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Sure, let's let Don Chiofaro do whatever he wants
By adamg on Sun, 01/11/2009 - 1:41pm
Yvonne Abraham writes today that Tom Menino should let Don Chiofaro replace the Aquarium parking garage with a 1.5-million-square-foot, um, something, and let's be snappy about it, Tom:
Maybe Chiofaro hasn't done himself any favors with his increasingly vocal persistence. But it's easy to understand his impatience, and his desire to start the conversation. And there is no doubting his commitment to contributing something truly spectacular to the city, and in a spot that desperately needs it.
Yes, because Chiofaro has such an outstanding record of contributing something truly spectacular to the city, and in a spot that desperately needs it. If, that is, you're a fan of Palladian windows.
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Comments
her column is correct about
her column is correct about the greenway and the impact this building will have economically and for the streetscape. Build it with a world class architect.
Compelling Argument
If some anonymous person -- conceivably even the developer himself -- vouches for it, that's good enough for me!
good, im glad i won another
good, im glad i won another over for my proje....er for Mr. Chiofaro's towers.
The greenway is dead in the winter and the Boston Museum and Mass Horts garden under glass are not happening. The greenway is the scare left from the central artery. A barren suburban stretch bordered by highway in one of the densest parts of boston.
I like this person. And the
I like this person. And the greenway is both a scare and a scar. Boston has a greenway, and it doesn't take care of it. It would have been nice if they got rid of the crack addicts on the Common before they added more "green" to the city.
Developers and Columnists
Some valuable advocacy in that column.
The next time I'm a wealthy developer, I'm definitely granting access to select columnists, and bringing them onboard.
As a citizen, I'd prefer to see some public release of plans rather than read the endorsement of someone given a special viewing of effectively secret plans.
When it's public, I get more information and can form my own opinions, the developer makes some small degree of commitment ("yes, we are thinking of possibly doing something like this"), and there's no potential conflict of interest arising from privileged access.
That's why I didn't like the column
We have no idea what exactly Chiofaro is planning for that property. Maybe Chiofaro spread everything out on a table for Abraham to see, but she didn't tell us anything we didn't already know from the Globe story a couple days earlier, except that now we know she thinks it's just marvy and Tom Menino's just being a meanie again. That might in fact be true, but all we really know at this point is that a) Chiofaro is talking about 1.5 million square feet of new space, which sounds really big and b) He gave the city Palladian Place.
Aha
Thanks, I missed that:
Casey Ross, "Builder plans 2 towers at Greenway; size unclear," Boston Globe, 2009-01-08,
http://www.boston.com/realestate/news/articles/200...
There are a couple details in the Abraham column not in the Ross piece. Perhaps they came from the documents that the Ross piece mentions, and Abraham wrote the piece without any contact with the developer?
I'm naturally mistrustful of developers, but if they're not to the point that they're willing to let their renderings be shown publicly, I'd be especially slow to start fighting for them.
All I Need to Know About Developers, I Learned In Kindergarten
Developers are always trying to force heart-of-America people off their land, and they almost get away with it, until Mr. T throws their henchmen across the room.
I'm no fan of developers
(I'm in a position to interact with them on a daily basis). However, while I appreciate the tongue in cheek nature of your comments, Neil, this is emblematic of why it takes much longer than need be to get anything built in this town.(E.g.,"Stakeholders" who materialize magically. Politicians seeing dollar signs. The notion that unanimity is necessary (or possible) before anything gets done.) Chiofaro may be a pain in the ass but AFAIK, the FBI hasn't been crawling up HIS butt, unlike some of his competitors. Personally, I'm weary of this whole "Bonfire of the Vanities" act that keeps being replayed around here. We scoff at rubes in other cities, but they get more done than we do. The permitting process here is already pretty vigorous and class warfare doesn't create taxable properties.
read between the lines.
the advocacy comes when she talks about how much the greenway sucks, and how this project can positively contribute.
I don't think anyone will approve of the building before seeing it.
Similarly, the Emperor Menino should not judge the project before the public sees it as well ("not the place for height")