is beyond a missing 'nose' on this prominent Bullfinch block...It's practically half the block. It's the perfect place for something like 10 Sullivan (SoHo, NYC)

10%20Sullivan%20300%20dpi-EMBED.jpg


or like a stumpier, more textured cousin to Pierce Boston as was the original proposal for 280 Cadman Plaza West (Brooklyn Heights, NYC) - now slated to be a more conservatively designed 36-storey tower

280-Cadman-Plaza-West.jpg


I'd love to see a new branch of the Boston Public Library or District Hall 'Central' go into the base of whatever gets built here. The renovations going into the Johnson Building at the Central Library are great and I really love the civic space that's available at District Hall, but that's quickly becoming over-subscribed. I recently visited the Brooklyn Central Library on and love the 'Info Commons' they've created as public third space, which not only includes shared general computer use space, but also meeting/digital classrooms

2013-Jan-15-info-common-252-1024x683.jpg
 
stick n move said:
Theres no proposal here but Im gonna be watching this parcel after the govt center garage towers go up. I think it will be a perfect spot for a slim triangular tower to go once the neighbors go in.


Click to expand...

That would be awesome.

Sometime in the near future... when all the last of the big towers of this cycle are rising, i believe the next big discussion will begin. And it will be none-other than the State Service Center. Unfortunately, when it gets re-developed, the City will make the mistake of trying to do the entire parcel at once. i think they should take apart the building in a couple of phases to ensure we get at least 2 bonafide >700' skyscrapers instead of the usual 1 highrise plus too much midrise bullcrap.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top