0 Wharf District Council Envisions Boston Waterfront Transformation

Boston waterfront offices

Credit: BBJ

The Boston waterfront is seeing an unprecedented transformation of office, residential and retail developments, and the Wharf Council is following suite with a new blueprint for the future.

The Wharf District Council’s “public-realm vision” is a plan to improve public spaces surrounding Boston’s waterfront, spanning from the Northern Avenue bridge through Christopher Columbus park.

From the Boston Business Journal:

The plan’s proponents say it’s a necessary supplement to tie together disparate planning efforts. It would create a showcase for art installations and iconic attractions, historic markers and “active gathering experiences.” The plan includes a combined 212,187 square feet in open-space improvements at three key development sites: Marriott Long Wharf, the Harbor Garage and Hook Lobster.

The total cost estimate for the projects outlined in the visioning plan ranges from $24.8 million to $37.8 million, but financing — not to mention who would take on the actual execution of the vision — is unclear. Ris suggested developers looking to transform the three key waterfront parcels could kick in the money.

0 Tower Height Contended on Boston Harbor Garage Site

rendering of the proposed towers at Boston Harbor

Credit: Boston Globe

The Boston Waterfront will continue to change and be the gateway to our city.  City Hall has moved to the positive side, but it appears not all the abutters are for the size of the Harbor Garage site.

From the Boston Globe:

Boston Redevelopment Authority officials said they plan to recommend Wednesday that a skyscraper on the site of the Boston Harbor Garage be allowed to reach up to 600 feet. That would essentially match the taller of the two buildings Chiofaro has proposed for the property and would be far taller than any other neighboring building overlooking the harbor.

But Chiofaro would not get everything he wants: City officials will propose to limit development at the garage site to 900,000 square feet. The two-building complex proposed by Chiofaro last year would total 1.3 million square feet, with a mix of offices, residential units, and other uses…Chiofaro declined to comment, so it’s unclear whether the smaller building area would limit the developer to one tower instead of two.