6 Responses to “Neighbors say no to 585 Commercial St, even with modifications” »»

1. Matt
   Comment by Matt | 01/15/08 at 12:45 pm

   Open space is highly overrated. Public housing projects always had lots of open space. It didn’t make them better neighborhoods. Nor is open space doing anything helpful at City Hall Plaza. In fact, the most desirable neighborhoods in the city (North End, Beacon Hill, Back Bay, South End) have very little open space. They have great parks in a few key locations. As a resident of the North End for the last four years, I say emphatically that we do not need any more open space.

   I don’t see what the problem is at 585 Commercial. Residents are whining about the 55 foot height limit. That would make sense if, say, Gilchrest was proposing an eight-story building at the corner of Prince and Hanover. It does not make sense at an intersection that already has a nine-story building (DCR headquarters), a twelve-story building (Strata 234), and a six or seven story building (behind the tiny parking lot).

   Geez people, if you don’t like density, why in God’s name do you live in the North End? If you want lower density and more open space, move to Cambridge or W Roxbury. These are the same people who fight development tooth and nail and then complain about lack of affordable housing.

2. asdf
   Comment by asdf | 01/15/08 at 2:13 pm

   “Geez people, if you don’t like density, why in God’s name do you live in the North End?”

   My sentiments exactly. Too funny.

3. Chris
   Comment by Chris | 01/16/08 at 3:01 am

   The Romney campaign did, in fact, move their HQ there. They are renting most of the building. Theres a pic in the link below:

   http://wonkette.com/politics/third_rate-burglaries-dept‘/ghost-of-nixon-breaks-into-romney-hq-298361.php

   My guess is the floors they are renting will be vacant round about February 6th.

4. Observer
   Comment by Observer | 01/16/08 at 12:52 pm

   I bid on this property and our bid was based on building within the height requirement. Many of the other bidders did so as well. Gilchrest decided to be aggressive, bid more to win the deal, with the understanding that they would have to spot-zone an entitlement to get the additional density needed to make their (higher) bid work. They made their play and quite possibly failed. There should be no consternation or crying on their part – spot-zoning is a gamble, and sometimes you lose. As I recall, the seller’s would accept no contingent bids, so this developer made an aggressive business decision in direct conflict with the law in place. No tears, and no castigating neighbors who want to fight the zoning change! They bought homes w the understanding that view lines they purchased, and that are part of the “value” of their home, would be preserved by the law. I am, by no means, against density, but ignorance or indifference to zoning laws is, as most experienced developers know, a calculated gamble.

5. John A Keith
   Comment by John A Keith | 01/16/08 at 1:18 pm

   I agree, there’s no sense in having zoning if we allow developers to override it, either by force or political connection.

   It’s a complicated situation. Certainly, someone who buys a home next to the Mass Turnpike shouldn’t ask for the authority to put up sound barriers, right?

   Regarding 585 Commercial, I doubt that the neighbors bought only because they researched zoning law and saw that no one could build around them. They only did their research AFTER someone else wanted to build something. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a right to complain or to request that developers follow the law.

   I am pretty much totally pro-development.

   Not always, though. A developer wants to build a 30-story tower on Boylston Street, in the Back Bay. They agreed just a decade ago to limit the size to 11-stories. Doesn’t seem fair that they should just be able to change what they agreed to.

   Perhaps they just want to meet in the middle?

   Master plans can go a long way to solving this sort of problem. They use them a lot in other cities. New York has done a good job of limiting growth in certain neighborhoods because of them. Other neighborhoods haven’t done so well (Atlantic Yards, anyone?).

   We have a master plan for the Seaport District. It is pretty exhaustive. I expect developers will attempt to circumvent the “rules”. Within reason, maybe, but we can’t allow anyone to cheat.

6. NorthEnd Realist
   Comment by NorthEnd Realist | 01/16/08 at 8:28 pm

   OK…people ARE NOT guaranteed that their views are protected. Unless you are directly on the water, its a crap shoot. If zoning laws were not meant to be changed, then why does Boston have a zoning board of appeals. The people who are against this project now that it is at 55 ft are the same people who are against EVERYTHING and need to get a grip and recognize that the neighborhood is not the peoples republic of the North End. If they cannot then they should move to Cambridge or the burbs or where they obviously came from in the first place…outerspace.

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