A reborn plan to raze the Winthrop Square parking garage and replace it with the tallest building in Boston will provide a test for new Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh.
Paul McMorrow reports on developer Steve Belkin's renewed effort to build a 1,000-foot office tower on the current site of a city-owned parking garage. A failed attempt to redevelop the site seven years ago has left the site in limbo. Thus:
This lack of standing sets up a potentially embarrassing conflict between Belkin and Boston’s new mayor, Marty Walsh. But it’s also an opportunity for Walsh to put his stamp on downtown development, both by establishing his own vision for what should replace the Winthrop Square garage, and by signaling that development in Boston doesn’t work on a wink and a nod anymore.
The article provides the backstory, which involves Belkin's winning the original redevelopment project by default (he owns the property next door) and a falling-out with none other than starchitect Renzo Piano. This time around, the project is seen as problematic for Mayor Walsh because, according to McMorrow, "Walsh actively campaigned against the kind of fast-and-loose development politics that would call a mulligan and hand Winthrop Square to Belkin today."
FULL STORY: No more winks, nods on big downtown projects
Why Are These Prime Boston Properties Sitting Vacant?
Even though they often occupy valuable real estate, some Boston properties have sat vacant in various states of limbo for years.
Redevelopment Without Displacement: A Boston Experiment
The city of Boston is trying to establish a model for gentrification mitigation in the Upham's Corner section of Dorchester.
RIP: Boston Dive Bars (1630-2016)
A recent unofficial tally on Yelp found that 20 of the 70 Boston dive bars listed on the site had recently closed. The Boston Globe examines the trend.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin
People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.
US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico
A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.
5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project
Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.
Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project
The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.
Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin
The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
Eagle County Government
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Nashville Planning Department
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello
Journal of the American Planning Association