3 replies to this topic

[atlrvr]

A state panel today will reject Gov. Romney's plan to sell off Hynes for redevelopment.  They instead will recommend the state maintains operating it and enhances the ground floor facade along Bolyston to accomodate retail and restaurants.

Quote

Members of the commission, meeting last night to review a final report due to be released this morning, will urge the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority, which owns the Boylston Street hall, to make aggressive efforts to redevelop its first floor with shops, restaurants, or other businesses and take other steps to reduce Hynes deficits, which must be covered with state funds.

That would certainly help liven up both sides of Boylston (combined with the new Mandarin shops). though I'm thinkining it might be awkward with the driveway for the Convention Center making it a little pedestrian unfriendly.

[Cotuit]

atlrvr, on Dec 19 2006, 09:46 AM, said:

That would certainly help liven up both sides of Boylston (combined with the new Mandarin shops). though I'm thinkining it might be awkward with the driveway for the Convention Center making it a little pedestrian unfriendly.

True, I imagine they might want to fill in the arcade with retail, which would make walking around the driveway annoying. But it would certainly help the street to have retail there, and it would be nice to have more services for convention attendees on site.

[tombarnes]

Didn't they just spend lots of $$$ rebuilding the Hynes a few years ago?  Getting rid of it seems like a stupid idea, but adding retail and restaurants streetside is a great idea.

[atlrvr]

Quote

After years of uncertainty about whether Boston needed a second convention center, the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority yesterday unveiled plans to spend roughly $18 million renovating the Hynes and adding an estimated 30,000 square feet of retail space.

^ per the Globe http://www.boston.co...18m_renovation/

They will be adding three different pockets of retail space, targeted to attract restuarants.  One will be at the west end of the center at the corner of Boylston and Dalton.  The other, will be at the opposite end of Hynes facing Boylston adjacent to where the plaza in front of the Pru food court is.  The other seems like it will be an extension of the Pru food court by building out the interior space where the two buildings connect.

The new retail along Boylston is definetely a step in the right direction.  I'm sort of bummed that they are restaurants, because that section of Boylston is heavy on restuarants already.  None the less, this combined with the new Mandarin Oriental retail, and the likely new office tower where the Pru food court outdoor plaza is (that will include street level retail), Boylston will have a decent streetscape on both sides.