The Globe reports on the massive proposal that would essentially remake the somnolent downtown from scratch and turn it into a densely populated urban center.
This sounds on the surface a lot like urban renewal of the 50s, only with a transit and pedestrian oriented spin. I hope they don't wipe out historic buildings and go crazy on oversized parking structures and superblocks. That being said, Massachusetts is definitely lacking in large vibrant areas outside of Boston/Cambridge/Brookline/Somerville, so I hope this is step towards improving that situation.
Lynn is renewing its downtown in a slower, more organic way. Instead of demolishing old buildings, it's capitalizing on their character to attract new residents. It's not overnight or a bad-awful "urban renewal" project, so nobody's noticing.
(as I observed in Central Square Lynn the last time I was there) is a really great way to "build character" for your downtown area.
And let us not forget that the only McDonald's that was ever closed by the corporation solely due to poor financial performance (as opposed to a franchisee deciding not to renew) was located on the failed Union Streeet walkway in Downtown Lynn.
Having seen a McDonald's close in Davis Square (they returned a few years later to a different location), and more recently in Porter Square, I doubt your statement. Haven't plenty of McDonald's store closed because they were in malls or food courts that died?
With the road construction begining, this is underway. It has been talked about and in planning for years. As a Quincy resident who lives close to Quincy Center, I am a little concerned that this will make Quincy unaffordable but I hope it brings the center back.
They have also talked about doing something like it to the shipyard area as well. Currently, that is just a big car storage parking lot.
I think this multi-year project will make Quincy a great alternative to downtown Boston for those looking for an urban environment without the associated costs of living in downtown Boston.
As a 24 year old (non grad student) who would love to live in an urban, yet affordable location, this development has certainly stoked my interest.
As noted though, If the prices are similar to Boston, I might as well stay around there. Currently, I have been looking around Allston for a 1bd around $1350 and everything I have found (to be fair, basing this only off craigslist) has the student infestation stigma, or has been a total dump. If I could get a nice 1bd in Quincy Center then I'm on board.
don't even try to write something like it's anything other than a press release. Hey "24-year-old (non grad student)," why don't you enjoy some of the "mixed use residential" "spaces" going up near Fenway? Perhaps you can drill down into other real estate enterprises that provide the "urban environment" you seek without the "student infestation" you loathe. Or here's another idea: Try a location that's not downtown Boston. Housing in Jamaica Plain, Cambridge and Somerville is just as affordable and already there, so you don't have to completely rip up a city center and play urban pioneer to live there.
don't even try to write something like it's anything other than a press release. Hey "24-year-old (non grad student)," why don't you enjoy some of the "mixed use residential" "spaces" going up near Fenway? Perhaps you can drill down into other real estate enterprises that provide the "urban environment" you seek without the "student infestation" you loathe. Or here's another idea: Try a location that's not downtown Boston. Housing in Jamaica Plain, Cambridge and Somerville is just as affordable and already there, so you don't have to completely rip up a city center and play urban pioneer to live there.
I'm sorry if i struck a nerve. Seriously relax. I am a member of archboston.com and urban development is a hobby of mine so please excuse my enthusiasm.
Those other locations are all valid. I have looked at fenway. Trilogy starts at 2000 for a 1bd and 1330 boylston is even more. Various other apartment buildings are cheaper granted. Cambridge certainly has its affordable areas that are walkable and Somerville even moreso---especially with the impending greenline extension, which will make the area extremely attractive.
Jamaica Plain less so because it doesn't have as many transit options, and lacks in the nightlife department.
All of the above are my personal opinions.
Again, I have nothing at all to do with this development and you need to take a chill pill.
I used to live in one of those buildings in the Fenway, and if I had to do it over again, I would probably live in Salem and take the commuter rail into North Station. Half the rent of living in the Fenway for the same 800 sq ft, fully-applianced apartment in a complex with gym/pool/concierge/etc. Call it $1100-1200/month. Lowell has some interesting and cheap mill-to-apartment/loft conversions as well.
Actually, I'd really love to live in Newburyport, but it's just too damn far away.
I have two concerns about this project, the retail space and parking. IIRC, they're talking about 500K+ sq ft of retail space; who's going to occupy it? South Shore Plaza just added a wing, with two anchor stores and a lot of empty storefronts; there are plans to convert the former Sheraton across the street from South Shore Plaza into retail space; there are recently opened malls at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham, Legacy Place in Dedham, and the Hingham Shipyard. Where is the market for more retail space?
Also, the city is relying on pay parking to make up a lot of the initial costs. Quincy people are the last ones in the world who are going to pay to park when there's free parking available at all of the a-forementioned malls.
As a Quincy resident, I fear the outcome of this project is going to be higher property taxes for the rest of my life to pay it off.
This is a joke. I've lived in Quincy for over thirty years and each and every spring and fall there are floods all over town in Wollaston, Furnace Brook, the Point, Robertson Street, the Neck and several other areas. The storm drain/sewer system is outdated and already woefully overwhelmed every damn time it rains heavily (as it did last March). City Hall has yet to address the current problem and now they're going to strain the system even further. F'n brilliant. So instead of two feet of water in my basement several times a year, I'll be dealing with four feet after all those housing units businesses are built. It really doesn't matter if it's under grad upwardly mobile yuppie fecal matter, it's still crap (even though the DPW has been telling us for years that it's "sea water"). We had to cap our basement toilet because of a two foot geyser of "sea water" during the last flood.
I found out during the last city council meeting I attended that waste effluent from as far away as Framingham (yes, Framingham!) and all the towns in between flows through Quincy on its way out to Nut Island. There's a special place in hell for the bastid hack who thought that'd be a great idea.
There's a reason the Square has been inundated with nail bars, dollar stores, and empty storefronts. It's called South Shore Plaza and building a new ramp off the expressway and redesigning the Square for foot traffic only isn't going to draw shoppers away from SSP, especially from October through March. And no matter how many Crates & Barrels stores there are in the vicinity, I still can't see there being a great demand for $75 leather wastepaper baskets in a blue collar town like Quincy. Can you?
Quincy center is a dump. why not try to make something out of it and attract some new blood to the area, so that it's not just a run down blue collar town where nobody can afford to shop at crate and barrel.
Quincy should try to capitalize on its vicinity to boston via public transportation by drawing in young professionals who will live, shop, and eat in the area, thereby contributing to the city's tax base. Perhaps they can use the increased property and sales tax generated from these new residents to fix your basement shitter.
Comments
Can Street-Works deliver?
They have already failed to execute a much smaller project elsewhere in Quincy -- purchasing and restoring the Wollaston Theatre.
Modern Urban Renewal?
This sounds on the surface a lot like urban renewal of the 50s, only with a transit and pedestrian oriented spin. I hope they don't wipe out historic buildings and go crazy on oversized parking structures and superblocks. That being said, Massachusetts is definitely lacking in large vibrant areas outside of Boston/Cambridge/Brookline/Somerville, so I hope this is step towards improving that situation.
You forgot about Lynn
Lynn is renewing its downtown in a slower, more organic way. Instead of demolishing old buildings, it's capitalizing on their character to attract new residents. It's not overnight or a bad-awful "urban renewal" project, so nobody's noticing.
Yep, painting false fronts on vacant buildings
(as I observed in Central Square Lynn the last time I was there) is a really great way to "build character" for your downtown area.
And let us not forget that the only McDonald's that was ever closed by the corporation solely due to poor financial performance (as opposed to a franchisee deciding not to renew) was located on the failed Union Streeet walkway in Downtown Lynn.
McDonald's closings
Having seen a McDonald's close in Davis Square (they returned a few years later to a different location), and more recently in Porter Square, I doubt your statement. Haven't plenty of McDonald's store closed because they were in malls or food courts that died?
With the road construction
With the road construction begining, this is underway. It has been talked about and in planning for years. As a Quincy resident who lives close to Quincy Center, I am a little concerned that this will make Quincy unaffordable but I hope it brings the center back.
They have also talked about doing something like it to the shipyard area as well. Currently, that is just a big car storage parking lot.
I think this multi-year
I think this multi-year project will make Quincy a great alternative to downtown Boston for those looking for an urban environment without the associated costs of living in downtown Boston.
As a 24 year old (non grad student) who would love to live in an urban, yet affordable location, this development has certainly stoked my interest.
As noted though, If the prices are similar to Boston, I might as well stay around there. Currently, I have been looking around Allston for a 1bd around $1350 and everything I have found (to be fair, basing this only off craigslist) has the student infestation stigma, or has been a total dump. If I could get a nice 1bd in Quincy Center then I'm on board.
Jesus, you f'n developer anons...
don't even try to write something like it's anything other than a press release. Hey "24-year-old (non grad student)," why don't you enjoy some of the "mixed use residential" "spaces" going up near Fenway? Perhaps you can drill down into other real estate enterprises that provide the "urban environment" you seek without the "student infestation" you loathe. Or here's another idea: Try a location that's not downtown Boston. Housing in Jamaica Plain, Cambridge and Somerville is just as affordable and already there, so you don't have to completely rip up a city center and play urban pioneer to live there.
Jesus, you f'n developer anons...
don't even try to write something like it's anything other than a press release. Hey "24-year-old (non grad student)," why don't you enjoy some of the "mixed use residential" "spaces" going up near Fenway? Perhaps you can drill down into other real estate enterprises that provide the "urban environment" you seek without the "student infestation" you loathe. Or here's another idea: Try a location that's not downtown Boston. Housing in Jamaica Plain, Cambridge and Somerville is just as affordable and already there, so you don't have to completely rip up a city center and play urban pioneer to live there.
Anon here.
I'm sorry if i struck a nerve. Seriously relax. I am a member of archboston.com and urban development is a hobby of mine so please excuse my enthusiasm.
Those other locations are all valid. I have looked at fenway. Trilogy starts at 2000 for a 1bd and 1330 boylston is even more. Various other apartment buildings are cheaper granted. Cambridge certainly has its affordable areas that are walkable and Somerville even moreso---especially with the impending greenline extension, which will make the area extremely attractive.
Jamaica Plain less so because it doesn't have as many transit options, and lacks in the nightlife department.
All of the above are my personal opinions.
Again, I have nothing at all to do with this development and you need to take a chill pill.
Buildings -
I used to live in one of those buildings in the Fenway, and if I had to do it over again, I would probably live in Salem and take the commuter rail into North Station. Half the rent of living in the Fenway for the same 800 sq ft, fully-applianced apartment in a complex with gym/pool/concierge/etc. Call it $1100-1200/month. Lowell has some interesting and cheap mill-to-apartment/loft conversions as well.
Actually, I'd really love to live in Newburyport, but it's just too damn far away.
There's fishing in Quincy,
but do your fishing for investors somewhere else, flack.
Quincy is already an urban
Quincy is already an urban yet affordable solution. For $1,300 you could get quite the apartment here.
How Much Retail?
I have two concerns about this project, the retail space and parking. IIRC, they're talking about 500K+ sq ft of retail space; who's going to occupy it? South Shore Plaza just added a wing, with two anchor stores and a lot of empty storefronts; there are plans to convert the former Sheraton across the street from South Shore Plaza into retail space; there are recently opened malls at the Derby Street Shops in Hingham, Legacy Place in Dedham, and the Hingham Shipyard. Where is the market for more retail space?
Also, the city is relying on pay parking to make up a lot of the initial costs. Quincy people are the last ones in the world who are going to pay to park when there's free parking available at all of the a-forementioned malls.
As a Quincy resident, I fear the outcome of this project is going to be higher property taxes for the rest of my life to pay it off.
oh hell no
This is a joke. I've lived in Quincy for over thirty years and each and every spring and fall there are floods all over town in Wollaston, Furnace Brook, the Point, Robertson Street, the Neck and several other areas. The storm drain/sewer system is outdated and already woefully overwhelmed every damn time it rains heavily (as it did last March). City Hall has yet to address the current problem and now they're going to strain the system even further. F'n brilliant. So instead of two feet of water in my basement several times a year, I'll be dealing with four feet after all those housing units businesses are built. It really doesn't matter if it's under grad upwardly mobile yuppie fecal matter, it's still crap (even though the DPW has been telling us for years that it's "sea water"). We had to cap our basement toilet because of a two foot geyser of "sea water" during the last flood.
I found out during the last city council meeting I attended that waste effluent from as far away as Framingham (yes, Framingham!) and all the towns in between flows through Quincy on its way out to Nut Island. There's a special place in hell for the bastid hack who thought that'd be a great idea.
There's a reason the Square has been inundated with nail bars, dollar stores, and empty storefronts. It's called South Shore Plaza and building a new ramp off the expressway and redesigning the Square for foot traffic only isn't going to draw shoppers away from SSP, especially from October through March. And no matter how many Crates & Barrels stores there are in the vicinity, I still can't see there being a great demand for $75 leather wastepaper baskets in a blue collar town like Quincy. Can you?
What vision you have!
Quincy center is a dump. why not try to make something out of it and attract some new blood to the area, so that it's not just a run down blue collar town where nobody can afford to shop at crate and barrel.
Quincy should try to capitalize on its vicinity to boston via public transportation by drawing in young professionals who will live, shop, and eat in the area, thereby contributing to the city's tax base. Perhaps they can use the increased property and sales tax generated from these new residents to fix your basement shitter.