New High-Rises in Boston Pick Up Where Development Left Off 40 Years Ago

A new development promises to transform a gritty part of the Back Bay, according to this article from the Boston Globe.

1 minute read

August 17, 2019, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Tim Logan reports: "A windblown, traffic-choked corner of the Back Bay could soon get a major makeover. But it’s going to take something that hasn’t happened here in four decades: a construction project above the Massachusetts Turnpike."

"Developers hope to start work early next year on a pair of towers that would be on a deck above the busy highway and Commuter Rail tracks, on the west side of Massachusetts Avenue between Boylston and Newbury streets," adds Logan. "The complicated project, seven years in the making, won a key vote from the Boston Planning & Development Agency on Thursday and now heads to the final stages of planning with state transportation officials."

The development of the two towers will also include significant investments in the public realm, like a two-story public plaza, a new entrance to the MBTA’s Hynes Convention Center Station, and new bike and bus lanes. A lot more detail and a rendering of the planned project can be found at the source article.

Friday, August 16, 2019 in The Boston Globe

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 4, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

White and yellow DART light rail train in Dallas, Texas with brick building in background.

DARTSpace Platform Streamlines Dallas TOD Application Process

The Dallas transit agency hopes a shorter permitting timeline will boost transit-oriented development around rail stations.

May 28, 2025 - Mass Transit

Supreme Court Statue

Supreme Court Landlord Appeal Case Could Overturn Tenant Protections

A legal case claiming that COVID-era eviction moratoriums were unconstitutional could spell trouble for tenant protections.

15 minutes ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Distant view of oil derrick on barren plain with harsh sun in background.

Texas Moves to Curb Orphan Wells, But Critics Say Loopholes Remain

A proposed state law would shift financial responsibility for sealing unused drilling sites from the public to energy operators, though some advocates question its effectiveness due to industry-backed exemptions.

1 hour ago - Texas Public Radio

View of a housing permit document with a home blueprint, stamped "approved."

Affordable Housing Finance 101

The financial intricacies involved in building affordable housing can be difficult to understand. This explainer breaks down the foundational concepts.

2 hours ago - Shelterforce Magazine

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.