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FAA says proposed harbor towers too tall; developer says don't worry
By adamg on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 8:07pm
The Boston Business Journal reports on a preliminary ruling by the FAA that proposed 40- and 59-story towers on what is now the aquarium parking garage are way too tall too close to Logan. Developer Don Chiofaro basically said "meh" and that the ruling just means closer scrutiny of the project.
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Comments
FAA is playimg politics
The published height guidelines put out by MassPort and the FAA specify 625 feet for that location, but now they are saying 407 feet. What changed? Did Logan some how get closer? Or was a well placed call on behalf of a well connected power broker made to impress upon the FAA that Chiaforo should not get his towers? The change makes no sense. But ultimately, it doesn't matter. The guidelines are just that, and lack the force of zoning law.
Said power broker who
Said power broker who resides at the Harbor Tower?
Harbor Tower residents are my most hated residents of all the city. They are the biggest hypocrites when it comes to area development.
I was so glad to hear about all the problems they were having with their HVAC.
Where the garage is now?
Uhhh...where are people going to park?
varoom
At home. Take the T. :)
There will be a new garage
There will be a new garage underground. But the 'T is really the best option for getting to that area.
zoning?
What is truly amazing about this project is that the zoning for that building is currently set at 150 feet.
What would make someone believe they can build 4 times the zoning height when they have a current building which is perfectly fine and is making money and should last approximately 100 years?
Because we have a corrupt local government where you can buy off the BRA and the elected officials. Over and Over again.
Imagine if I bought a building in the South End and decided I was going to turn a 5 story building in to a 20 story tower, think anyone would mind?
It's worth noting that
It's worth noting that Harbor Towers, and pretty much every other tower in the immediate area was not held to that 150 foot zoning.
This area is NOTHING LIKE THE SOUTH END. The downtown waterfront isn't a quaint residential neighborhood. The Great Fire over a century ago changed that.
That's an example of bad
That's an example of bad zoning. That area needs more mid to high rise buildings, not fewer. When you ran for mayor, had you made the argument that the zoning laws needed to be fixed so that somebody could build a 600 foot tower in a neighborhood that already had several, without having to depend on a corrupt BRA, then you might have received my vote. The crime isn't that the BRA makes exceptions where appropriate (and it is eminently appropriate at that location). The crime is that they have to do so because it is too difficult to change the inappropriate code.
While I Agree...
that the process is hugely flawed (HI KEVIN, I VOTED FOR YOU!!), comparing this location to anything in the South End is way off. We're talking about the downtown of a major metropolitan area. Planning 101 says, "PUT BIG BUILDINGS HERE."
When that report came out last week about the high cost of rentals in Boston, did anyone think to ask WHY costs have gotten so high? Hmmmm, I wonder if it has anything to do with our inability to build at the rate of demand, or at the very least build ANYTHING?