Kenmore Sq

[Ron Newman]

IHOP was a chain but it's still missed, as it had very late hours. They later opened one in Harvard Square but it's much smaller than the Kenmore location was.

[Beton Brut]

Don't forget Planet Records. I don't believe the building that they occupied was demolished, but I believe their closure was collateral damage as a result of the Barbie Motorlodge. The only thing I like about the Hotel Commonwealth is its southern fa?ade.

[Ron Newman]

Barbie Motorlodge? Do you mean the former Howard Johnson's hotel that's now a BU dorm? That's been there since at least the early 1970s.

Used record stores have been disappearing all over. Davis Square used to have both Disc Diggers and CD Spins, now it has none. CD Spins was a local chain that has entirely closed.

[Beton Brut]

I'm being a smart-ass, Ron. I'm referring to the Hotel Commonwealth. As I've said since the wrap came off of it, the entire building is a fraud, made of plastic, with all the architectural integrity of a Mattel toy.

[belmont square]

Originally Posted by HenryAlan

Cornwalls moved across the street (though I'd argue the current incarnation is not up to par with what once was)

Forgot about Cornwalls. The old location (downstairs from the street) was definitely better than the current one across Kenmore.

[HenryAlan]

Originally Posted by belmont square

Forgot about Cornwalls. The old location (downstairs from the street) was definitely better than the current one across Kenmore.

You can thank ADA for that. Although I'm largely supportive of the ADA, the loss of split level store fronts is a tragic consequence. Cornwalls of old always felt like this cozy hideaway, sort of a Cheers type of atmosphere. Now it mostly resembles a frat boy/sports bar.

[kz1000ps]

Originally Posted by ablarc

^ You're not suggesting --are you-- that those lots were vacant 100 years ago?

That's exactly what I'm saying.

Here's Kenmore in 1902:



And 1938:



Excuse me if I'm presuming too much ablarc, but it seems you don't know the history of the area, that being that it was laid out with the expectations of being an extension of the Back Bay in both form and function, an expectation that never materialized as the demand for single-family homes (especially mansions) in the city disappeared once streetcars made living in the suburbs a possibility.

Instead, Comm Ave's use went commercial and became the region's first Auto Mile, but even at its peak Comm Ave never came close to seeing its urban fabric made whole.

Lastly, this area's fate mirrors that of the West Fenway neighborhood, particularly Boylston Street, which also saw development come on very slowly and in the form of light industry (or tenements on Peterborough and Queensberry).

[kz1000ps]

I wouldn't call ablarc a newbie, he grew up here decades ago. But on with more pics!

1930s:



1939, taken from a book on BU's (architectural?) history:



And 1955:

[czsz]

Cornwalls of old always felt like this cozy hideaway, sort of a Cheers type of atmosphere. Now it mostly resembles a frat boy/sports bar.

I feel this way about the entire city of Boston.

[HenryAlan]

Originally Posted by czsz

I feel this way about the entire city of Boston.

That's certainly true of significant parts of downtown. Most of the outer neighborhoods have cleaned up, yet retained the more homy vibe.

[eljusticiero67]

Originally Posted by Beton Brut

I'm being a smart-ass, Ron. I'm referring to the Hotel Commonwealth. As I've said since the wrap came off of it, the entire building is a fraud, made of plastic, with all the architectural integrity of a Mattel toy.

jeez, i feel like you guys are being a bit harsh eh? it looks almost exactly the same to me. and its certainly better than some of the other crap thats gone up recently...

[vanshnookenraggen]

I copied KZs historical images over here cuz I kept thinking they were here to begin with. The posts are still in the BU thread.

[Beton Brut]

Originally Posted by eljusticiero67

jeez, i feel like you guys are being a bit harsh eh?

The Rubbermaid shed in my back yard has more architectural integrity.

Originally Posted by eljusticiero67

...and its certainly better than some of the other crap thats gone up recently...

This may be true (in the Seaport), but there is no excuse for such piss-poor design and cheap finishes in such a prominent location.

Epic Fail.

[JohnAKeith]

The old Waterman funeral home building(s) are being listed for sale. In 2006, a developer bought it for $5,650,000 and hoped to convert the buildings into condos. Don't know why that fell through.

493-495 Commonwealth Ave
Price: $9,999,999,999 (not a misprint, apparently open to best offers)