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Winthrop Square tower could interfere with Logan flights, Massport frets
By adamg on Fri, 01/13/2017 - 9:07am
The Globe reports that Boston Common fans worried about shadows from the proposed skyscraper have been joined by Massport, which is concerned the 775-foot tower could cause issues with Logan flights.
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Comments
This building can't get a break
Why is it that tall buildings get approved and built all the time, but this one seems to constantly be getting sh*t on by all areas of the government? Why is this place different and what person in a high place, simply does not want it built? I'm NEVER one for conspiracy theories, but this one seems like there's something going on behind the scenes.
It can't catch a break
It can't catch a break because the proposal is blatantly BREAKING several laws an asking for the laws to be changed for them because they said so.
well said
Also troubling is the claim that neither BRA, which sold the building for Marty Walsh, nor the buyer knew about the laws that made the developer's plan illegal, or so they say.
Lying to the public about the sale of a public asset decreases trust in government, which seems to be already in crisis.
Boston Globe columnist Leung wrote about this sale. She said she felt she was being spun by city hall aka mislead or deceived.
It's just really tall
Seems pretty simple to me: the taller you build, the more scrutiny the building gets. Would be second tallest in Boston. http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?searchID=75581420
Oh, and the fact that those shadows Adam mentioned literally break the law.
The 'shadow' law serves more than one
purpose; it also prevents more commercial and/or housing space from being built, which benefits current real estate holdings by creating a tight market, and keeping rents high.
No, it prevents shadows on
No, it prevents shadows on the park that everyone can use.
Not really
That tower is not going to help real estate prices in Boston. A new luxury tower downtown has no effect on prices in say Roslindale or Brighton. Sure it might make that Millennium Tower penthouse 9.9 instead of 10 million. But is that really helping?
You don't make the housing
You don't make the housing market more affordable by adding 10 stories onto the top of a 700-foot downtown tower.
You do it by building medium-rise apartment buildings and townhouses across the city. 3 to 5 stories on small streets, 5 to 10 stories on major streets.
Forget about the Winthrop sq
Forget about the Winthrop sq skyscraper , the FAA and Massport will fight tooth and nail to stop it.
Instead build the tallest skyscraper at the Flower exchange land in the South end off 93 south.
Still a problem
Take a look at the flight ways into/out of Logan and try again.
No, that's even closer to
No, that's even closer to actual approach/departure flight paths.
For Aviation Safety: It's Height + Location
The focus of the Globe article is that Massport would sign off on a building of 710 feet. Previously, the BRA/BPDA put a 725 foot limit on it's height.
Nevertheless, 'Millennium Partners filed a proposal that they said could reach “up to 775 feet.”' My assumption is that Millennium is pushing to get as much height as possible.
If the BRA/BPDA doesn't hold the line, up to Massport, and perhaps the FAA, to push back.
For Comparison
The Pregnant Building at 100 Federal is about 600 feet tall.
101 Federal, next to the garage site, is about 400 feet tall
The Pru is 750 feet tall (907 including the radio mast) , The Hancock is 790.
That Airspace Map
Has an asterisk associated with it:
*The Logan Airspace Map is intended for informational and conceptual planning purposes only. It does not represent actual survey data nor should it be used in the development of a FAA Form 7460. It does not replace the FAA’s 7460 review process. Consistency with the surfaces shown on this map does not ensure that the proposal will be acceptable to the FAA and air carriers. Massport reserves the right to re-assess, review and seek modifications to projects that may be consistent with the Logan Airspace Map but that through the FAA 7460 process are found to have unexpected impacts to Boston Logan International Airport’s safety or efficiency.