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Developer: NoMo HoJo
By adamg on Tue, 03/02/2010 - 4:10pm
Banker & Tradesman reports developers submitted a letter of intent with the BRA yesterday to plow the Fenway Howard Johnson's (and the Hong Kong) under so they can build two 12-story buildings with residential, hotel and retail space.
Neighborhoods:
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Comments
Good,
I was worried there wouldn't be enough bland condominiums in Boston. Glad somebody is looking out for us!
Correct me if I'm wrong..
but wouldn't that give the people on the higher floors a perfect view of all Fenway events? If that's the case, no way I see the Red Sox going for that. Oops..check that. I did not see where the Sox had a piece of it. My bad. Maybe now they can call it "The Ace Ticket Hotel and Residences".
You know what would be great, now?
A 5-10 story luxury hotel where Restaurant Row used to be!
Cue the Neighbors...
Complaining that the new building doesn't fit in with the character of the neighborhood once defined by a heinous Howard Johnsons.
a little quick to bitch about the neighbors!
sorry HoJo's isn't yuppy enough for ya!
Sorry to Burst Your Bubble
I'm not a yuppie. I'm just a Bostonian who pays attention to town politics.
Cue the clueless
The neighborhood, hand-in-hand with the Fenway CDC and the BRA, has been involved in the planning process for that segment of Boylston Street for the last 15+ years. The redevelopment of the Howard Johnson's site was announced last fall; it's in the news today because of the BRA filing.
Further to dvdoff's comment, the Red Sox withdrew from their involvement with the Sage family a couple of years ago. They've presumably seen the engineering studies, and don't appear to be concerned that a 12-story tower would give its occupants a view onto the ballfield.
Thanks for the update!
As your name suggests, you seem to know the neighborhood. As a resident, do you feel that Boylston St will get overdeveloped?
'Bout time
That whole part of Boylston has been forlorn, forever. It's been a corridor devoted to cars -- two fast-food drive-ins, numerous gas stations and repair shops, sandwich places, a liquor store... It's a street we traversed, it had its conveniences, but no one I know held any particular affection for it.
Its development was inevitable, and I'm glad to see it. My concerns, as you suggest, are canyonization and how it will handle traffic. Shadows aren't a problem, because the West Fens residential neighborhood sits on the sunny side. I am curious about the "zoning relief" the developer has requested. We shall see...
Canyonization? ...is that
Canyonization? ...is that NIMBYspeak for "urban"? Twelve stories a canyon does not make. I'm sure you've been to Manhattan, right? Those are canyons.
You are also aware of the fact that that stretch of Boylston, despite long holding the inauspicious title of one of Boston's most suburban streets, is properly located in a very central part of the city, right? Would you seriously be opposed to maintaining a 10-12 story streetwall? What would you do instead? Propose huge setbacks that are no better for streetlife than the Goodyear shop?
No, it's NIMBY
No, it's NIMBY speak for flush, boring streetwalls from end to end. 1330-1340 is imperfect, IMO; pretty good above, blank at the sidewalk. Goodyear -- Shirley you jest.
Btw, are you also known as Lurker on ArchBoston? Same style.
Because...
Everyone knows there's never been a single project in the history of Boston derailed because some neighbor or neighborhood group stepped up at the last minute to complain about traffic, noise, height, shadows, wind, etc., etc., etc. We'll see with this one. Reasons to be optimistic on one hand, and history on the other.
Some of the rooms at HoJo's
Some of the rooms at HoJo's had mirrored ceilings according to friends of mine...just saying
Change the headline?
How about: NoMo HoJo or HoKo