North End artist, Nathan Swain, is one of those people that walks through the city and looks for ways to spruce up its drab infrastructure. To the amazement of many, he has already completed several projects. First, he painted large-scale murals for the “windows” of the Salem Street powerhouse building. More recently, he beautified the concrete wall in Read More…
As only he can, developer Don Chiofaro stirred the press into a fury today as he presented a modestly scaled down version of “Aquarium Place” on the Harbor Garage site. The two angular towers have been cut by about 20% from the height of the original proposal and now stand at 615 and 471 feet. Read More…
There was one significant height revision on Tuesday night when the Board of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) approved the guidelines created through the Greenway District Planning Study. Instead of the previously presented height range of up to 85 feet high for the Fulton St. parking lot (Parcel 11B), the BRA ceded to the public Read More…
In the summer edition of Commonwealth Magazine, Bruce Mohl pens an article, “Just Plain Ugly,” of the Harbor Garage Redevelopment situation that has led to a standstill between owner/developer, Don Chiofaro, and the City of Boston. Beyond presenting the differing perspectives, the magazine reviewed all the internal correspondence on the subject at the Boston Redevelopment Read More…
The response was mixed to the Boston Redevelopment Authority’s presentation at a North End community meeting regarding proposed guidelines for development along the edges of the Rose F. Kennedy Greenway. The July 19th meeting at the Mariner’s House in North Square was focused on the parcels in and near the North End/Waterfront neighborhood with respect Read More…
WBUR.org taped an audio piece examining the question of whether the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway is fulfilling its goal of being a gateway to Boston Harbor. “Here’s what we found: There’s a lot in the way. Office buildings, a hotel, a garage, the stockade fence in front of the Harbor Tower, even trees can really Read More…
In the latest round of news regarding the fate the Harbor Garage site, developer Don Chiofaro supported his plan for 600’ high towers by releasing a shadow study indicating minimal negative impact versus the proposed BRA 200’ height guidelines. From a Banker & Tradesman article, “According to Chiofaro’s own study, all shadows associated by a building Read More…
Just in case you thought those anonymous reader comments on newspaper websites were on the level, the battle over Harbor Garage shows how website comments are being used by both sides hoping to sway public (and political) opinion. Bruce Mohl of Commonwealth Magazine highlights a recent email sent by a Harbor Towers consultant to residents fighting the media war Read More…
Contrary to the rapid pace of review in 2009, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) currently has no meetings scheduled for the redevelopment of the Harbor Garage site. The agency is waiting for the developer, Chiofaro Company, to submit new information. News of the delay was discussed at this week’s North End/Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) Zoning, Read More…
The Harbor Garage Impact Advisory Group (IAG) recently heard three scenarios from the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) as part of the Greenway District Planning Study (GDPS). Although Don Chiofaro, developer and owner of the garage site, was present at the meeting, he did not comment on the presentation. However, it was obvious that the BRA’s Read More…
This is the second in a series of articles from an interview with District 1 City Councilor Salvatore LaMattina following his recent inauguration. Councilor LaMattina is beginning his second full term representing the North End/Waterfront neighborhood as well as East Boston, Charlestown and parts of Beacon Hill & Downtown. (Click here to read Part 1 Read More…
With the July 6th comment deadline now passed, more information is coming out about the reaction to the Chiofaro towers proposal to build a 560 ft high office building, a 690 foot tall residential and hotel building and a 770 foot skyframe in place of the Harbor Garage. The Boston Business Journal reported: “There were Read More…