29 replies to this topic

[Cotuit]

Filene's project to feature a high-rise. Condos, offices, hotel, stores part of plan in Downtown Crossing. [Boston Globe]

Plan includes 180,000 square feet of retail (including possibly a Target and high end grocery, Filene's Basement will keep it's location), 140 residences (20 below market rate), 500,000 square feet of office space, and a 207 room boutique hotel.

The 1912 Filene's Building and a 1905 structure at Franklin and Hawley streets will be preserved. The rest of the buildings on the site will be torn down to make way for the new tower.

[atlrvr]

Hooooraaaayyyy!!!!

I work right next door at 101 Arch and would LOVE to have a Shaw's next door....the frontage along Franklin is so unattractive, but the Chucarero faithful will be upset.

Now I just have to stop posting on UP, and start working my a$$ off so I can live next there too, but I'm having a feeling that these might not be in my price range.....

[ctman987]

A Target could be good....in Stamford Target opened its first "urban" target in the downtown area. Target is part of a mixed use projet to get make up for the mistakes of building the big suburban Stamford Town Center Mall downtown. The Target in Boston would then be the second "urban" target

[Cotuit]

atlrvr, on Sep 29 2006, 09:45 AM, said:

I work right next door at 101 Arch and would LOVE to have a Shaw's next door...

The article said it would be an upscale grocery store, most likely not Shaw's but more likely something like Dean & Deluca.

[atlrvr]

I guess it's relative (in comparison to Stop & Shop)....there is already Lambert's Market up on Tremont 2 blocks away that sells premium meats, cheeses, etc., and Whole Foods is rumored to be going in next to South Station.....downtown really needs a "upscale" but not specialty grocer.

Separately, I heard Shaw's may be looking at a site next to North Station.

A bit more from the article, this tower would be 38 stories and 495 feet high, which would be just slightly shorter than the new 1 Lincoln St. building, and slightly taller than the new Ritz Carlton towers.

[PCGrad02]

ctman987, on Sep 29 2006, 10:07 AM, said:

A Target could be good....in Stamford Target opened its first "urban" target in the downtown area. Target is part of a mixed use projet to get make up for the mistakes of building the big suburban Stamford Town Center Mall downtown. The Target in Boston would then be the second "urban" target

There has been an "urban Target" in the Buckhead section of Atlanta for years, it's two stories with special escalators for your cart.

[Dozer]

This proposed tower is a little too modernist for my tastes... but typical Boston.

[Time]

Dozer, on Oct 14 2006, 11:41 AM, said:

This proposed tower is a little too modernist for my tastes... but typical Boston.

It looks like a cross between the old 70's boxy look and the newer look we have seen more recently.  I like it, i always enjoy seeing the skyline on my trips to Beantown.

[tombarnes]

The building is something less than interesting, but I am grateful that the original Filene's building is being preserved.

[atlrvr]

There were two contradictory reports this weekend about Filene's Basement.  The Globe said the Downtown Crossing store would close for two years, and then reopen.  The Business Jornals said they would be moving into upstairs space formerly occupied by Filene's.

I'm hoping for the latter, but either way, I'm really excited by the who project.  Though I probably would rarely if ever shop at Target, I think it will bring a lot more people to DTXing.

UPDATE:  

Quote

Filene's Basement, a staple in Boston's Downtown Crossing shopping district for nearly a century, will move upstairs in the former Filene's building in a few weeks, company officials told the Boston Business Journal Monday.

The basement location will close for renovations soon and the store will set up shop in the first floor until late September when the store will undergo liquidation, according to Filene's Basement general manager Donald Darling.

[atlrvr]

Here is the complete article from the Boston Business Journal.  It now says that Filene's will look for a temporary home for 2 years starting in September while the site is under contruction and when it reopens in the new/rehabbed complex, the store will occupy 3 floors, including the basement.

Article

This sounds like it will be a short-term blow for DTXing for a long-term win.  (expanded FB and possibly new Target), plus new office space, residences and hotel.  Anyone want to wager what hotel will be built?

[Cotuit]

I wish they had given some notice. I'm going to scramble up there to go to the old Basement one last time. I know they'll be back after the renovation, but I'm sure it just won't be the same.  

EDIT: Why can't anyone write an article that actually explains what is happening here? I hadn't read the BBJ story before. It sounds like they are expanding to the first floor in a few weeks, then closing down at the end of the summer for renovation, 'expand' as in they will be both upstairs and downstairs. A report I read earlier in the Globe implied they were 'moving' upstairs (moving as in the downstairs would close) in a few weeks, then moving out all together at the end of the summer. Did any of these reporters call anyone at Filene's Basement and ask to have it explained to them?

[Cotuit]

Filene's Basement in talks to stay downtown [The Boston Globe]

Plan would move the Basement temporarily to the Barnes & Noble location across Washington Street which recently closed. The two sides are far apart right now on a fair rent agreement and the city will likely get involved to broker a deal.

[atlrvr]

Just a small update....the developers of the new tower are proposing to include an upscale restaurant, likely to be included as part of the 226-room luxury hotel.

Hopefully they will serve (at a reasonable price) as that part of downtown really does have limited dining options for the office works....there is Vinalia and a smattering of "irish pubs" and a bunch of fast food....I can only eat so much Wendy's and Al Capone subs.

Quote

Downtown Crossing would get a flagship, upscale restaurant as part of a $600 million-plus plan to redevelop the landmark Filene’s complex.

Along with revamping the historic building and constructing a 39-story tower next door, the developers are eyeing a 125-seat restaurant. The project is a joint venture between Hub tower builder John Hynes and New York-based development giant Vornado Realty Trust.

Link to the article. http://business.bost...rticleid=197960

[atlrvr]

A bit more info on the proposed tower.

The grocery store would be 2 levels and approximately 50k-55k sq. ft.  At that size, this sounds like it could be a Shaw's or Whole Foods....preferably Shaw's.

General retail space would be approximately 255k sq. ft.  This includes the expanded Filene's Basement that will occupy 3 floors at about 90k sq. ft.  Still no word if Target is a definite.

Here are a bunch of updated renderings....this thing gets more attractive, each time it is revised.

The original rendering is on the first post of this thread.

The next rendering is below. (The tower is 574' 6" in this version)



Now, the CURRENT rendering. (I don't have a height, but it's obviously similar)  Look how much better the screening around the mechanical level at the top is.


Current design down Franklin St.


View from Washington St.


And a revised rendering of Shopper's Park with a sexy new T entrace.

[JJK5]

I love it.  They need to start on this asap.

[atlrvr]

Here are several more renderings.

The first is a material compostion rendering.  I posted the old first then the new.  I circled the notes that caught my attention.  In the old rendering, part of the facade is mentioned as possibly being Terra Cotta   but in the new rendering it is mentioned only as being "opaque".  Hopefully Terra Cotta is still being considered, as it would really make the building truly classy, and accent the existing Terra Cotta on the original Filene's building.

Old -                     New -


Here is a rendering looking north up Washington St with Macy's in the foreground.



And here is a rendering of lower portion of the tower along Washington, where there are currently a bunch of walk-up fast food places.  Notice the two levels of escelators that would take people up to the 3rd and 4th floors (which I circled) which is the portion Target would occupy if they commit.  The T/Filene's Basement entrance looks nice and cleaned up, but I really hope they plan on allowing Lambert's Market to return to there corner space.



Finally, here it is in the skyline as viewed from the Public Garden.  It's taller than I expected, and really stands out along with Ritz-Common and 1 Beacon.

[bosman]

I honestly do not see a single downside to this proposal. It involves a *beautiful* tower and it would infuse a lot of life into a struggling area. If any NIMBY's get into a fight over this project, or if the BRA for some insane reason decides to reject the proposal, I might leave Boston (a little exhaggeration, but you get the point). This is an awesome proposal.

[atlrvr]

From today's Boston Herald.

Quote

Led by John Hynes, developers of the proposed $600 million-plus remake of the Filene’s block are in talks with two elite hotel chains, JW Marriott and Meridien Hotels, an industry executive familiar with the talks said.

The exclusive St. Regis chain also looked at the project, but is interested in either parkside or waterfront locations, the executive said.

The Filene’s developers plan to meet later this week to discuss which hotel flag to go with for the $150 million, 250-room hotel, the executive said. In a related move, the developers have brought on Denver-based Sage Hospitality to help build out the hotel.

and

Quote

“Fast fashion” chain Zara is reportedly set to sign on as part of the retail component of the Filene’s block project.

Both of those chains mentioned would be good fixes, as there aren't really any high-end business hotels in the Financial District (except those along the downtown Waterfront).  Though I love the Parker House, its rooms are too small to appeal to the average high-end business traveler.

St. Regis might be nice, but it doesn't look like it's happening.  Maybe Fan Pier or Seaport Square.

Zara is a good fit for the area...trendy and mid-market.  Hopefully with them and H&M, DTXing will see an influx of complimentary retail.

It would actually be a great place for a proto-type IKEA....one that has no pick-up, only carry-out and delivery.  With all the college kids and direct connection via the subway, I think it would do great...won't happen, but it's a nice idea.

[atlrvr]

Also, according to the Globe....Club Monaco will likely be joining the Filene's towers development.......seems like they are really going after the young/trendy demographic here.  I'm guessing we will see a Jasmine Sola as well.