Ink Block | Boston Herald Property Redevelopment

[Ron Newman]

The Boston Globe (http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/08/07/boston_herald_property_sold_/) writes:

Boston Herald property sold
By Christopher Rowland, Globe Staff | August 7, 2007

Boston Herald publisher Pat Purcell is teaming with a development firm to replace the newspaper's plant near the Southeast Expressway at the edge of Boston's South End, in a deal that could include residential, retail, and office space.

Purcell has sold the Herald building and the 6.6-acre parcel it sits on for an undisclosed price to a joint venture that includes himself and National Development, which is headquartered in Newton Lower Falls.

While it will potentially add a major new feature to Boston's southern skyline, the deal also marks another step in Purcell's efforts to transform Herald assets into cash and streamline the tabloid's operations. Purcell considers the Herald's antiquated printing presses obsolete in a time when newspapers can be electronically transmitted to be printed anywhere, said Purcell spokesman George Regan. The deal allows the current operation to remain in place for several years while the newspaper is relocated.

"The whole publishing world has changed dramatically, and the Herald is as mobile as anybody else,'' Regan said.

Last year, Purcell sold the Herald's daily and weekly suburban newspapers surrounding Boston to GateHouse Media Inc., a national chain, for $225 million. Earlier this year, Purcell confirmed he was in talks with Dow Jones & Co. to outsource the printing of the Herald to a Dow Jones press plant in Chicopee. That concept is still in play -- Dow Jones will soon be owned by Purcell's old boss at News Corp., Rupert Murdoch -- and would allow Purcell to eliminate up to 100 of the 650 jobs at the Herald site.

Purcell owns the Herald property independently from the newspaper. The deal to transform the site into a major real estate development is another piece of the puzzle.

Ted Tye, National Development's managing partner, said last night that the new partnership is hunting for a new location within Boston for the Herald newsroom and offices.

"For a newsroom and business offices, you could be located just about anywhere,'' he said.

National Development has built shopping malls, big-box retail stores, chain hotels, office projects, and residential space throughout Massachusetts. The Herald site is attractive to National Development because it will link the South End with Chinatown and the rest of the city, said Tye.

"It is a superb location. It's a gateway location to the city,'' he said.

Another developer familiar with the Herald site, but who requested anonymity because it is not his project, said that there is contamination on the property that will have to be cleaned up.

"It's a very challenging location. It's a site for five to 10 years from now. It's not a short-term transaction,'' he said.

Other developers are also looking at the neighborhood. A city official who requested anonymity because no official action has been taken said developers has shown the Boston Redevelopment Authority a preliminary proposal at a neighboring site, at 275 Albany St., to build a 25-story complex with 290 housing units and a 150-room hotel.

[Ron Newman]

The Boston Herald (http://business.bostonherald.com/businessNews/media/view.bg?articleid=1015849) writes:

National Development, Purcell to redevelop Herald site
By Scott Van Voorhis
Boston Herald Business Reporter
Tuesday, August 7, 2007 - Updated: 08:12 PM EST

Boston Herald publisher Patrick J. Purcell today announced a joint venture with a local real estate firm to redevelop the Herald?s longtime newspaper headquarters and printing plant.

The agreement with Newton-based National Development gives the Herald up to six years to find a new home. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Purcell would be a development partner in the joint venture.

The 6.6-acre site, in a rapidly changing area at the junction of the Massachusetts Turnpike and the Southeast Expressway, is considered a prime location for development.

The announcement marks an end of an era for the paper and comes amid sweeping changes overtaking the neighborhood and area around the Herald?s headquarters.

The Herald is currently in discussions with Dow Jones & Co. about printing the paper at a plant in Western Massachusetts. But Purcell plans to explore other alternatives as well.

The Herald first moved into its sprawling, red-brick plant in 1958, in what was then an area of rundown rooming houses on the border between Chinatown and the South End. In recent years, the area around the paper has been steadily transformed as developers have turned old warehouse buildings and empty lots into trendy lofts, condos, shops and restaurants.

National Development has made a name for itself building large, mixed-use residential, office and retail projects, usually in the suburbs, and often near major transportation hubs.

?This is an important move as we plan for the paper?s long-term future,? Purcell said in a statement.?We intend to publish the Herald for a very long time and realize that we must do so more efficiently than is possible in our current location.?

Meanwhile, National Development and its new real estate partners will begin exploring potential uses for the Herald site.

One general idea being looked at involves a mixed-use concept that would offer a combination of retail, office and residential. The site itself, based on current city zoning rules, could accommodate at least several hundred thousand square feet of development.

Tom Alperin, president of National Development, said it is much too early to say what form such a development would take - including whether it would include a tower.

?We see this as a mixed use development site,? Alperin said. ?It is a terrific gateway location.?

He said his firm will consult closely with City Hall - and the Herald?s neighbors - about finding the ?right mix of uses.? There have been a number of development battles over tower proposals in or next to Chinatown over the last few years, with neighborhood activists concerned about gentrification of the area.

As part of its agreement, National Development will help the Herald in its search for a new location.

While that might involve outsourcing the paper?s printing operations, it could also involve moving the Herald?s printing presses and offices to another location as well, according to one executive involved in the planning.

The process of determining what to do with the production of the paper, as well as where to move its offices, could take at least another year or two to sort out, the executive said.

[palindrome]

A good opportunity. Lets hope it's not wasted.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Bring back the New York streets! Well, the streets at least, perhaps not the squalor. I was a little annoyed that the urban renewal project wasn't mentioned in either article.

[czsz]

New York streets? And what urban renewal project?

National Development has built shopping malls, big-box retail stores, chain hotels, office projects, and residential space throughout Massachusetts.

Doesn't sound like they're the best choice for an urban project. A look at their website confirms...mostly suburban developments, and when they have come to the city, the results haven't been so great:

http://www.ndne.com/projects/h_clevelandcircle.html

http://www.ndne.com/projects/1and2_constitution.html

[kz1000ps]

Let the gentrification of WeSex* begin!

* WeSex being the marketer friendly term I've coined for the area, West of the Southeast Expressway.

[vanshnookenraggen]

New York streets? And what urban renewal project?

The area where the Herald building is now was once know as the New York streets. The area was developed when the Boston and Albany RR was built and to advertise the railroad named the new streets after towns and cities in New York. The area became a "slum" in the early 20th century and was razed about the same time as the West End and Scollay Sq.

http://www.ndne.com/projects/1and2_constitution.html

Oh GOD that is one ugly building.

Let the gentrification of WeSex* begin!

That sounds like a new adult video game by Nintendo.

[Equilibria]

Before you go bashing National Development based on those links, let me point out that the boring one (Charlestown) was an interior renovation project, not a new construction.

I happen to see ND's headquarters (which they built, I believe) rather frequently, and I have to say that it is one of my favorite suburban office buildings. Their body of work may not be extensive in the city, but it isn't appalling, and given some other projects in this town maybe we could use the fresh blood.

I'll get a picture of that office next time I'm near there if anyone wants to see it.

[JimboJones]

http://bostonreb.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/14.jpg

This photo was taken sometime in the '50's, pre-Southeast Expressway.

The area to the left is where the Herald building is now.

As you can see, the New York Streets neighborhood is gone.

[Charlie_mta]

That photo is sad, in that it shows just the beginning of the wholesale, massive leveling of other central Boston areas that would occur just a few years later.

Sometimes I wonder if the inspiration for urban renewal in Boston was the bombed-out WW-II landscape of Dresden, Germany.

[saltbox]

vanshnook, thanks for bring up the New York Streets. There is a great 1954 City Planning map available on the Boston Atlas http://www.mapjunction.com (sorry I don't have the capability to embed). It shows the street pattern prior to the urban renewal project.

Also, you should read Mel King's work. He and his wife grew up in the New York Streets and both have very interesting things to say about the neighborhood.

[vanshnookenraggen]

vanshnook, thanks for bring up the New York Streets. There is a great 1954 City Planning map available on the Boston Atlas http://www.mapjunction.com (sorry I don't have the capability to embed). It shows the street pattern prior to the urban renewal project.


I downloaded a high-res of that map back when they let you download the maps. I'll host it somewhere when I get home. In fact I also have high-re of all the BRA urban renewal plans so maybe I'll just make a new thread compairing the two.


Also, you should read Mel King's work. He and his wife grew up in the New York Streets and both have very interesting things to say about the neighborhood.

Sounds interesting, I'l look for it.

[JimboJones]

Mel King is quoted in this week's (last Saturday's?) Boston Courant, about growing up down there. Story to be continued in this coming Saturday's issue.

[czsz]

A city official who requested anonymity because no official action has been taken said developers has shown the Boston Redevelopment Authority a preliminary proposal at a neighboring site, at 275 Albany St., to build a 25-story complex with 290 housing units and a 150-room hotel.

Interesting. I was going to point out that there seemed to be nothing bordering the Herald site until I passed back over this info. This area could be hopping with development soon.

[statler]

At first I thought this may make a good for a Hard Rock Hotel (http://www.archboston.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=920) but then I realized that it is waaay too far away from the touristy areas of the city.

[czsz]

True, but then again the Hard Rock officials said they were eying the SBWaterfront, which isn't exactly Faneuil Hall or Newbury Street either. And the Albany Street proposal does include a hotel...

[JimboJones]

Here are details on the 275 Albany Street proposal:

275 Albany Street
Boston, Massachusetts

Highlights

* This 1.27-acre site is slated for a mixed-use development with a hotel, retail, and rental apartments
* Located in the SOWA district, which features many loft-style condominiums, art galleries, bakeries, trendy eateries, and retail
* Boston Convention Center and the Seaport District are just 10 minutes away
* MBTA Silver Line is just 1 block from the property

Summary Description

This mixed-use development site, ideally located in downtown Boston, will offer spectacular views of the Financial District to the North, Back Bay to the West, and South Boston and the waterfront to the East. Located in this trendy, upscale area, just 2 blocks south of Washington Street, the property provides access to buses and is just 7 minutes to the BU Medical Center. The site is directly adjacent to Route 93 and the Mass Pike, so visibility and access will be exceptional.

Leasing Contact:

Source: http://www.normandyrealty.com/normandycorporate/OurPortfolio/tabid/62/ctl/ViewProperty/mid/427/id/46/Default.aspx

[czsz]

Aha...SoWa and Seaport "nearby"...so that's how the area is being marketed. I hope something is done to make the walk over 93/the railyard more pleasant...

Perhaps we should have a new thread for the Albany St. project?

[vanshnookenraggen]

One thread is enough, I can just change the title.

Also, here are the streets that made up the New York streets (north to south):

Seneca St, Oneida St, Oswego St, Genesee St, Rochester St, Troy St, and Albany St.

And here is a great blog entry about the NY Streets:

http://bostonhistory.typepad.com/notes_on_the_urban_condit/2006/03/new_york_street.html

[kz1000ps]

What... no Schenectady? No Utica? Birmingham? Buffalo???

[czsz]

...and there's more, complete with a demo photo:

http://bostonhistory.typepad.com/notes_on_the_urban_condit/2006/03/new_york_street_1.html

[cityrecord]

What... no Schenectady? No Utica? Birmingham? Buffalo???

There is a Utica Street, which runs into Kneeland near the diner.

There was also a third New York Streets post, looking at the bridges in that area: http://bostonhistory.typepad.com/notes_on_the_urban_condit/2006/03/new_york_street_2.html

[JimboJones]

So, it was called the New York Streets neighborhood because the train going through there went on to stops in cities in upstate New York.

[Ron Newman]

No, because the streets were named after towns in New York where the train stopped.

Another part of the South End has streets named after Massachusetts towns where the train stopped -- Newton, Brookline, Dedham, Rutland, Springfield, Worcester, etc. I don't know how Waltham and Concord got on that list, since you get there from North Station, not South Station or Back Bay.

Near North Station you have some more streets named after railroad stops -- Merrimac, Lancaster, Portland, Haverhill, Beverly, Medford, Lynn.

[BostonObserver]

Here are details on the 275 Albany Street proposal:

275 Albany Street
Boston, Massachusetts


Is this just that the property owner is advertising the site or is there an actual plan in place?

add to this the rumored sale of the flower market to BU.

[rayray07]

My dad works at the Herald!

[Ron Newman]

And what is his reaction to this news?

[rayray07]

I haven't told him yet. I don't think he knows but I'm on my way to Boston now and I'm gonna break the news to him when I get there.

[Ron Newman]

Surely everyone who works in the Herald building knows this by now.

[Scott]

The Globe currently prints the NY Times and the NY Post for this area and the Worcester Telegraph prints the NY Daily News, both are owned by the NY Times Co.. The Herald offered this production contract to the Globe about a year ago but was turned down. Since then the Globe has gotten contracts to print and distribute the Brockton Enterprise and the Quincy Patriot Ledger.

The Herald selling that property was inevitable. For years they did very little to upgrade their equipment while the Globe has been expanding its color capacity looking to profit from there investments by becoming something of a job shop.

[Ron Newman]

If the Herald prints in Chicopee, a 90-minute drive from Boston, what's that going to do to their news deadlines, and to the timeliness of their news?

I think you can say goodbye to ever reading any story about a West Coast Red Sox game, for starters.

[JimboJones]

I agree, it blows.

I think getting west coast ball scores in the early editions went out the window once the Globe starting publishing color photos, back in the mid-90s.

[Scott]

I would guess that the press runs would be faster at the Wall Street Journal and would make up most of the difference. The color capacity will also be improved making the Herald more competitive with the Globe for 4 color ads.

Currently the Herald sends its first edition to the far suburbs and the airport and works its way in to Boston giving people in the city the West Coast scores in the third or fourth editions. Now Boston will be furthest from the plant so I wonder if they will now get first editions and the burbs get the later and better ones.

[czsz]

Do people in Boston pay for the Herald anyway? The only time I even look at it is if I grab a free copy on the way into a train station. Even where they're not handing them out, Metro is a more convenient alternative for portable tabloid news.

Their priority might lie with suburban subscribers. I remember reading that they were becoming more focused on their smaller suburban papers, which occupy more secure niches than Boston, as well.

[Ron Newman]

The Herald no longer owns any suburban newspapers.

[PaulC]

Tonight, after the final edition of this newspaper leaves the loading dock, the Herald will lose its corps of pressmen to the hard realities of outsourcing and the bottom line. After 50 years, a vibrant roar that rattled the spine of this building at least once every day will be replaced by eerie silence.

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/opinion/columnists/view/2008_10_05_Stop_the_presses/srvc=home&position=2

[gig02152]

Does anyone know where I can find photos of the New York Streets before they were demolished? I haven't been successful searching the internet and I can't see the one that was posted on this thread. What were the buildings like on these streets?

[Lurker]

If you look at the few remaining townhouses on Hudson Street in Chinatown, along with Milford and Dwight Streets in the South End you'll get a rough idea of what the buildings were like. It was a denser poorer version of the South End with a similar neighborhood feel to Chinatown and the old West End. If you carefully search through www.bostonhistory.org 's online photo catalogs you'll get an idea.

[12345]

Herald property slated for redevelopment
March 31, 2011 02:28
By Casey Ross and Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff

National Development is shopping a new plan to redevelop the Boston Herald property in the South End, soliciting major retailers to anchor a complex that would also include dozens of residences, the company confirmed today.

The Newton real estate company struck a deal with Herald owner Patrick Purcell in 2007 to jointly redevelop the property, but because of the credit crisis and recession they are only now preparing to move forward.

TJX Cos., the Framingham discounter that runs HomeGoods, Marshalls, and T.J. Maxx is among the merchants interested in the planned project, according to people briefed on the discussions. The Whole Foods grocery chain had considered opening a store in the new complex, but is no longer interested and has since announced plans for a supermarket in Jamaica Plain.

Ted Tye, a managing principal with National Development, declined to discuss specific tenants, but said, "I can tell you its a mixed-use development with residential and retail. But we're working through the plans."

Tye added he expects the firm will file a proposal with the Boston Redevelopment Authority later this year.

The Herald's real estate plans are not yet certain, although Tye said the newspaper plans to move its newsroom operations elsewhere. After the 2007 joint venture, Purcell outsourced the Herald's printing operations to plants in Chicopee and Norwood.

Purcell has not returned requests for comment. TJX declined to comment.

The project would be a major step foward in the city's efforts to revitalize an industrial section of the South End between Harrison Avenue and Albany Street. Boston officials are already working with property owners in the neighborhood over possible zoning changes and other measures that would encourage new development there. Another developer has proposed building a hotel and parking garage nearby on Albany Street, and an office tower at 1000 Washington Street is under renovation.

The project would need to get approvals from the BRA and other agencies before construction could begin.

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2011/03/herald_property.html

[commuter guy]

Hmmm, I'll reserve judgment, but big box retail doesn't strike me as a good use for this area. Large retail should stay up the street in Downtown Crossing. This could end up being a baby South Bay Shopping Center. Id rather see something in scale which is in keeping with the type of development that has been occurring throughout the S. End.

[Beton Brut]

^ Word.

[Lurker]

I'd like to see a supermarket. Other than that, reconstituting the New York City Streets' grid and allowing development to infill that grid, probably would result in the best final product.

[Ron Newman]

There used to be an A&P nearby, at Tremont and Herald streets. That closed and was replaced by a Wollaston's Market, but that also closed after a few years. I'm not sure what's there now but it isn't a supermarket anymore.

[commuter guy]

There used to be an A&P nearby, at Tremont and Herald streets. That closed and was replaced by a Wollaston's Market, but that also closed after a few years. I'm not sure what's there now but it isn't a supermarket anymore.

I think that building now is a CVS and a dog day care place.

[porter]

This area of the city is like a Bermuda Triangle for me. I've only been there when I've gotten lost.

[JohnAKeith]

A supermarket seems to be a logical fit (except for traffic/parking issues, which they might be able to work out ... but of course they'd have to allow Washington Street traffic in both directions to keep the grid moving ...). Probably limited negative reaction to it, too. Especially if it's a Whole Foods. Bigger than the Fenway one, most-likely, but I would assume smaller than the South Bay Stop & Shop?

The A&P that was there was just horrid. It was terribly dark and the meat selection looked moldy and old. It creeped me out, I only went in once or twice. The Wollaston's should have worked. The CVS has a large selection of food in addition to the pharmacy and regular beauty goods.

Someone (here or elsewhere) says that the building always has to be a "market" of some sort, as part of a pre-existing agreement. Don't know about that.

I think South Enders would love it, esp. if it had parking; as of now, some walk to Prudential while others probably car it to South Bay.

Wait, this is down the street from me. A supermarket??

I'M AGAINST ITTTT.

[Sicilian]

Not that I'm sure it makes a difference, but there is a Foodies opening on West Broadway (probably about 1m away), and rumors of another supermarket or smaller market somewhere near the Macallan building.

[Lurker]

I'd like a supermarket that was walkable for the majority of the South End. If the Blackstone School wasn't such a necessary disaster or Cathedral Housing was ever knocked down, that would be an even better location.

I'm strongly in the camp that the New York City Street's grid absolutely must be brought back for this area to thrive. Otherwise whatever development occurs is going to be dead impenetrable super-blocks; like everything else built in the South End in the past 50 years.

[statler]

Otherwise whatever development occurs is going to be dead impenetrable super-blocks; like everything else built in Boston in the past 50 years.

Fixed that for you.

[el raval]

I'm strongly in the camp that the New York City Street's grid absolutely must be brought back for this area to thrive. Otherwise whatever development occurs is going to be dead impenetrable super-blocks; like everything else built in the South End in the past 50 years.

I'm not sure if you've been to the South End in the last decade, but the Washington Street corridor is the one area of town that has been developed with a much finer grain of solid infill development that has generally avoided the scale of the superblock.

I would argue that the stretch of Washington (and Harrison) between East Berkeley and Mass Ave has been the one area of the city that has been redeveloped and is an unqualified success.

Hacin's Myers+Chang building, Wilkes Passage, the Cathedral gymnasium, the redevelopment of the Penny Savings Bank, Thayer St and 450 Harrison, 500 Harrison, the Art Block Lofts, Harrison Commons/Penmark, and the Moakley building at BMC all work well as individual projects and add to the urban ensemble.

[Lurker]

I live in the South End; have since 1980. The difference with the developments on Washington Street is that they've been infill of an existing grid. A grid which was still spaced to human and not automotive dimensions. The entire Herald Square, or whatever the BRA is calling it now, area deliberately obliterated the NYC streets' grid in order to impose super blocks and road sizing specific to trucking.

[el raval]

Absolutely agreed that establishing a finely scaled street grid is one of the keys to the success of development here, and creating a sense of urbanity where one doesn't exist.

The Herald property itself though, didn't erase a pre-existing finer street pattern, as near as I can tell from maps from the 1880s. Given the proximity to the industrial uses fronting the channel and south bay, east of Harrison was already a super block from Dover St (East Berkeley) to Castle (Herald).

I would guess that we believe in the same solutions for the neighborhood, I just took issue to the generalization "dead impenetrable super-blocks; like everything else built in the South End in the past 50 years." It seemed like a throwaway defeatist line that is common on this forum echoing that Boston can't do anything right. One of the only areas of large scale redevelopment in the city that I do think will turn out well (despite the incompetence of the BRA) is the South End. The Herald corner however might not ever be a success, given that it is fronted to the north and east by the Pike and 93, and as you mention, there is currently no human-scaled grid, nor any single structure worth building around and infilling between.

[JohnAKeith]

Hmmm. I came to a different conclusion than you did. From this 1895 map, it looks as though the street grid went all the way 'north' to Broadway and the rail lines heading west.

http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston/big/boston15.html

The block between Washington and Harrison, yes, seems to have been undeveloped but the Herald plant is between Harrison and Albany, no? It looks to be densely populated housing all the way to Troy St, which is one block away from Dover/E. Berkeley, no?

http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston/small/boston15.jpg

[porter]

Don't all the rich people in the South End go to corner grocers? I worked at one on Tremont Street for a short time and these places have a pretty solidly loyal customer base. It doesn't seem like corporate supermarkets like Whole Foods would do good business, at least not with these people.

[Lurker]

Don't all the rich people in the South End go to corner grocers? I worked at one on Tremont Street for a short time and these places have a pretty solidly loyal customer base. It doesn't seem like corporate supermarkets like Whole Foods would do good business, at least not with these people.

A lot of people depend on PeaPod deliveries here and aren't too happy about it. It's not fun dragging a cart to the Pru or having to drive to either South Bay or the Pru in bad weather.

The corner stores only have so much and one gets tired of being gouged in order to "support a local business" that could care less about their customer base or service. It was a little different before gentrification. Now almost every 'bodega' has become a pretentious extortion racket.

[porter]

Again, I've worked at one and I didn't get that feeling at all.^ These are well off people in this neighborhood and they're willing to pay for the higher quality products that most of these stores sell....otherwise these businesses wouldn't be around right now.

[Lurker]

"higher quality products" = slapping an organic sticker on the same gallon of milk Shaws/Stop&Shop sell as their generic brand and charging $7 for it.

[dshoost88]

^^ I think the higher quality products he's talking about are meat markets, wine & cheese vendors, and places you can buy fresh coffee grounds/beans from an exotic island few of us have ever heard of.

[el raval]

Hmmm. I came to a different conclusion than you did. From this 1895 map, it looks as though the street grid went all the way 'north' to Broadway and the rail lines heading west.

http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston/big/boston15.html

The block between Washington and Harrison, yes, seems to have been undeveloped but the Herald plant is between Harrison and Albany, no? It looks to be densely populated housing all the way to Troy St, which is one block away from Dover/E. Berkeley, no?

http://www.communityheritagemaps.com/boston/small/boston15.jpg

It would be impossible to draw such different conclusions from the same map! Actually I was looking at the 1883 map from the South End Historical Society, which showed a single parcel from Dover to Castle. It's hard to imagine that the neighborhood could have changed so much in 12 years to be indistinguishable... that by 1895 an entirely new richly-scaled area was born in a decade... oh what could be accomplished in Victorian times!

[Lurker]

^^ I think the higher quality products he's talking about are meat markets, wine & cheese vendors, and places you can buy fresh coffee grounds/beans from an exotic island few of us have ever heard of.

In that case I concur.

[JohnAKeith]

I disagree stringently(?) with the argument that the South End's population subsists on fois gras and wine and cheese. You haven't spent enough time in the neighborhood if you think that's who my neighbors are.

Firstly, and most-obviously, there is a large population of low-wage (or, no-wage) earners in the two public housing projects, along with Villa Victoria and Tent City and the co-ops on Tremont Street and the ... so on and so on.

While there might a fair amount of people who love the cheeses of Formaggio, spending any time at Foodies or the Back Bay Shaws would prove the point that the majority of residents buy food just like the rest of you.

Except for last-minute necessities. We buy milk at CVS and not at the corner "bodega" because it's $1.69 at CVS but $2.75 at the corner (and at Foodies).

Yes, perhaps we're different (we're poor) but all of my friends do the same thing.

It could very well be "old" South Enders vs. "new" (the dreaded "new") South Enders but I think.

I don't disagree that you may find some who live that sort of life, but far from the norm; I'd bet 10%, at best.

If it was different, we wouldn't be able to support two 7-Elevens, two CVS's and a Walgreens. They're not making a living off our purchases of pharmaceuticals; they're doing it off purchases of Doritos and Vagisal.

You're buying into some sort of story if you think the South End is made up of "rich" people. Perhaps those are who you saw at your corner store but that's because everyone else was shopping elsewhere.

And, I don't think the "rich" people go to the corner store for more than a gallon of milk and perhaps some wine or a block of cheese. But, that's not "food-shopping".

More people here would probably love a Trader Joe's over a Whole Foods, because it's cheaper. They'd like a Whole Foods only because it's known for having good quality food and because it's name isn't "Shaws" or "Stop and Shop" so we remain something better than a suburb.

In theory.

[Justin7]

"higher quality products" = slapping an organic sticker on the same gallon of milk Shaws/Stop&Shop sell as their generic brand and charging $7 for it.

If it has an organic sticker on it how can be the same product?

[Lurker]

Unless it's a USDA certified organic sticker, anyone can slap an "organic" sticker on most types of a food.

[albertmw]

at least not with these people.

A lesson in forum moderation, when you see something like this, prune it right away. Man these threads get off topic easily...

[Justin7]

Unless it's a USDA certified organic sticker, anyone can slap an "organic" sticker on most types of a food.

Are you saying that these (http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateJ&navID=NationalOrganicProgram&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&page=NOPACAs&description=USDA%20Accredited%20Certifying%20Agent s&acct=nopgeninfo) are illegitimate or that these markets just slap stickers on uncertified food? If it is the latter they should be reported.

[HenryAlan]

Are you saying that these (http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ams.fetchTemplateData.do?template=TemplateJ&navID=NationalOrganicProgram&leftNav=NationalOrganicProgram&page=NOPACAs&description=USDA%20Accredited%20Certifying%20Agent s&acct=nopgeninfo) are illegitimate or that these markets just slap stickers on uncertified food? If it is the latter they should be reported.

There are lots of ways to label a food product that can be misleading, I think that's what Lurker is getting at. This goes for organic, free range, fair traded, etc. All of that stuff can be fudged.

[bbfen]

Agree with HenryAlan and Lurker. I've seen "green" toilet paper.

It's toilet paper. As in paper. Made from pulp. Which comes from trees. Of course it's green!!

That's like saying "biodegradable poo." UGH

[Ron Newman]

No, it means that it is made from recycled paper.

[jass]

No, it means that it is made from recycled paper.

And I believe with much less bleach.

[Lurker]

Most toilet paper is made from recycled materials simply because it is cheaper than using fresh materials better suited for higher quality papers.

My complaint about corner markets is the false sense of service, unique products, and quality that some use to price gouge. If the store is essentially a more aesthetically appealing 7-11, with the same service, products, and quality, expecting a price premium for the sake of appearances is ridiculous. Don't give me any bullshit about the "experience" either; it's lipstick on a pig.

[PaulC]

I didn't go to the Harrison/Albany meeting today so I'm getting this second hand. The Herald announced that their building will be 5 stories high because this area is filled land and they feel it would be to expensive to sink deeper pilings. I would bet they are really building a place holder so that when the surrounding areas are built up - made safe and nice - they can tear this building down and build higher. They are looking to include a grocery store.

[Ron Newman]

Pretty much all of the South End, whether residential brownstones or warehouses, is 5 stories tall, more or less. The only exceptions I can think of are the hospitals.

[PaulC]

Pretty much all of the South End, whether residential brownstones or warehouses, is 5 stories tall, more or less. The only exceptions I can think of are the hospitals.

Part of this planning is to change zoning heights, up to 170 in some places.

from the South End Patch:

A mixed-use development planned for the footprint of the Boston Herald building on Harrison Avenue met with mixed reactions from a crowd of stakeholders on Wednesday, with some saying the tentative plans released by the developer lacked ?ambition.?

?This is very, very disappointing,? said Mario Nicosia, a nearby resident and head of GTI Properties. ?This is not what this neighborhood needs. We need density, we need people. This project is not worthy of a six-acre site.?

National Development?s Ted Tye unveiled preliminary plans for a mixed-use development that includes over 60,000 square feet of retail space underneath residential units. The proposed development utilizes the current footprint of the Herald building, with parking and some public outdoor space taking up the rest of the property.

?We?re trying to create a really active site where there?s a very vibrant streetscape,? he said. ?There?s lights on there?s things happening."

Early plans, which reflect a design by architect Elkys Mandredi, show a 4-5 story building that utilizes different materials to evoke a multi-block feel. The design also incorporates a version of the Boston Herald tower as seen from I-93.

?We take a great deal of pride in the design,? Tye said. ?Were trying to do something here that?s very special but also very unique to this neighborhood [and its] industrial history.?

The developer is envisioning four smaller retail spaces along the Harrison Avenue side of the building with one large retail space along Traveler Street ideally suited for a grocery store. Conversations with several grocery retailers are currently underway, Tye said. The design also leaves space for bike sharing kiosks, electric car hook-ups and Zip Car spaces. An outdoor area that could be used as a caf? is also being considered.

On Tuesday, members of an advisory group dedicated to the Harrison/Albany Corridor expressed disappointment with the scope of the plans, given the property?s potential to act as a gateway to the South End.

?This is very conservative and it seems very suburban to me,? said Christos Hamawi of the Worcester Square Neighborhood Association. ?I agree that it could be used in a much more exiting way.?

National Development has presided over a number of high-profile mixed-use projects including Station Landing in Medford and Meadow Walk in Lynnfield, both of which include retail and residential units in a ?Main Street? design.

On Tuesday, Tye stressed that plans for the Herald property are ?a work in progress.? No plans have been formally submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

The building is still partially occupied by the Boston Herald editorial and business offices, but the longtime daily newspaper is planning to relocate by the end of the year, Tye said. The company is looking to remain local, although its printing facility is located in Chicopee. *

?The building is really underutilized right now,? Tye said. ?It?s really way beyond its useful life and the Herald is only occupying a small potion of the building.?


http://southend.patch.com/articles/potential-plans-unveiled-for-redevelopment-of-boston-herald-offices

[kennedy]

Woah. Neighbors criticizing something as "suburban" because they lack density? I'm shocked. That's awesome.

[blade_bltz]

Pretty much all of the South End, whether residential brownstones or warehouses, is 5 stories tall, more or less. The only exceptions I can think of are the hospitals.

Uh, how bout the ten story building right across the street from the Herald site?

[PlanBoston]

National Development certainly brings some credibility to this proposal, but it will be interesting to see if anything can work on a site that's in the armpit of 2 highways.


Redevelopment plans for Herald site filed
By Casey Ross
Globe Staff / June 7, 2011

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/06/07/redevelopment_plans_for_herald_site_filed/?p1=News_links


A proposal to build retail stores, 262 apartments, and underground parking on the site of The Boston Herald was filed with the city today, signaling an to end the newspaper?s operations at its longtime headquarters in the South End.

National Development of Newton told the Boston Redevelopment Authority that it wants to transform the industrial property into a mixed-use complex that would incorporate public gardens, outdoor seating, and other amenities.

An executive with National, which entered an agreement to redevelop the property with Herald publisher Patrick Purcell, said the tabloid is planning to move from the property by the end of the year. The executive, Ted Tye, said the Herald is eyeing two locations within the city, but he declined to say where.

A spokeswoman for the Herald could not be reached. Last month, the newspaper announced it was negotiating a deal to have the tabloid largely printed and distributed by The Boston Globe.

The proposed redevelopment of the Herald?s headquarters promises to enliven a drab corner of the city at the intersection of South Boston, Chinatown and the South End. The newspaper built its two-story headquarters on the property in the 1950s.

In a filing with the city, a lawyer for the project said it involves a partial demolition of the building to construct the rental apartments, 63,700-square feet of restaurants and stores, and 263 underground parking spaces. The property would also contain 192 surface parking spaces.

Tye said the retail could include a supermarket, restaurant, caf? and other shops. ?We want to keep the site very active and vibrant,? he said. ?We think that?s what?s called for in this part of the city, where there are some really great projects happening.?

Another developer is planning a hotel on adjacent property and several other retail and residential projects have begun to transform surrounding parcels on Harrison Avenue and Washington Street.

Tye said the firm is hoping to begin construction early next year. It first needs approvals from the Boston Redevelopment Authority and other agencies.
? Copyright 2011 Globe Newspaper Company.

[blade_bltz]

lolwut @ surface parking

[BostonUrbEx]

This is the site that has a rail spur right off of the NEC, doesn't it?

[johnmcboston]

Indeed B, that is the one with the rail spur (although I don't know when the Herald last received paper by rail).

My little bird also told me that 5 stores is "what they could get financing for" - so even if it's not what anyone wants, they'd rather than have a new building than an empty Herald building waiting for denser development...

[briv]

192 spot surface parking lot? You gotta be kidding me. Where is the guidance from the city? Is there anyone working at the BRA that does not have their head in their ass?

This is like 1960s Urban Renewal all over again.

[JohnCostello]

Uh, how bout the ten story building right across the street from the Herald site?

The former Teradyne Building is well over 100 years old. It is on its third skin.

[Lurker]

Step:
1.Rebuild the original New York City Streets grid with modern utilities.
2.Infill with new residential development in the character of the South End.
3.PROFIT!

Is it really that hard for the BRA to figure that out?

[JohnAKeith]

Mmm, the 192-surface lot stuck out to me, too. The underground spots equal the number of residential units; I thought we had decided that you didn't need a one-for-one, that half for one or even two for three was sufficient.

As much as remaking NY Streets sounds inviting, I don't think it works in this day and age.

I think they are grossly under-building, as do some others in the neighborhood.

I think Albany Street is too wide down there, no? There's hardly any traffic except at that on-ramp and the one further down. Can they build a road there accessible only to abutters, maybe for the Herald buildings and the new hotels?

[PaulC]

at the first Albany/Harrison meeting the city/bra person said we should look into bringing back something like the old street pattern with smaller blocks and the woman who represented the owner of the Herald yelled out something like - oh no you won't.

[Ron Newman]

why would she care since they are selling the property?

[PaulC]

I got the impression that they already had the designs by then

[BostonUrbEx]

at the first Albany/Harrison meeting the city/bra person said we should look into bringing back something like the old street pattern with smaller blocks and the woman who represented the owner of the Herald yelled out something like - oh no you won't.

Oh heavens to Betsy, noooo! The pure, unadulterated horror! Nooooo! Small blocks?! THINK OF THE CHILDREN! Won't somebody please think of the children! They might get lost because we'll double the amount of streets in the locale!

[Lurker]

why would she care since they are selling the property?

Smaller parcels make it more difficult for the Herald to sell them off individually to a potential developer at the highest price. They don't want the extra legwork.

This is clearly an example where the city should buy back a property it previously had seized and sold to a private developer and return it to its original state. This is a reversal of the urban renewal mess and the city should be taking a bigger role in righting a wrong.

[commuter guy]

Op Ed on Boston.com

Big site needs big plan
Modest redo for Herald plant falls flat
The Boston Herald sits on a mammoth 6-acre parcel in the South End. (David L. Ryan/Globe Staff)
By Paul McMorrow
June 17, 2011
FIGHTS OVER development in Boston usually pit overreaching builders against neighbors clawing at dense structures. It’s rarely the locals’ job to urge builders to show a little more initiative. So it’s a measure of just how unambitious the plans for the redevelopment of the Boston Herald’s headquarters are that the newspaper’s South End neighbors aren’t complaining about shadows or traffic. They’re comparing it to something you’d find in the suburbs.
The scheme to build an apartment and retail complex at the corner of Harrison Avenue and Herald Street landed with a thud inside City Hall last week. The Boston Redevelopment Authority hasn’t officially commented on the Herald proposal, but word is that it caught the agency off guard. And the last thing any Boston developer wants to do is surprise the BRA.
The Herald redevelopment bid was unexpected because its backers had recently been told that what they’re selling won’t fly with their South End neighbors. It’s routine for developers to feel out abutters before filing anything formal at City Hall, and when project co-owner National Development showed their preliminary designs around the neighborhood, they were told to go home and do more work.
For the past year, a BRA panel has been laying the groundwork for a dramatic rezoning of the Harrison Avenue and Albany Street corridors. The BRA wants to strengthen pedestrian activity and take full advantage of development opportunities. The Herald site represents one of the biggest redevelopment plays the panel has been weighing. The mammoth 6-acre parcel could extend the South End’s recent building boom to a marginal end of the neighborhood.
If done right, the project could also undo the scars of urban renewal. The Herald currently sits on top of blocks once known as the New York Streets. The tenement-lined blocks were leveled in one of Boston’s earliest experiments with slum clearance. The project, conceived in 1952, consolidated 14 city blocks into five, in the name of growing industry along the Southeast Expressway.
Fifty-three years after the Herald moved to the neighborhood, development has flipped upside down. Housing is displacing underutilized industrial facilities, and the super-blocks that slum clearance created have become impediments to vibrant neighborhoods. The BRA’s Harrison-Albany rezoning plan favors the restoration of the fine-grain pedestrian scale of the New York Streets. It currently recommends narrowing Harrison Avenue and chopping up impenetrable super-blocks with new roadways. It would trade generous height allowances for new infrastructure: Current zoning caps development at the Herald site at 70 feet, but under tentative plans, the BRA would allow construction of 150 to 200 feet, provided the development scheme improves the streets around it.
The BRA previously used height allowances to spur the creation of a rich, pedestrian-friendly environment along Boylston Street in the Fenway. The agency is offering up the same deal along Harrison and Albany. It’s asking developers to recreate a neighborhood that was obliterated a half-century ago, and allowing them to pay for the job by constructing significant buildings. As in the Fenway, residents support the bargain.
Herald owner Patrick Purcell and National Development haven’t taken the bait, though. They took an urban opportunity, and have responded with what neighbors are deriding as a suburban solution. Under current plans, the Herald’s 6-acre super-block would remain virtually intact. Developers would save money by reusing the Herald plant’s existing foundation, and construct an apartment complex that isn’t much larger than the current building. All of it would drown in a sea of parking.
Good neighborhoods need people. Density explains why portions of Harrison bustle on a Friday night, while the area around the Herald building is dark and desolate. The Herald plant’s redevelopment could create density to breathe new life into its end of the neighborhood. But the current redevelopment plan, which works within old zoning parameters, isn’t nearly big enough to do the job. It’s not even close to being the size that the BRA and South End residents have been asking for for months. Given all that, the proposal on the table looks like a cynical play, like the current plan is all the developers can afford to build today, and they’re too impatient to wait for the market to support a more meaningful redevelopment scheme. They’re rushing to build any building, at the expense of building up a neighborhood.
Paul McMorrow is an associate editor at CommonWealth magazine. His column appears regularly in the Globe.

Link: http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2011/06/17/big_site_needs_big_plan/

[JohnAKeith]

If memory serves, the Herald or some part of it is a co-developer of the site, which is why it would care what ends up going in there.

Yeah, here it is:

http://www.archboston.org/community/showthread.php?t=1772

[JeffDowntown]

This site is part of two recent and ongoing planning initiatives, and the National Development proposal completely misses the mark under both plans. Both the Chinatown Masterplan 2010 and the Harrison-Albany Corridor Initiative call for increasing the street density in the New York Street area; creating significant streetcapes; removal of surface parking and development of a small block, livable environment with signifant mixed use density. I also believe several of the street are slated to be narrowed (the urban renewal designs from the 60's are for trucking, not people!).

I hope that the BRA will send National Development back to the drawingboard. The proposal is totally inappropriate.

[whighlander]

Three points:

First -- Since Newspaprs are pretty much just places for people to do word processing with the product either printed on paper or send out over the Internet -- the Herald should return to downtown ideally to some where near to Newspaper Ally -- and they should crate a big LED display on a marque just above the ground floor. In fact the Herald would be a great anchor tenant for the Filenes Hole in the Ground

Second -- putting back the past street grid and look is unreasonable -- however there should be 2 or 3 blocks where there is one and each could feature a cluster of buildings of varying heights

Third that area can be a part of needed transit between the BCEC vicinity and the Back Bay Hotel cluster and while that is being implemented there should be stop at Herald Square

[BostonUrbEx]

Second -- putting back the past street grid and look is unreasonable

How is this unreasonable? It's the best idea I've seen yet relating to this site.



And the Herald anchoring Filene's? The Herald is making some serious cuts just to avoid falling as low as the Globe.

[PaulC]

It seems like this project is being done fast and cheap to start a cash flow. Once the area is fully developed this project can be torn down and a bigger project built when it's more lucrative.

[whighlander]

It seems like this project is being done fast and cheap to start a cash flow. Once the area is fully developed this project can be torn down and a bigger project built when it's more lucrative.

With the new media all about Nooks and Krannies -- the Herald could have a renaissance as it dumps most of the atoms for Bits - see the Center for Bits and Atoms at the MIT Media Lab

But more seriously if the developer gave over some of the ground floor exterior to the Herald and possibly one of the TV Stations (WBZ?) -- for cheap -- and they took some space inside as tenants -- there would be a downtown venue where people could have connectivity see the Big Story and download the video to you box and grab a Latte before hopping on the Red Line back to Alewife

Tourists might frequent the area to see media in action

Other media-centric companies might congregate in the area for cuddling purposes

Interestingly there is a Telecom Hotel (place with a lot of telecom / internet gear and connectivity at the top of the Macy's across the street

Media Bars and such might then spring back up -- as in the old days of Newspaper Row (just down the street coincidentally) when there were 8 or 9 downtown newspaper offices

[JohnAKeith]

Beyond a nostalgic nod to the past, what good reason would there be to recreate a neighborhood of low-rise, dense streets? How is that highest, best use? The housing would be prohibitively expensive to more than very few (even more so than other in-town housing). The location is less than prime (there IS a eight/ten lane highway to one side, and a eight lane highway to another).

Apartment complexes and offices / retail seems like the best bet, to me.

And I love the idea of more transportation. Can't the archBoston proposal for SL 2 go through here?

[Lurker]

Who said the dense streets had to be low rise? 8-10 stories on a tight grid would be quite European.

[bbfen]

Who said the dense streets had to be low rise? 8-10 stories on a tight grid would be quite European.

Oh, you (Commie/Fascist/Socialist/Nazi/Liberal/Frenchman). I love this idea.

[whighlander]

remember that Paris has only a few buildings much taller than 6 stories -- one misplaced tower (Tour de Montprnasse) and a handful of modern governmental mid-rise stuff such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Treasury, Some hotels, a few office buildings and a cluster of miss-placed lower income residences -- see the following for the list of tall buildings:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures_in_the_Pa ris_region
Note the list includes all tall buildings inside of an area surrounding Paris comparable to the area inside I-495 in Boston


Most of Paris' office buildings, hotels, residences and government buildings are substantially shorter than their counterparts in Boston -- yet Paris has a population of more than 3 Million within its city limits

By the way -- those of you of "if Boston doesn't build such and such taller than 20 stories -- well then it can't be world Class" -- might be interested in the following quote from the same page as the list of tall buildings in Paris:

" The Paris urban area contains the most skyscrapers of any metropolitan area in the European Union:[1] as of early 2009, there are 14 skyscrapers that reach a roof height of at least 150 meters (492 feet), compared to 12 such skyscrapers in London, 10 in Frankfurt, 5 in Madrid, and 4 in Warsaw. Most of Paris's high-rise buildings are located in three distinct areas; La Défense, located in the western inner suburbs in the département of the Hauts-de-Seine, Italie 13, located in the southern half of the 13th arrondissement, and the Front de Seine, located in the 15th arrondissement. "

[KentXie]

remember that Paris has only a few buildings much taller than 6 stories -- one misplaced tower (Tour de Montprnasse) and a handful of modern governmental mid-rise stuff such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Treasury, Some hotels, a few office buildings and a cluster of miss-placed lower income residences -- see the following for the list of tall buildings:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_and_structures_in_the_Pa ris_region
Note the list includes all tall buildings inside of an area surrounding Paris comparable to the area inside I-495 in Boston


Most of Paris' office buildings, hotels, residences and government buildings are substantially shorter than their counterparts in Boston -- yet Paris has a population of more than 3 Million within its city limits

By the way -- those of you of "if Boston doesn't build such and such taller than 20 stories -- well then it can't be world Class" -- might be interested in the following quote from the same page as the list of tall buildings in Paris:

" The Paris urban area contains the most skyscrapers of any metropolitan area in the European Union:[1] as of early 2009, there are 14 skyscrapers that reach a roof height of at least 150 meters (492 feet), compared to 12 such skyscrapers in London, 10 in Frankfurt, 5 in Madrid, and 4 in Warsaw. Most of Paris's high-rise buildings are located in three distinct areas; La Défense, located in the western inner suburbs in the département of the Hauts-de-Seine, Italie 13, located in the southern half of the 13th arrondissement, and the Front de Seine, located in the 15th arrondissement. "

Just like how you can make an argument with a couple of examples of world class cities such as Paris that are mainly mid-rises, you can make an argument of world class cities that have many high-rises and supertalls. However a large majority of the of Alpha Global Cities contains tall skyscrapers and even supertalls so the former argument is quite weak.

[Shepard]

Hypothesis: supertalls are more likely to be built in an "Alpha Global City" than a "Beta Global City" ... but so what?

Would building a few supertalls in a "Beta" turn that city into an "Alpha"? Hypothesis: No.

If a "Beta" increases its world visibility by other means - global finance, education, industry, political organizations, global transit links, and so forth - will it be more likely to attract supertalls? Maybe: even here in the US we have "Alpha regions" with no skyscrapers. Washington and Silicon Valley, for example.

My point is that there's no causality, and at the end of the day the existence of "supertalls" is more an aesthetic preference (more an aerial one than a street-level one, I might add) than a steppingstone towards Alpha-ness. So let's stop the "tall buildings are world class" argument, can we? If you think tall buildings are cool and awesome and look super-rad on a skyline panorama, just say so. At least that's honest.

[BostonUrbEx]

This site is directly in line with a runway at Logan. Nothing very tall and lofty will be built here. Let's at least make it classy and lovely and all that jazz by restoring the old 'hood.

[KentXie]

Hypothesis: supertalls are more likely to be built in an "Alpha Global City" than a "Beta Global City" ... but so what?

Would building a few supertalls in a "Beta" turn that city into an "Alpha"? Hypothesis: No.

If a "Beta" increases its world visibility by other means - global finance, education, industry, political organizations, global transit links, and so forth - will it be more likely to attract supertalls? Maybe: even here in the US we have "Alpha regions" with no skyscrapers. Washington and Silicon Valley, for example.

My point is that there's no causality, and at the end of the day the existence of "supertalls" is more an aesthetic preference (more an aerial one than a street-level one, I might add) than a steppingstone towards Alpha-ness. So let's stop the "tall buildings are world class" argument, can we? If you think tall buildings are cool and awesome and look super-rad on a skyline panorama, just say so. At least that's honest.

I'm not one of those who think that Boston should build tall for tall sake. However, while there is no clear causation, the lack of major development can be an indication for a lack of foreign (and when I mean foreign, I mean anything outside of the city) business investment into the city. As you have stated, high-rises are mainly a product of "visibility" or in other word, high economic activity. What does it tell you about a city that isn't seeing much development?

Also, any capital city of a major and powerful nation would be an Alpha City, whether its large or not so I'm not seeing DC as an anomaly.

Also, I'm not calling for a skyscraper here. I'm just responding to whiglander's post, stating that an argument can be built in both ways.

[DZH22]

By the way -- those of you of "if Boston doesn't build such and such taller than 20 stories -- well then it can't be world Class" -- might be interested in the following quote from the same page as the list of tall buildings in Paris:

" The Paris urban area contains the most skyscrapers of any metropolitan area in the European Union:[1] as of early 2009, there are 14 skyscrapers that reach a roof height of at least 150 meters (492 feet), compared to 12 such skyscrapers in London, 10 in Frankfurt, 5 in Madrid, and 4 in Warsaw. Most of Paris's high-rise buildings are located in three distinct areas; La Défense, located in the western inner suburbs in the département of the Hauts-de-Seine, Italie 13, located in the southern half of the 13th arrondissement, and the Front de Seine, located in the 15th arrondissement. "

The fallacy of this argument is that all of these cities are currently thinking bigger than Boston. For example...

Paris currently has 2 more 150+ meter buildings U/C, Tour Majunga and Tour Carpe Diem, and also has plans to build multiple supertalls, including the Tours Hermitage twins http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=634777

London has 4-5 of these skyscrapers U/C, including the supertall Shard http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=418897&page=368 More are on the way

Frankfurt has 3 such skyscrapers U/C, including the nearly completed 200 meter Tower 185. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=505636&page=53

Madrid wasn't even on the (skyscraper) map, but recently built this: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=391659&page=108

Warsaw has a couple skyscrapers U/C, including Zlota 44: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=257171&page=33
Also it has approved multiple 200+ meter projects including the Warsaw Spire which is currently in prep: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=596467&page=6

All of these dense European cities seem to understand the value of having taller buildings, and the designs show it isn't just about square footage (meter-age?) either. So, in short: London's skyline is exploding, Paris is getting taller and bolder architecture, Frankfurt is beefing itself up, Warsaw is getting denser and taller, Madrid just built a skyline defining cluster (for those of you who didn't look, it's 4 Hancock sized towers that were all built simultaneously), and Boston is adding a few short, blocky towers to the waterfront... Compared to these European cities, our skyline will soon look ancient.

[JonFrum]

[quote=JohnAKeith;123196]Beyond a nostalgic nod to the past, what good reason would there be to recreate a neighborhood of low-rise, dense streets? How is that highest, best use? The housing would be prohibitively expensive to more than very few (even more so than other in-town housing). The location is less than prime (there IS a eight/ten lane highway to one side, and a eight lane highway to another).

Apartment complexes and offices / retail seems like the best bet, to me.
Sounds like a great argument for Charles River Park. Jerome Rappaport couldn't have said it better.

[whighlander]

The fallacy of this argument is that all of these cities are currently thinking bigger than Boston. For example...

Paris currently has 2 more 150+ meter buildings U/C, Tour Majunga and Tour Carpe Diem, and also has plans to build multiple supertalls, including the Tours Hermitage twins http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=634777

London has 4-5 of these skyscrapers U/C, including the supertall Shard http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=418897&page=368 More are on the way

Frankfurt has 3 such skyscrapers U/C, including the nearly completed 200 meter Tower 185. http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=505636&page=53

Madrid wasn't even on the (skyscraper) map, but recently built this: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=391659&page=108

Warsaw has a couple skyscrapers U/C, including Zlota 44: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=257171&page=33
Also it has approved multiple 200+ meter projects including the Warsaw Spire which is currently in prep: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=596467&page=6

All of these dense European cities seem to understand the value of having taller buildings, and the designs show it isn't just about square footage (meter-age?) either. So, in short: London's skyline is exploding, Paris is getting taller and bolder architecture, Frankfurt is beefing itself up, Warsaw is getting denser and taller, Madrid just built a skyline defining cluster (for those of you who didn't look, it's 4 Hancock sized towers that were all built simultaneously), and Boston is adding a few short, blocky towers to the waterfront... Compared to these European cities, our skyline will soon look ancient.

And Rome and Athens do they have to have 200 m towers to not "look ancient" -- not necessarily critical -- just asking?

[whighlander]

By the way to DZH -- have you ever been to Warsaw or perhaps Warszawa

The Germans pretty much leveled the old place -- the Poles during the communist era meticulously rebuilt the old town and major government and historic buildings

Stalin donated a piece of Moscow -- still the tallest building in the city -- and the butt of many jokes about views and such including a derisive name connected to one of Pape-Joe's appendages

Everything else including giant multi-level shopping malls and such has been built Las Vegas-like in the past 2 decades -- much of it is banal, some is horrible -- very little of it has much to recommend it -- probably the best modern building is the Marriott

some of the main avenues are twice the width of Comm Ave with trams running down their center and people crossing underneath through passages which feature shopping as you cross the major intersections -- these underground passages also connect into the basements of malls such as the one sitting under the Marriott -- you can walk for many blocks without seeing the light of day -- is this good or bad?

[DZH22]

And Rome and Athens do they have to have 200 m towers to not "look ancient" -- not necessarily critical -- just asking?

Rome currently has its 2 tallest buildings under construction. They are far from 200m, but the city made more of a point to protect its historic skyline of like, 2000 years ago. Still, it represents about a 70% bump in height (higher if you count the spire) so, 200m might be possible in the future. Athens really has no skyline to speak of. These are not particularly fair examples, as they are more the exception at this point (and Rome just might be bucking that trend). If Boston was the capitol city of a major empire from thousands of years ago, I think we should protect that too. However, it isn't, and the only thing we are making sure of by building short is that our skyline will always be dominated by towers from the (19)60's-80's.

[DZH22]

Stalin donated a piece of Moscow -- still the tallest building in the city -- and the butt of many jokes about views and such including a derisive name connected to one of Pape-Joe's appendages


No offense, but you need to do some research on world skylines of the 21st(!!!!!) century, of RIGHT NOW, because many things you are saying are outdated... not by MUCH, but by enough. For example, Moscow's tallest building is no longer from the Stalin era! (in fact, they built an "8th sister" a few years ago that broke the height of Moscow University anyways). Here is a link to Moscow's International Business Center (IBC). The current tallest is between 300m and 1000 feet (technically a supertall). There is going to be a new peak soon, as the gold colored tower is going to pass everything, and in turn be passed multiple times. I have been telling all my friends that in terms of skylines, "the future is now" in many places. Boston is not one of them...
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=297180&page=109

Please familiarize yourself with some of these projects on:
www.skyscrapercity.com
and also use the diagrams page on www.skyscraperpage.com
These are more up-to-date and accurate that wikipedia.

Cities to pay attention to over the next few years include: Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Austin (again), Melbourne, Brisbane, Milan, London, most Chinese cities, Warsaw, and of course the ever changing Dubai (as well as tons of others). I think you might be surprised. It certainly isn't 2005 anymore!

[whighlander]

Cities to pay attention to over the next few years include: Toronto, Kuala Lumpur, Austin (again), Melbourne, Brisbane, Milan, London, most Chinese cities, Warsaw, and of course the ever changing Dubai (as well as tons of others). I think you might be surprised. It certainly isn't 2005 anymore!


Try Singapore

If you want a combination of tallish, modish and just different its got to be Singapore

Try:

The iconic Marina Bay Sands complex (moshe Safte):
with 50th floor sky Park -- complete with "over t edge swimming pool)),
Shopping Cente / Convention Center / Casino
still to be completed:
'Lotus-shaped" Science Center;
Giant Botanical Garden;
Residences;
extension of subway

DNA Pedestrian bridge -- really has illuminted Base-Pairs in the pavement to complement the Stainless Steel double helix structure

The Singapore Flyer -- I think taller than the London Eye

Merlion -- a tourist-centric-photo fountain

a few years older SunTec City omplex, etc.

I was last there in 1997 -- when I returned last October for international conference -- looked as if the old waterfront and some of downtown had been erased and something new pasted in place!

By the way -- i'll bet Safte and Sands would love to have a crack at Filenes for a urban casino entertainment, residemces and hotel (must visit venue) complex

[DZH22]

Try Singapore


Yes very true, those were just off the top of my head. The problem with Singapore is it has a height limit of 280 meters (919') and 3 buildings have already reached that exact limit. It is bulking up with an incredible amount of skyscrapers around 800' but will eventually "fall behind" as more Asian cities in general are building supertall buildings/clusters. Hopefully they repeal this height cap in the future.

[whighlander]

Must be something in the air or water or perhaps SK has had a "road to Damascus" event


"Ted Tye, a managing partner at National Development, said that since it is early in the development process, the company’s plans are “very much up in the air,’’ and his staff has been listening intently to neighbors’ suggestions.

“People would like to see more rather than less on the site. They would like to see something that stimulates the development of the area, puts more density and puts more people on the street,’’ Tye said. “They would like to see some retail mixed with some residential. We don’t disagree with that.’’

Tye did acknowledge the unusual nature of the situation with neighbors. “It does run contrary to some other development situations,’’ he said. “It’s great to have a neighborhood behind us that wants to see something happen, because so do we.’’"

[Shepard]

I haven't seen those renders before, but that looks to be the Boston Herald site - I believe there is a thread. Are these pictures new?

[Bos77]

Is this different than the Normany hotel proposal? So many overlapping projects these days!

Edit -

I think this is different than Normany, as they list 275 Albany Street as their project:

http://www.normandyrealty.com/normandycorporate/OurPortfolio/tabid/62/ctl/ViewProperty/mid/427/id/46/Default.aspx

Still a mystery...

Oh and Teradyne is now offices - I know there is an insurance company and some other boring ol' office type stuff in there.

[vanshnookenraggen]

That's hot. If it is a new proposal for the Herald site then I'll move it.

[PaulC]

I like the look of the project but that are is zoned or soon will be at 150 with 200 at the Eapressway side. Anything less would be disappointing.

http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/pdf/PlanningPublications/Harrison-Albany-AG%20meeting-October-26-2011.pdf

Where did those pics come from?

[mass88]

By the way, who moved into Teradyne's old place?

[BostonUrbEx]

My face when I saw these renderings of the Herald site:

http://www.myfacewhen.com/images/156.jpg

Looks like they'll be breaking up the block with side streets and such. I pray this goes through as is.

[BussesAin'tTrains]

That looks great! Mixed use residential/retail?

[Bubbybu]

man,

that area was so bleak 20 years ago...tough to visualize a nice project there...

then again I mostly just rememeber Harry The Greeks on Washington and that Chinese market on Harrison.

[stellarfun]

Article in the Globe, with same renders as above.

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/02/02/former_herald_site_to_host_apartments_grocery_stor e/


The architecture firm Elkus Manfredi, of Boston, has designed the complex to be like an authentic city block by planning buildings with different heights and a mix of materials, textures, and colors.

The signature building would be a nine-story glass apartment building at the corner of Herald Street and Harrison Avenue.

A five-story building on Harrison would house the grocery store, more apartments, and a roof deck with a pool.

Two other buildings, at Harrison and Traveler Street, would have apartments above smaller shops and restaurants at street level.

[Shepard]

The article makes it sound like something to really look forward to.

On a side note:

The architecture firm Elkus Manfredi, of Boston, has designed the complex to be like an authentic city block by planning buildings with different heights and a mix of materials, textures, and colors.

So, we don't build actual city blocks anymore... the best we can hope for is a simulacra of a city block? I don't want to split hairs but something about this sentence really troubled me...

[vanshnookenraggen]

Best New Proposal 2012

[MBTAddict]

Best New Proposal 2012

+1. This looks great.

[JSic]

Could us a little more height in the area, but otherwise this is great.

[JohnCostello]

man,

that area was so bleak 20 years ago...tough to visualize a nice project there...

then again I mostly just rememeber Harry The Greeks on Washington and that Chinese market on Harrison.

As a 13 year old (1982) I asked "Harry" how does he keep in business safely in the then really crappy area. He pulled up his shirt and showed me a revolver tucked into his belt. He told me he wasn't too worried with that in mix.

[JohnCostello]

By the way, who moved into Teradyne's old place?

Mostly State agencies and possibly some Tufts NMC back office. That building is over 100+ years old.

[whighlander]

The article makes it sound like something to really look forward to.

On a side note:



So, we don't build actual city blocks anymore... the best we can hope for is a simulacra of a city block? I don't want to split hairs but something about this sentence really troubled me...

Shep -- the key is the phrase in the article -- "soon file a detailed plan with the Boston Redevelopment Authority, kicking off a permitting process that is likely to take several months."

This is still just a first draft V2.0


"Features of the 'Ink Block'

The property’s new owner, National Development, yesterday outlined a plan to replace the Herald’s squat brick building with four new structures containing 475 apartments, a grocery store, and a mix of smaller shops and restaurants.....National Development’s plan is a vast departure from an earlier proposal for a smaller project that neighbors panned as uninspired and too suburban....The new version calls for buildings from five to nine stories, with each designed to have its own modern flair, featuring facades clad in glass, brick, and metal.....The revamped plan would also move 400 parking spaces to the interior of the site, where they would be hidden by the buildings....

“This project has to make a bold statement to get development in this area started,’’ Ted Tye, a managing partner at National Development, said in a presentation to the Globe. “We are the first piece of development in an emerging part of the South End, so people wanted us to be aggressive.’’

[JohnAKeith]

I'm glad there were a couple renderings. I only saw the first one, at first, with the white building facing Herald Street. It looks to me like those will be residential, no? I don't think those will be an easy sell, because of the rush hour traffic jams outside (although you do get views in the distance of the Financial District). But maybe they are offices?

The other part, the buildings on Harrison & on Traveler, is much better. It alone will bring enough density to be the (re)beginning of a new neighborhood. Furthest in the front, right, is the bread bakery on Harrison. Nice that you could wake up in your apartment to that smell (although they don't have any retail that I know of).

Haven't heard anything from the people behind the two hotels down there.

[BussesAin'tTrains]

John I think they are meant to be residential. I wonder too about living in the area. Traffic will be terrible in the morning and evening hours, and there's no mass transit nearby (Wash St LRV where art thou?)

[JeffDowntown]

John I think they are meant to be residential. I wonder too about living in the area. Traffic will be terrible in the morning and evening hours, and there's no mass transit nearby (Wash St LRV where art thou?)

I am amused at the way most here are concerned about the traffic (on Herals Street in particular)and how it will deter residents. But seriously, cars are not the only way to get around a city. The Ink Block is easy walking distance to the Financial District. And public transit is not that far away -- Silver Line -- one block (I know, busses don't count); Orange Line Tufts Medical Center -- four blocks. That is way closer to public transit than most of the South End, and lots of people live there!

[BeeLine]

By the way, who moved into Teradyne's old place?
Stopped by, the Teradyne building yesterday, and talked with the guard. The tenants are mostly state agencies. (Bureau of Managed Care, Board of Appeal on Motor Vehicle Liability, & the Department of Consumer Affairs) He would not give me a complete list, but I found the attached.
http://nerej.com/33244

[JohnAKeith]

Jeff, your point is a valid one, but I also mean that residents won't want to have to look at that during the evening hours, and they'll also have to sit in traffic waiting to get home if they take the #9 and SL buses.

[BostonUrbEx]

Nobody's mentioned it, but Broadway is a legit 2 block-equivalent away.

[BussesAin'tTrains]

^ Good point, the highway throws me off with regards to accessibility when I look at that area.

[gravedigger4444]

In the original proposal, wasn't there supposed to be an Orange Line Stop/Orange Line extension to there?

[vanshnookenraggen]

In the original proposal, wasn't there supposed to be an Orange Line Stop/Orange Line extension to there?

The original Herald development proposal? I can't imagine they would have had an Orange Line extension (or a serious proposal to do so).

[Ron Newman]

Nobody's mentioned it, but Broadway is a legit 2 block-equivalent away.

That may be, but it's a pretty awful walk (under I-93)

[Sicilian]

^Ron Newman

That underpass is in need of some attention. To be sure, CAT/Tunnel left top notch landscaping at the end of the Channel there, but at night it's sketchy. Syringes everywhere.

As for distance to Broadway (not including Broadway Bridge), it's a bit longer than two blocks. It's close to 1/2 mile from the corner of Harrison to the Broadway T Station.

[BostonUrbEx]

Just another reason why I loathe the Big Dig for not putting the South Bay Spaghetti Bowl underground. Considering how much was extorted from the state as is, I shudder to imagine the price tag on that. But we could have sold off air rights if we just trenched it from Herald to Albany, and sell off air rights over the Southampton rail yards. Could perhaps have daylighted some more of the Fort Point Channel --which probably would need alot of work in order to allow from a I-93 trench/tunnel) and have a spectacular little canal and promenade. Oh well... dreams...

[Sicilian]

^BosUrbEx

Right on.

The Channel currently extends underneath the Broadway Bridge over to W. First Street. It extended down to Mass Ave somewhere through the mid-20th century, from pictures I've recently seen of highway planning.

This area would have been spectacular if CAT was trenched and decked over.

But I still think the entire CAT/Tunnel project was a terrific accomplishment -- a gift that will keep on giving despite its failings.

[JohnAKeith]

And, Orange Line at Tufts is .4 miles, walking.

[whighlander]

Just another reason why I loathe the Big Dig for not putting the South Bay Spaghetti Bowl underground. Considering how much was extorted from the state as is, I shudder to imagine the price tag on that. But we could have sold off air rights if we just trenched it from Herald to Albany, and sell off air rights over the Southampton rail yards. Could perhaps have daylighted some more of the Fort Point Channel --which probably would need alot of work in order to allow from a I-93 trench/tunnel) and have a spectacular little canal and promenade. Oh well... dreams...

Urb -- because of soil conditions in that area the construction was in fact already a heroic engineering accomplishment

For instance since everything is fill of uncertain quality -- the entire crossing of Fort Point by what seems like a tunnel is in fact crossing by a submerged causeway -- there are about 110 drilled shaft columns going down to bedrock (some were 160 feet long) under the concrete box containing I-90 and various ramps and above the tunnel tube of the Red Line

http://static.ddmcdn.com/gif/tunnel-15.jpg

When you couple the foundation issues with the complexity of essentially packing a clover leaf into one quarter of the typical area -- the under-grounding of I-93 would have been astronomically expensive with digging having to extend back to the ramps for Mass Ave. -- and perhaps beyond

would of looked nice - when they finally finished in 2035

I'll take it the way it turned-out -- now we just need to accommodate the "new bones" with "new flesh" -- much as the Pru and Copley dealt with the Pike extension

[PaulC]

Project notification form(1/2012):

http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/DevelopmentProjects/PipeDocs/Herald%20Ink%20Block/Herald%20Ink%20Block_PNF.pdf

[whighlander]

Project notification form(1/2012):

http://www.bostonredevelopmentauthority.org/DevelopmentProjects/PipeDocs/Herald%20Ink%20Block/Herald%20Ink%20Block_PNF.pdf

Paul -- there is an amazing amount of detail here -- including (cover your ears0 -- Huge shaddows after 6 PM near to the solstice -- falling on I-93

[SeamusMcFly]

Summer Solstice?
That's good news. I've been stuck in high summer traffic on my bike, and it has been pretty unbearable. A couple shadows after leaving the tunnel would be welcome.

[HenryAlan]

Am I missing something? Where are the renderings people have mentioned?

[vanshnookenraggen]

Is there a thread for this?http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af104/ric02124/mass%20ave%202/016.jpg http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af104/ric02124/mass%20ave%202/015.jpg

These.

[czsz]

Not bad, but not amazing either. Too bad it's isolated from the city by two freeways. I'd love to see 30 square blocks of this in the Seaport instead of the random stump forest that exists there now...

[BostonUrbEx]

Not bad, but not amazing either. Too bad it's isolated from the city by two freeways. I'd love to see 30 square blocks of this in the Seaport instead of the random stump forest that exists there now...

That would be amazing!

Refer to sig quote:

[BostonUrbEx]

Would also be great if the adjacent Pike parcel could be involved, too. But incredibly doubtful after the implosion of Columbus Place and stagnation of Yawkey/Fenway Center.

[Shepard]

I'd love to see 30 square blocks of this in the Seaport instead of the random stump forest that exists there now...

Don't want to get too far off topic, but it seems to me that the Seaport proposals moving through right now are, in fact, much more of the Ink Block (love this name by the way) type - Seaport Square, Pier 4, and the new proposals for the D Street corridor (done by same developers as Liberty Wharf) come to mind.

[HenryAlan]

Don't want to get too far off topic, but it seems to me that the Seaport proposals moving through right now are, in fact, much more of the Ink Block (love this name by the way) type - Seaport Square, Pier 4, and the new proposals for the D Street corridor (done by same developers as Liberty Wharf) come to mind.

That was my reaction to the comment, too. I don't see a substantive difference between this proposal and what we are seeing in the Seaport. This is just on a smaller scale, but it's similar heights, similar footprints. Maybe it looks better because it's not surrounded by parking lots, and people are willing to overlook the emptiness created by the highways/interchanges. It wouldn't at all surprise me if much of the seaport looks like this in 15 to 20 years.

[czsz]

I know Seaport Square looks somewhat similar. It's unfortunate it's not being built on an even grander scale (imagine the neighborhood with a unified aesthetic like this; it may have at least vaguely lived up to its "new Back Bay" promises)...and that it seems to have hit a lot of snags. I mean, I'll believe anything good happening in the Seaport when I see it.

[whighlander]

Not bad, but not amazing either. Too bad it's isolated from the city by two freeways. I'd love to see 30 square blocks of this in the Seaport instead of the random stump forest that exists there now...

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af104/ric02124/mass%20ave%202/015.jpg


CZ-- if you look to the upper right in the birds-eye view you can see a patch in the midst of the ramps which will be built upon

This Ink Block and the Gateway and future redo of Dorchester Ave should be connected by relatiely low cost Pru-Copley-style Gerbil Tubes with moving walkways spaning the highways and rail lines

[SeamusMcFly]

You. You astound me sometimes....

I kinda like the idea of it being an enclave, that when you find it, and how to get to it, and it's really cool..... it is now a destination.

Gerbil tubes and Jetson ways really sounds to me like the antithesis of a "neighborhood".

[czsz]

CZ-- if you look to the upper right in the birds-eye view you can see a patch in the midst of the ramps which will be built upon

That patch of grass in the middle of the interchange will only get developed when flying pigs descend to hell to go ice skating.

[statler]

So before South Station Tower then?

[JeffDowntown]

http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af104/ric02124/mass%20ave%202/015.jpg


CZ-- if you look to the upper right in the birds-eye view you can see a patch in the midst of the ramps which will be built upon

This Ink Block and the Gateway and future redo of Dorchester Ave should be connected by relatiely low cost Pru-Copley-style Gerbil Tubes with moving walkways spaning the highways and rail lines

We are working with the City and State DOT to try to get the turnpike bridges for Washington and Harrison reworked as more pedestrian-friendly connections between the New York Streets area (Herald/Ink Block) and Chinatown/South Cove/Tufts Medical Center. The bridges do not carry a lot of vehicle traffic, so there is the opportunity to widen sidewalks, provide lighting (none now!) and install other pedestrian-friendly amenities to encourage foot traffic.

This is part of the Chinatown Master Plan 2010.

[Reznor]

This South End Patch article does a great job summarizing the proposal.

A Guide to the 'Ink Block' Proposal at the Former Boston Herald Site

About 50 people turned out for the project’s first look and a public discussion, which was held by the Boston Redevelopment Authority at Project Place on Washington Street.

Below is a quick-hit list of everything that was covered. All quotes below came from Thursday’s meeting.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is accepting public comments on the proposal until Friday, March 9 (scroll down to the bottom for more information). After that, National Development will bring the proposal before the authority’s board for approval.

● The players: National Development, a Newton-based real estate development firm, bought the former Boston Herald site five years ago and is behind the “Ink Block” proposal. The firm has an extensive portfolio of local projects, and Sherry Clancy is the firm’s project manager for the proposal. Architect David Manfredi, a South End resident from Elkus Manfredi Architects, designed the project.

● The site: The former site of the Boston Herald for more than 50 years, at 300 Harrison Ave., is 6.22 acres. It encompasses the entire block between Herald Street to the north, Albany Street to the east, Traveler Street to the south and Harrison Avenue to the west, except for three properties along Albany Street – an insurance agency, a taxi stand and the F.W. Webb building.

“The Herald has officially left the building,” Clancy said Thursday. “They moved out last Friday (Feb. 17).”

● Size and scope of the project: National Development’s plans call for the construction of three new buildings, which would all be between 70 and 100 feet high, and the reuse of the existing Boston Herald building, mainly for its foundation. The four buildings would be five, eight, eight and nine stories high and together would be nearly 550,000 square feet.

There would be 471 new residential units and a total of about 85,000 square feet of retail space, including a 30,000-square-foot space for a grocery store and multiple smaller, ground-floor spaces for retail and/or restaurants.

There would be 411 parking spaces on site, primarily in structured parking. There would be about half a parking space for each residential unit, Clancy said.

National Development’s proposal last spring only called for 262 residential units at the site. However, the city’s approval of the Harrison-Albany Corridor Strategic Plan in January allowed the firm to expand its proposal.

The project is expected to cost “hundreds of millions of dollars,” Ted Tye, a managing partner at National Development, recently told the Boston Globe.

● Timeframe: “In a perfect world, we’d start demolition in the fall,” Clancy said, “[and try] to start construction by the end of the year, or by the start of next year.” The project would most likely be built sequentially, she said, with a target date of 2016 for its entire completion.

● Whole Foods not likely: “We tried very hard to attract Whole Foods,” Clancy said to a resident’s question, “… but it’s probably not going to happen.” A grocery store like Stop & Shop is more likely, she said, as they’ve built a couple smaller, “urban” supermarkets in recent years. In general, residents said a grocery store is much needed in that area.

● Resident: Go big or go home: Practically all residents in attendance appeared to be overwhelmingly in favor of the project. However, Bill Moy, a longtime community activist in Chinatown, wasn’t sold on the current proposal.

He thought National Development should be putting more money into the project, such as buying and developing the other three properties in the block.

“Those businesses are going to be empty … and bums are going to come down there, and they’re going to live there, you know that,” he told Clancy. “… if you had bought [those properties], you really could’ve used your imagination.”

“This project as it exists today doesn’t fit what we need in this area,” he continued. “This should be an anchor site for the South End and for Chinatown, and you’re putting a suburban mall in an urban setting, and that’s not doing justice to this site and this area.”

● Public safety: “It’s a little bit of a frontier right now,” Clancy said of the area, “but we’re trying to bring that kind of neighborhood, that kind of presence, so that it will improve public safety.”

● Pedestrian access, streetscape: “We’re trying to create a ground floor that engages pedestrians,” Manfredi said.

● One hundred percent union labor: National Development plans to use 100 percent union labor to construct the project, according to Clancy.

● Affordable housing: All-required affordable housing would be on site, Clancy said.

● Public comments due Friday, March 9: Project Assistant Erico Lopez is the point person for the Boston Redevelopment Authority on the project, and, at Thursday’s meeting, he encouraged members of the public to submit letters with their thoughts on the project via email, erico.lopez.bra@cityofboston.gov, or to: Boston Redevelopment Authority, One City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02201. If you have any questions, Lopez can be reached at 617-918-4429. Letters can also be faxed to Lopez at 617-742-7783.

[czsz]

What's this? South Enders actually support this project? Someone wishes it were DENSER?? Who are these people and what have they done with Bostonians?

'Ink Block' project receives warm welcome in the South End
Print | Comments (0) Posted by Patrick Rosso February 24, 2012 08:50 AM

By Patrick D. Rosso, Town Correspondent


Developers of the proposed “Ink Block" project, at the site of the Boston Herald’s former headquarters on Washington Street, received a generally warm reception at their meeting with the South End community Thursday night.

This is not the first time New England-based National Development has proposed a project for the site. In the spring, the group proposed a more scaled-down version but have since revamped the proposal adding more units and taking advantage of the new zoning in the neighborhood, which allows taller buildings.

“At this juncture we were encouraged to begin the project,” said Sherry Clancy, a project manager for National Development. “Now we feel it is the right time to move forward.”

The group has proposed demolishing portions of the Herald’s old building and replacing it with 85,000-square-feet of retail use and 463,900-square-feet of residential use.

The development would consist of 471 rental residential units, which will be lofts, one, two and three-bedrooms, along with space for retail use and a grocery store. The project also calls for 411 underground parking spaces and close to 60 at-grade spaces.

The first building would be a nine-story residential structure on Herald Street.

The second building would be a five-story residential structure facing Harrison Avenue with street-level retail, including a grocery store.

The third building would be an eight-story residential structure with street-level retail facing Harrison Avenue.

The fourth building would be an eight-story residential structure with street-level retail facing Traveler Street.

Project architect David Manfredi said developers are working to make every building unique.

“This is much more than a building, we are building an urban block,” said Manfredi. “We want each of these parts to be specifically distinct.”

Along with unique buildings, Clancy informed residents that the site will also have multimodal amenities, including a Zipcar station and possibly a Hubway site. Clancy also said the developers would be making public realm improvements, including widening sidewalks, planting trees and building a small pocket park on the site of the development.

Many of the 30 residents who packed the meeting room at Project Place Thursday expressed excitement for the development.

“I think it’s a big improvement,” said Alan Naylor, a South End resident. “I was just curious as far as the space [for the supermarket]. Is that adequate?”

The supermarket was a major point of excitement for residents who said it is needed in the neighborhood.

National Development has set aside close to 30,000-square-feet of space for a grocery store and although many in the meeting expressed a want to see a Whole Foods there, Clancy said they are in talks with a few chains but Whole Foods is not one of them.

While many at Thursday’s meeting seemed enthusiastic for the development, Bill Moy, a member of the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s Impact Advisory Committee, a group of residents and business owners working to review plans and raise neighborhood concerns, said the project doesn’t fit.

“That’s a suburban strip mall on an urban site,” said Moy. “This project as it exists today doesn’t do justice to the area. This should be an anchor site for the South End and Chinatown.” (ed -- is this one of you guys?)

Residents also suggested National Development add more shrubs and trees to the site to help hide the two-story parking structure in the center of the development, along installing solar trash cans and more bike racks.

The question of who would be doing the work was also raised by residents. Clancy did not specify if the people working on the site would be local residents but did say the group plans to use 100-percent union labor.

National Development, according to Clancy, would like to begin demolition of the current structure by fall 2012 with the construction of buildings one, two and three following the demolition.

Construction of the fourth building may be delayed until after the construction and occupancy of buildings one, two and three.

According to the Project Notification Form filed by National Development with the BRA, the group estimates that all the buildings could be completed and operating by 2016.

But before the groups break any ground on the site they must first receive a slew of approvals from the city.

Along with seeking BRA approval, developers also must obtain variances from the city for the ground water system and for parking. Developers must also receive the sign-off of the city’s Landmarks Commission because the development falls into the South End “protection area”, requiring review by the city agency.

The public comment period for the project ends March 9. Comments can be submitted via email to erico.lopez.bra@cityofboston.gov or through mail to the Boston Redevelopment Authority, One City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02201.

[BostonObserver]

Moy is a nut case. He keep yelling at the woman who is the develper "this is garbage, garbage". In all my years of going to meeting with wacky nimbys i've never seen some one as ingnorant or rude as him. By the way every thing in downtown Boston he built, "look at Millineum place, that's mine".

[Boston02124]

today http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af104/ric02124/2012/036.jpg http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af104/ric02124/2012/037.jpg

[whighlander]

Bos -- those pics seem to indicate that despite the fact that;
" The public comment period for the project ends March 9. Comments can be submitted via email to erico.lopez.bra@cityofboston.gov or through mail to the Boston Redevelopment Authority, One City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA 02201 "

well the developer seems to think that everything is gung ho!

[AmericanFolkLegend]

Looks like those trucks are boring for groundwater wells and/or core samples. Preconstruction work, but nice to see progress.

[Officejab]

South End landscape getting a rapid makeover
Major projects on tap for Albany, Harrison corridor

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/03/13/south_end_landscape_getting_a_rapid_makeover/

[whighlander]

South End landscape getting a rapid makeover
Major projects on tap for Albany, Harrison corridor

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2012/03/13/south_end_landscape_getting_a_rapid_makeover/

Office -- it looks like it could be a new office / residential district if it pans out fully -- of course there is always attrition between the first story in the media and the fist crane appearing on the site

http://cache.boston.com/bonzai-fba/Globe_Graphic/2012/03/13/globegiftastic__1331633726_4567.gif

[Officejab]

Office -- it looks like it could be a new office / residential district if it pans out fully --


That area is gritty and lifeless, my hope is that these projects are able to connect with the neighborhood to the south, because this area is cut off by the turnpike to the north and 93 to the west.

[BostonObserver]

Shockingly Myers and Chang have done very well on Washington St next to that area, so I expect this will be a popular place to live. Don't forget it's an easy walk to downtown from there and still all the benefits of the south end

[found5dollar]

it is pretty close to the "SOWA" markets too.

[Sicilian]

Shockingly Myers and Chang have done very well on Washington St next to that area, so I expect this will be a popular place to live. Don't forget it's an easy walk to downtown from there and still all the benefits of the south end

There are quite a few popular restaurants in SOWA, all within blocks of Pine Street Inn at Harrison/Berkeley.

The Seaport lacks the critical mass of residents within a 1/2 mile radius required to make a large supermarket viable.

But the Ink Block could be perfectly located for a full size Whole Foods or Trader Joes.

A supermarket at Ink Block would be a short hop from Fort Point and Southie's lower end, close to SOWA (Laconia lofts, etc.) and would probably draw South End residents. I'm not sure where SE residents shop for food today.

[nico]

foodies / Shaws at the Pru??

[joebos]

But the Ink Block could be perfectly located for a full size Whole Foods or Trader Joes.

A supermarket at Ink Block would be a short hop from Fort Point and Southie's lower end, close to SOWA (Laconia lofts, etc.) and would probably draw South End residents. I'm not sure where SE residents shop for food today.

I live in the South End and shop at:
- Foodies, which has a limited selection and can be expensive
- Trader Joe's Back Bay which is far and often packed with people in that small space
- Shaw's Back Bay, still a bit of a hike

Sometimes I'll drive to Stop & Shop in South Bay or TJs in Cambridge, but I don't like using my car. Many people in the area don't have cars so a large TJs, Whole Foods or whatever would be great to have in the South End.

[Shepard]

What I'd love to see for the area: A retail row along Albany street nestled underneath the elevated expressway, from Randolph to Traveler streets.

[ParkerChris]

But the Ink Block could be perfectly located for a full size Whole Foods or Trader Joes.


From: http://southend.patch.com/articles/a-guide-to-the-ink-block-proposal-for-the-former-boston-herald-site#photo-9180933

Whole Foods not likely: “We tried very hard to attract Whole Foods,” Clancy said to a resident’s question, “… but it’s probably not going to happen.” A grocery store like Stop & Shop is more likely, she said, as they’ve built a couple smaller, “urban” supermarkets in recent years. In general, residents said a grocery store is much needed in that area.

Let's hope for Trader Joe's. The "urban" Stop & Shop on East Broadway is horrendous. Not sure why Whole Foods wouldn't want to lock down a location like this??

[joebos]

I love Trader Joe's but their produce and meat selection is limited.

[vanshnookenraggen]

Not sure why Whole Foods wouldn't want to lock down a location like this??

Not gentrified enough?

[ParkerChris]

Not gentrified enough?

Maybe.. although that would be shocking. The entire South End would shop there as well as Broadway area, Fort Point, etc. All of which are the epitome of gentrification. A Stop & Shop does not fit in this location.

[Sicilian]

Does anyone remember a food market at that location maybe 10-20 years ago?

SOWA, SE, Fort Point and West Broadway have all changed dramatically since then.

[Ron Newman]

There used to be an A&P grocery at Tremont and Herald streets, which is a few blocks away from the Ink Block. The A&P later became a Wollaston's Market but eventually closed. I don't remember what it is now.

[BeeLine]

A CVS and a small pet grooming shop are in that space today.
What they really need, in this part of town, is Market Basket. That would really shakeup the grocery business in Boston.

[ParkerChris]

A CVS and a small pet grooming shop are in that space today.
What they really need, in this part of town, is Market Basket. That would really shakeup the grocery business in Boston.

Agree that a Market Basket would shake up the competition. One of their newer, giant ones like the one in Chelsea would be great. They would succeed anywhere in Boston, but I don't think they are a fit for this area. Allston/Brighton would benefit the most from an MB.

[Ron Newman]

A giant Market Basket like in Chelsea would take up this entire parcel, I think. Pretty out of scale for the neighborhood. I'd love to see it over on Dot Ave, though, where a lot of the west side of the street appears to be underutilized or empty.

[whighlander]

A giant Market Basket like in Chelsea would take up this entire parcel, I think. Pretty out of scale for the neighborhood. I'd love to see it over on Dot Ave, though, where a lot of the west side of the street appears to be underutilized or empty.

Ron -- Market Basket needs acres of parking

The newly expanded one on the Burlington / Lexington line which claims to have the largest fresh meat counter in the entire Northeast of the US (not clear of the boundaries) is full to the brim with the only constraint being how long people have to wait for an available parking spot

[Ron Newman]

A Market Basket in Chelsea or the suburbs may need acres of parking, but a market near a T station doesn't. (And if it does, that's what garages are for.)

[whighlander]

A Market Basket in Chelsea or the suburbs may need acres of parking, but a market near a T station doesn't. (And if it does, that's what garages are for.)

Ron -- fortunately or unfortunately yes it does

the whole idea of the store is in the name -- people come out the front door with shopping carts (today's market basket) filled with groceries -- you push your cart a few tens to hundreds of feet and load your car

Market Basket is not a Trader Joes where one pops in for a single piece of Gorgonzola cheese or a Whole Foods where you -- just have to see the Arugula today (said with the appropriate clipped, sneering upper crust accent) -- its the place where Joe Sixpack and Marry Hamburger Helper shop for the family

[Ron Newman]

However, Shaw's at the Pru does just fine with a garage. So could a hypothetical Market Basket on, say, Dot Ave near Broadway or Andrew.

[Justin7]

Ron -- fortunately or unfortunately yes it does

the whole idea of the store is in the name -- people come out the front door with shopping carts (today's market basket) filled with groceries -- you push your cart a few tens to hundreds of feet and load your car

Market Basket is not a Trader Joes where one pops in for a single piece of Gorgonzola cheese or a Whole Foods where you -- just have to see the Arugula today (said with the appropriate clipped, sneering upper crust accent) -- its the place where Joe Sixpack and Marry Hamburger Helper shop for the family

So, in your view, the entire store concept is tied tightly to the name of the store, but not so tightly that "Market Basket" actually means "market basket," which could easily be carried home or to the T. No, instead we will interpret "market basket" as "modern-day-market-basket=shopping-cart-which-requires-a-car." Stellar analysis.

[PaulC]

At the public hearing, the woman who presented the project said they had approached Whole Foods and they are not interested, (maybe they have plans near by). Then she slyly said it could be Trader Joe's, with a big smile on her face. This would be a great location for people walking home from work.

Would there be any value to having some hubway bikes with baskets for shopping bags or a type of basket that a person could own that can attach to the bike, maybe detach for bringing in the store?

[mass88]

However, Shaw's at the Pru does just fine with a garage. So could a hypothetical Market Basket on, say, Dot Ave near Broadway or Andrew.

Keep Market Basket out of the city.

[Ron Newman]

why? they would provide useful competition for Shaw's and Stop & Shop. As long as it isn't surrounded by a sea of surface parking.

[Lurker]

Market Basket is the Walmart of supermarkets. Those cheap prices are just so unfair to competitors and how dare poor people have access to lower cost goods.


Would there be any value to having some hubway bikes with baskets for shopping bags or a type of basket that a person could own that can attach to the bike, maybe detach for bringing in the store?
Hubway should have had rear carriers for such a purpose given that the front baskets are already too high for stability under load, lack a stabilizing spring to the front fork, and already have horrible trail in the frame geometry. I assume Alta omitted carriers over fear of liability if someone decide to use one for adult or child passengers.

[TheRifleman]

I love Market Basket. The best in the business.

[mass88]

I would rather see a Hannaford's in Boston before a Market Basket. People need quality choices for their food shopping at lower prices and Market Basket does not provide that in my opinion. Low prices yes, but overall quality foods, no.

A Trader Joe's in the South End and South Boston would be perfect.

[bolehboleh]

I love Market Basket. The best in the business.

I grew up in Billerica where we only had (and still have) three grocery stores: Market Basket, Market Basket and Market Basket!

When another grocery store tried to open in town, the were able to muscle them via the town government. I have no love for the Demoulas family.

[TheRifleman]

^^^^
I just like them because they are extremely cheap. You get alot for your money at Market Basket.

[ParkerChris]

I would rather see a Hannaford's in Boston before a Market Basket. People need quality choices for their food shopping at lower prices and Market Basket does not provide that in my opinion. Low prices yes, but overall quality foods, no.

A Trader Joe's in the South End and South Boston would be perfect.

Agree with you on quality. I worked at a Market Basket for 5 years.. quality isn't as horrible as some people say, but their meats and produce are not stellar especially in terms of freshness.

Although I do think it would be huge for college students/post-college crowd, the Chelsea Market Basket is literally 5 min outside of the city. If we've decided that people drive to get to MB, go to Chelsea. That's what I do ;)

[bolehboleh]

^^^^
I just like them because they are extremely cheap. You get alot for your money at Market Basket.

Without getting political, they are the perfect example of capitalists who only like capitalism when it benefits them...for everyone else, it's capitalistic communism (A phrase I made up for companies that clame to love capitalism and then muscle their way into a monopoly...hence denying others their freedom of choice)

[ParkerChris]

I have no love for the Demoulas family.

Agree 100% there.. not the most pleasant family, or company for that matter, to work for.

[Ron Newman]

I probably have a bit of a soft spot for them because they are truly local (Lowell), as opposed to the now European-owned Shaw's and Stop & Shop. And they have low prices, and (at least in Somerville) they draw their customers from every social and economic stratum of the city.

[SeamusMcFly]

Having grown up with Stop&Shop and Trucchi's as my options and later Shaw's I actually was under the impression that Market Basket was a step up in quality and also assumed in cost. Good to hear I was wrong on price, because they are finshing construction on a new one in Brockton right now.

It will be good to have competition, but both S&S and Shaw's are closer to me.

[Roxxma]

I grew up in Billerica where we only had (and still have) three grocery stores: Market Basket, Market Basket and Market Basket!
I grew up in Burlington, and after Value King (a former A&P) closed in the late 80s, we had the option of Market Basket in Pinehurst, Billerica or Purity Supreme (later Stop & Shop) in Woburn. There was (and still is) a Market Basket at the Middlesex Mall on the Lexington Line, but that was miles from Burlington's population center. In 2005 a Shaw's opened up in Burlington Center and a Roche Brothers opened up at the Crossroads Plaza, on the Woburn line, which is a little closer and easily accessible to most of the town's population. My parents however live a quarter of a mile from the Shaw's and still go to the either the Billerica or Burlington Market Baskets (both 3.3 miles, as the crow flies) for their shopping.

[BostonUrbEx]

Boston needs a Hannaford's. I love the one in Saugus.

[Boston02124]

I grew up in Fitchburg we had Victory Markets and Piggly Wiggly,Victory then became Market Basket,when I moved to Boston (Brighton) there was a Purity Surpreme,when I moved to Dorchester they had a PS in Fields Cor(we called it Provety Surpreme)it sucked,We also had Capitals which was a very good store,I now prefer Stop and Shop over Shaws/Star market,would really like to see a Trader Joes open up in Dot

[dshoost88]

Good news:

http://news.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view/20220515city_approves_200m_project_at_former_heral d_site/srvc=home&position=recent

City approves $200M project at former Herald site

By Greg Turner
Tuesday, May 15, 2012

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has approved the $200 million reconstruction of the former Boston Herald site in the South End.National Development will transform the 6-acre site with 471 apartments, a supermarket, shops and restaurants in four buildings, including a partly reused Herald building.

The Newton company acquired the Herald site in 2007 and, with the BRA board’s approval, will kick the project into gear. The newspaper relocated earlier this year to 70 Fargo St. in the Seaport district.

The project was dubbed "Ink Block" but has been rebranded as "Ink Block South End" to highlight the site’s history and geography, according to Ted Tye, managing principal of Newton-based National Development,


"We also want to convey a sense of something new and something really happening in this area," Tye told BRA board members.

The block just south of Chinatown will have tall buildings on each end -- a nine-story residential building facing Herald Street and an eight-story one facing Traveler Street.

Residents would have access to a rooftop swimming pool and 411 parking spaces. A grocery tenant has not been identified.

The project will be constructed in two phases with completion set for 2016.

"The building is now vacant and awaiting development," Tye said. "It really presents an exciting opportunity to help reposition a neighborhood in transition."

The BRA said National Development will provide $400,000 for upgrades to Harrison Avenue and another $250,000 in community benefits.

-— gturner@bostonherald.com

[underground]

Hope the construction goes as smoothly as the approval process did. I don't want to jinx it, but after it's finished, someone should do a case study on why it was so painless. I guess, right time right place is probably the answer, but it'd be nice to know if there was something else going on.

[Ron Newman]

I didn't realize they were planning to reuse part of the Herald building rather than demolishing all of it.

If it were my development, I'd have called it Herald Square.

[BostonObserver]

Good news:

http://news.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view/20220515city_approves_200m_project_at_former_heral d_site/srvc=home&position=recent
The project was dubbed "Ink Block" but has been rebranded as "Ink Block South End"

So as not to confuse it with "Ink Block in the Middle of Nowhere, where the winos and druggies all go".

Nothing say not the south end as "south end".

[KentXie]

I think 'soaring' would have been a better word to describe those two buildings at each end.

[Lurker]

If one of these developers were smart they'd offer to build the PSI a new exceptional facility somewhere still accessible to BMC, like South Bay next to the GBFB or one of the unbuilt lots between Mass Ave and Melnea Cass, and shift the problematic populations away from their developments.

[BostonObserver]

The Pine St Inn is going nowhere, no one will let in in their neighborhood. Don't forget it's the largest concentration of registered sex offenders in New England, arcboston excluded.

[Shepard]

^ I'd sue you for defamation but alas my local courthouse is within 500 feet of a public school

[statler]

I'm not sure why you are picking on the poor folks over at Atlantic Restoration Corp (arcboston.com)

[kz1000ps]

So everyone here is a pessimist and a registered sex offender....by golly I think I see a correlation!

Next thing you know BostonObserver will be telling us we all have crane envy.

[AmericanFolkLegend]

^ I'd sue you for defamation but alas my local courthouse is within 500 feet of a public school

That made me LOL.

[SeamusMcFly]

Hope the construction goes as smoothly as the approval process did. I don't want to jinx it, but after it's finished, someone should do a case study on why it was so painless. I guess, right time right place is probably the answer, but it'd be nice to know if there was something else going on.

I'm thinking that may be a short case study.

Good looking, not overwhelming development, with properly scaled and separated buildings, providing residences and services the city needs. And, at the right time right place.

I'm not sure it's the model that can be applied across the city, but it seems to be a pretty good model, and the smartest planned development I've seen in this city in quite some time.

[Equilibria]

I'm not sure it's the model that can be applied across the city, but it seems to be a pretty good model, and the smartest planned development I've seen in this city in quite some time.

...which surprises no one who lives in Lower Falls, where National Development is based. These guys are great. They're also behind the newly-opened Waterstone development and have single-handedly rebuilt quite a bit of the neighborhood to open up river access.

I believe they're the new developers at Westwood Station as well.

[JeffDowntown]

Hope the construction goes as smoothly as the approval process did. I don't want to jinx it, but after it's finished, someone should do a case study on why it was so painless. I guess, right time right place is probably the answer, but it'd be nice to know if there was something else going on.

A big part of the fast approval is that both the Harrison-Albany Corridor (South End) and Chinatown just went through masterplanning efforts. Development in the Herald area was slated for fast track in both masterplans, and the developer really listened to the communities and the spirit of the plans.

[BostonObserver]

A big part of the fast approval is that both the Harrison-Albany Corridor (South End) and Chinatown just went through masterplanning efforts. Development in the Herald area was slated for fast track in both masterplans, and the developer really listened to the communities and the spirit of the plans.

Yes that and it's not wise for the mayor to piss off the owner of a newspaper.

[Hutchison]

Not Ink Block...but the graybar warehouse across the st has been sold with a 12-month leaseback to develop plans, likely 8-11 story residential with possible retail.

http://bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view/20220607hot_south_end_site_gets_a_jolt_14m_graybar _sale_a_herald_of_industrial_zones_makeover/srvc=home&position=also

[ParkerChris]

There really needs to be a plan developed on how to make traveler and west 4th more pedestrian friendly under the expressway areas. Lots of new residential in the mix and I would think Broadway would be the obvious T stop for most.

[whighlander]

Not Ink Block...but the graybar warehouse across the st has been sold with a 12-month leaseback to develop plans, likely 8-11 story residential with possible retail.

http://bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view/20220607hot_south_end_site_gets_a_jolt_14m_graybar _sale_a_herald_of_industrial_zones_makeover/srvc=home&position=also

Sounds like another new cluster of development in the offing -- let's see "Ink Block" for a former newspaper

Howabout "Master Switch" of perhaps more exotically "Arc Flash" for a supplier of electrical equipment

[JohnAKeith]

The Greybar sale is a fascinating turn of events.

The question is, where will the proposed South End "YOTEL" go? My bet is the empty parking lots that were proposed (http://www.johnakeithrealestate.com/boston-real-estate-condo-news/two-new-hotels-proposed-for-275-albany-street-in-the-south-end/) as the site for two hotels, a couple years back, at the corners of East Berkeley and Albany.

What YOTEL?

YOTEL sets sights on South End for new Boston hotel

Boston is fast becoming the hotspot for new boutique hotels. Earlier this year, The Revere Hotel opened in what was formerly The Radisson in Boston's Theater District. Now comes word that the trendy YOTEL hotel group has its sights on Boston for the group's next hotel opening. I caught up with YOTEL's CEO Gerard Greene for the details on what's rumor, and what's reality.

"We are very confident that Boston will be the second hotel for Yotel in the U.S.," Greene told me over email, citing the South End as the most likely location for the hotel.

http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/blogs/packup/2012/06/yotel_plans_boston_hotel.html

[whighlander]

The Greybar sale is a fascinating turn of events.

The question is, where will the proposed South End "YOTEL" go? My bet is the empty parking lots that were proposed (http://www.johnakeithrealestate.com/boston-real-estate-condo-news/two-new-hotels-proposed-for-275-albany-street-in-the-south-end/) as the site for two hotels, a couple years back, at the corners of East Berkeley and Albany.

What YOTEL?

YOTEL sets sights on South End for new Boston hotel



http://www.boston.com/travel/explorene/blogs/packup/2012/06/yotel_plans_boston_hotel.html

John -- I'll bet Menino is trying to get them to build in the SPID -- a much more appropriate location for a place with Pods

[ParkerChris]

I know this is retail, but since it's been discussed on this thread -

Whole Foods moves toward South End location

The former headquarters of Boston's blue-collar tabloid could become home to a new, South End location for an upscale supermarket chain.
Whole Foods Market Inc. (Nasdaq: WFM) is reportedly eyeing One Herald Square, formerly home to the Boston Herald, for its first location in the tony South End neighborhood. It's worth noting it would be in striking distance for dwellers in the glut of luxury apartments coming to Chinatown and Downtown Crossing.
The Boston Globe reports Whole Foods has been looking at the location for nearly a year and is "close to reaching a deal," citing unnamed sources.
National Development unveiled plans for One Herald Square, which it is calling "Ink Block," earlier this year. The company is also working on the Kensington, a Chinatown high-rise now under construction.

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass_roundup/2012/06/whole-foods-eyes-herald-site.html

[dshoost88]

Hip Hip Hooray!!!

[AdamBC]

Whole Foods confirmed:


Whole Foods Market (NYSE: WFM) is set to anchor the planned Ink Block project at the former Boston Herald site in Boston’s South End.

The 50,000-square-foot store would be the chain’s largest in Boston. The planned Whole Foods will feature outdoor sidewalk café seating on Harrison Avenue, a wine store, gelato bar, as well as prepared foods and a selection of natural and organic foods. When completed in 2014, the store will be the first full-size grocery store in the South End.

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/real_estate/2012/07/south-end-whole-foods.html?ana=e_du_pub&s=article_du&ed=2012-07-25

[czsz]

This will be a huge catalyst for this area.

[tobyjug]

The site certainly has a provenance for serving up baloney.

[blade_bltz]

^ golf clap

[dshoost88]

^ golf clap


LOL!!!

[marstall]

Hi all - I've been lurking here for several months while writing a story about the history of the Boston Herald property for the Globe Ideas section. I learned a lot from the discussion. Here's a link to the story - and look for it in the Sunday print edition!

http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/08/18/boston-vanished-new-york-streets/EVxSqBnv9ups9yO5Q6MhTP/story.html

[AdamBC]

Hi all - I've been lurking here for several months while writing a story about the history of the Boston Herald property for the Globe Ideas section. I learned a lot from the discussion. Here's a link to the story - and look for it in the Sunday print edition!

http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/08/18/boston-vanished-new-york-streets/EVxSqBnv9ups9yO5Q6MhTP/story.html

Wow, thanks for the write-up about the neighborhood! I wonder how many other streets in Boston have names that haven't 'fit' for over 100 years?

[metasyntactic]

Hi all - I've been lurking here for several months while writing a story about the history of the Boston Herald property for the Globe Ideas section. I learned a lot from the discussion. Here's a link to the story - and look for it in the Sunday print edition!

http://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2012/08/18/boston-vanished-new-york-streets/EVxSqBnv9ups9yO5Q6MhTP/story.html

That was a great article, thanks. It's sad to think of all the wasted effort razing a residential neighborhood just to rebuild it again over half a century later.

[AmericanFolkLegend]

Too cool Marstall! The Ideas section is my favorite part of the Sunday Globe. Cool that some of the old, greybeards of Archboston, were able to help you with the story.

[joebos]

That was a pretty good read, thanks for linking. I thought it was interesting that Marcel Breuer had a proposal for the site at one point.

[Next Stop Wonderland]

No real construction news (sorry!), but they have started a pretty aggressive south end focused marketing campaign including a billboard.

From the website, it looks like construction starts in early 2013.

http://inkblockboston.com/
https://twitter.com/inkblockboston
http://instagram.com/inkblockboston

[BeeLine]

Demolition to begin late Feb. early March. Construction to begin in April.

http://bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/2013/01/developer_draws_notice_ink_block_project_presses

[Bos77]

Most of the windows have been removed, and interior stripped. Demo work is well underway!

[aaaaaa]

Prior to demolition there will be a large mural painted on the building.

Source: Bostinno (http://bostinno.com/2013/02/22/local-artist-is-painting-a-massive-mural-over-part-of-the-old-boston-herald-building/#ss__301412_265121_0__ss).

[Mike]

Construction starts April 11:

http://bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/2013/03/groundbreaking_set_at_former_herald_site

[Roxxma]

I walked by on my way home from work the other day. All windows have been removed and there were a couple of yellow diggy-type machines (they don't call them steam shovels anymore, do they?), apparently waiting to start demolition.

[type001]

I know they were posted, but I can't seem to find the renderings. Does anyone have them?

[BussesAin'tTrains]

I walked by on my way home from work the other day. All windows have been removed and there were a couple of yellow diggy-type machines (they don't call them steam shovels anymore, do they?), apparently waiting to start demolition.

Backhoes?

[Coyote137]

Backhoes?

Butthoes?

[palindrome]

Butthoes?

Buttholes?

[Roxxma]

Backhoes?
I don't think so, unless they've migrated there since the demise of the Combat Zone. Or do you mean the machines?

[palindrome]

Does this site abut the albany st. tower?

[DominusNovus]

Backhoes?

I think excavators/power shovels is a better, more generic, term. If they're really big, they might be draglines. But those are usually not used in cities, for obvious reasons.

[Lurker]

Excavator is the general term. Trackhoes are the large ones. Backhoes are the dual purpose bulldozer/excavator apparatus with the double sided cabs.