Future Boston Skyline (real estate, neighborhood, construction)

[Bostonian08]

You guys may be interested in this. Emporis shows there 32 new skyscrapers planned for Boston, 13 of which are under construction.

Skyscrapers of Boston | Emporis.com

Two will surpass the JH. Click on the links to see the planning pix. Gateway Center will fill it that mess down below the Chinatown Gateway.
Tallest skyscrapers | Emporis.com



Emporis is a great site. For more dazzling pix of any city, try the "Images of this city" links.

[Cliff Clavin]

Personally I'd like to see the vast acreage of parking lots in the Seaport developed before some of these others towers take shape. That area, as is, is an embarrassment.

[BubbyBu]

Most of that infmoration is old. There is nowhere near 32 towers planned nor 13 under construction.

The Transnational project has been basically dead for a year now.

Mayor Menino really screwed up on that one.

There are some other nice ones planned though....with the approval process currently underway. In fact theyare a lot nicer than the Transnational.

[Bostonian08]

That doesn't surprise me that all that is not going to happen. And I totally agree they need to get the Seaport District done hopefully within our lifetime. Hard not to be skeptical about that though!

[lrfox]

Originally Posted by Cliff Clavin

Personally I'd like to see the vast acreage of parking lots in the Seaport developed before some of these others towers take shape. That area, as is, is an embarrassment.

This is SLOWLY happening. The Fan Pier project is well underway. It's in Phase 1 of 3 at the moment. You can see the first building of the mixed-use (the building U/C is all office) project being built right now. The rest of the project (you can see the renderings on the site) will get rid of many of those parking lots.

Seaport Square has obtained most approvals and awaits some financing, but it's hardly dead. It'll be adjacent to the fan pier site getting rid of many of those parking lots.

My concern is that these massive all at once proposals will create monotonous architecture and mediocrity. Don't get me wrong, Back Bay, Beacon Hill, North End, etc all use redundant architectural styles, but let's be honest... they don't build them like they used to. It also seems that many of these proposals have poorly placed parks and lack a good pedestrian scale which is not a good thing. Poorly placed parks are essentially grass covered parking lots... the bane of urbanity. We'll see. Development is good, but they need to get it right.

There are a number of planned and proposed projects in the seaport area that I didn't mention (including construction near Anthony's). Most are good, many are bland, stumpy, suburban office park style buildings (like most of what's there). Anyway, This area, being SOOO close to downtown and right on the water will get what it needs eventually.

[LeavingMA]

I haven't seen any construction towers in Boston. I still see the same ugly skyscrapers. Go to Charlotte, Raleigh, or even Dallas and they are still have new buildings going up all over.

[Cliff Clavin]

Originally Posted by lrfox

Anyway, This area, being SOOO close to downtown and right on the water will get what it needs eventually.

I agree. I think in 15-20 years we'll have something we can really be proud of.

I was down there for the Volvo Ocean Race shindig, and I must say the views of the city and harbor from that locale were gorgeous. I just boggles my mind this land has sat undeveloped for so long. Meanwhile, we have RE developers, politicians and neighborhood groups fighting about rights to air space over the pike. Now I'm no real estate expert, but I would think 'ocean front' beats 'turnpike air space'.

Originally Posted by LeavingMA

I haven't seen any construction towers in Boston. I still see the same ugly skyscrapers. Go to Charlotte, Raleigh, or even Dallas and they are still have new buildings going up all over.

When Charlotte, Raleigh or Dallas figure out how to develope ocean front real estate, let us know.