Boston - Most Embarrassing Blight That Tourists See

[bakgwailo]

Corner of Washington St & Mass Ave/ The Hotel Alexandra. Downtown Crossing concourse, Winthrop Square (for now - admittedly its better with the demo but still kind of meh),

[bigpicture7]

Originally Posted by tysmith95

I feel like a big reason for the low representation in the central areas is that the African American population is very small in most suburbs, and people from the city neighborhoods north of Boston and many of the suburbs visit the center.

I agree; suburban demographics has to do with it too. Either way, it is a different topic than blighted greenway parcels, the Post Office on Ft. Point Channel, rusting Northern Ave. Bridge, etc.

Everything non-optimal about our city doesn't roll up into one category.

[FK4]

The Cambridge street facade of the Govt Services Center with chain link fences, crumbling concrete and govt cars just parked haphazardly on the sidewalk like they own the place

[Charlie_mta]

Another embarrassing item is the rusty condition of highway overpasses and bridges. I know we live in a rough climate with salt. etc, but Chicago's is generally in much better condition than metro Boston's.

[Shepard]

From the perspective of a map-carrying walker:

- Overly wide "incomplete" streets in prominent tourists areas such as Charles St between the Garden/Commons (that's the worst) and through Beacon Hill; Tremont Street by Park Street; nearly all parts of the Greenway, etc.

- Esplanade pedestrian access

- Pedestrian-unfriendly crossing lights, signal phases, buttons, etc - that whole mess, citywide

- Any and all crossings of the Pike trench, but especially Mass Ave/Boylston

- Wretched Government Center Plaza

--

And just to add, I think an embarrassing sight that many tourists see is the downmarket one-story pub across Huntington from the MFA. One might be forgiven for thinking the immediate area could support some upscale retail/restaurants?

[JumboBuc]

For me it's the T concourses at DTX. They're such a filthy mess, and the AC condensers blowing hot air INSIDE in the summer is unacceptable.

Originally Posted by Shepard

And just to add, I think an embarrassing sight that many tourists see is the downmarket one-story pub across Huntington from the MFA. One might be forgiven for thinking the immediate area could support some upscale retail/restaurants?

Northeastern bought this and is sure to redevelop it eventually.

But honestly, I bet no tourists gaf about this.

[Beton Brut]

Originally Posted by Shepard

...an embarrassing sight that many tourists see is the downmarket one-story pub across Huntington from the MFA.

Shep, you're breakin' my heart.

Originally Posted by JumboBuc

Northeastern bought this and is sure to redevelop it eventually.

But honestly, I bet no tourists gaf about this.

And some of us pine for old dives like Punter's. I played in a dart league there, half a lifetime ago. Cheap beer, Jim Beam, Paddy, and pizza through the window from the adjacent establishment (whose name escapes me). I vaguely recall having a lot of fun there...

[Shepard]

Sorry, BB, I have nothing against Punters! Just trying to put myself into the mind of a tourist who has no other context.

Why are there so few nice restaurants near the MFA/Gardner? Are there any?

[cden4]

Good question about restaurants near the MFA. Whenever I visit, I'll often look for a place nearby for a bite, but I almost always end up somewhere in Fenway rather that on or near Huntington. The restaurants in the MFA seem to do a really good business. I can see why!

[statler]

It's funny, if I were visiting a different city and I saw an old industrial age-era piece of infrastructure like Northern Ave Bridge or Charlestown Bridge, I would definitely take some time to check them out.

Maybe I'm just weird.

[Beton Brut]

Originally Posted by Shepard

Sorry, BB, I have nothing against Punters! Just trying to put myself into the mind of a tourist who has no other context.

No hard feelings -- it does have a bit of a Trainspotting vibe to it that elicits shudders in the nice folks who find themselves on Huntington for the Monets and Renoirs...

Originally Posted by Shepard

Why are there so few nice restaurants near the MFA/Gardner? Are there any?

I ask myself the same thing a little closer in, when I attend concerts at Symphony and Jordan Hall, or the Huntington Theatre. One would think that a fine dining establishment with a proper bar would do quite well during theatre and concert season.

Originally Posted by cden4

The restaurants in the MFA seem to do a really good business. I can see why!

An then again, the fine dining deficit could be by design, enhanced by the insularity of the MFA and ISGM. You go, see, have a snack, visit the gift shop, and high-tail it back to (insert affluent suburb here). Perhaps this will change someday...

Originally Posted by statler

It's funny, if I were visiting a different city and I saw an old industrial age-era piece of infrastructure like Northern Ave Bridge or Charlestown Bridge, I would definitely take some time to check them out.

Maybe I'm just weird.

Not weird, just in the wrong town, perhaps...

[bigpicture7]

Originally Posted by statler

It's funny, if I were visiting a different city and I saw an old industrial age-era piece of infrastructure like Northern Ave Bridge or Charlestown Bridge, I would definitely take some time to check them out.

Maybe I'm just weird.

Not weird; I enjoy doing that too. And until recently, I would have characterized the Northern Ave. bridge in that curiosity-inducing category.

But have you looked closely at it within the past 6 months? This thing has changed - it is now really decomposing, sagging, and honestly looks like it will soon collapse. Before it looked like a cool relic...now it truly looks like something dangerous that the city can't afford to deal with.

I honestly would not put the Charlestown/Washington st. bridge in the too-far-gone-to-be-interesting category (that's why I didn't list it on my list above); it is still safe enough to drive over and looks "well worn." Yes it needs to be replaced, and plans are in place to do so soon.

I like the example of the DTX mbta concourse as representative of blight too because it does not look like something preserved for its historic significance; it looks as though no one could possibly want it to be the way it is (so bad).

[odurandina]

i like exploring extinct railroad lines in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Chihuahua, Durango, Mex, etc.

seen just a few narrow slices of what they must have seen.

[TomOfBoston]

Originally Posted by JumboBuc

Northeastern bought this and is sure to redevelop it eventually.

According to Northeastern's IMP this site and the adjacent student apartments were to be developed as a midrise residence hall. Rumor has it that it will now be developed as an academic building for DMSB.

[Downburst]

Originally Posted by Beton Brut

pizza through the window from the adjacent establishment (whose name escapes me)

That would be University House of Pizza, or UHOP.

Punter's is the diviest of dives, and though it has some charms, it is also (to be honest) a little sad to be in. But it's a miracle that it's stuck around for so long, and I'll miss it when it's gone.