Boston Built in Tradition

Boston is unique for a larger city, it's steeped in tradition from it's societal acumen to it's architecture. The winter months really represent how traditional Bostonians can be, how unwilling to accept change. Take the parking issue: in years past, it was understood if you dug your car out of the snow, then all you had to do was leave some junk in that spot and it was yours until Spring came. This was the custom until a few years ago when the Mayor declared that residents could "save" their spot for only 48 hours after the storm ended. It's safe to say some neighborhoods have taken to this declaration by the Mayor with less than enthusiasm. Bostonians like their traditions...they like things to stay the same. No place is this more obvious than in their architecture. Incorporating contemporary design into the conservative traditional fabric is like fending off a heavy weight boxer; most don't succeed and the few that try usually get pummeled. Check out these pics which represent just how good Boston is at keeping their architecture true to Bostonian tradition of staying the same.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/gallery/Boston_then_and_now/?p1=News_links

- Design is what you make it.

To Rent or To Buy

Many people ask themself this same question. The truth of the matter, the answer may be chosen for you. Lenders have tightened up on mortgages making first time home buying more difficult. Interest rates are at rock bottom, however if you haven't saved up enough for the down payment you can forget about acquiring a loan. You know who wins in this scenario? Developers. Apartment building projects has risen of late as developers recognize the need for housing is still high as well as the desire to live near work and all the benefits city life offers, however without the ability to obtain lending for that first purchase one's options are rent or live on the street...not much of a choice there.

Bottom line, if you have some savings then you have a choice. If you're like so many people out there and have been hit hard the past couple of years by this economy, your savings has been depleted or may not exist at all and thus you're given one option; RENT. Many big developers have seen this and are putting together projects to fill this necessity. Check out this article addressing just this situation.

http://www.boston.com/realestate/news/articles/2010/11/13/builder_says_time_is_right_for_boston_apartments/
- Design is what you make it.

High Design in the Salon world

Well it seems there is a new look to a high end salon on Newbury Street. G20 Spa and Salon has installed some beautiful mosaic tile designs provided by Artaic. Check out the link to see the panels and a short video, definitely worth the time.

http://www.artaic.com/CIDB/Custom_Mosaic/project/g2o-spa-and-salon/

- Design is what you make it.

Real Estate Development during trying Economic Times

Somerville, MA was presented with the All American City Award (AAC) in 2009. In 2010, the construction of the Assembly Square area will begin. This project will improve roadways, bring a new T station to Somerville, residential units, commercial office space, additional retail space, a new movie theatre, and most importantly 500 new jobs. Congratulations to the Somerville leaders for getting this task started in such difficult economic times. Perhaps Mayor Menino of Boston can follow Somerville's lead with the even more substantial project planned for the waterfront near the Boston Aquarium. To read more about both projects please go to:

http://www.thesomervillenews.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=3854
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/03/28/shadow_on_the_greenway/

- Design is what you make it.

Is Mayor Menino standing in the way of progress?

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/04/28/chiofaro_taking_battle_with_menino_to_the_public/

This is a difficult topic to cover. The Mayor has legitimate concerns about what impact this project would do to the city. Unfortunately the Mayor seems to have missed the mark on his concerns. Mayor Menino controls all that is constructed in the city, he has the final say. The major concern he seems to be expressing revolves around shadows and the Kennedy Greenway. The property in discussion sits on the edge of the harbor to the East of most of the Greenway. The Greenway only gets used during the late Spring, Summer, and early Fall. The other times of the year, the space is much to cool to comfortably stay for any period longer than walking through to one's destination.

In the Summer the sun is at it's apex, and while these buildings would create shadows on the Greenway during a portion of the morning as the sun rises from the horizon, at noon the sun is located to the South on it's path across the sky and thus would light the Greenway with the desired sunlight the Mayor is suggesting this project would block. Perhaps the laws of physics don't apply in the Mayor's world, but every shadow study I can conclude predicts shadows falling to the East from this project by noon and not toward the Greenway.

Sun arguments aside, can we discuss the economical impact this project could have on the state as well as the country? We're talking thousands of jobs (architects, designers, engineers, construction workers, factory workers, laborers, transportation workers, retail workers upon completion, janitorial workers, etc). What do people that have jobs usually do? They buy things, thus increasing more products being made and more workers needed to produce the products as well as transport them, and load and unload them etc. This one project due to it's scale could help to transform the effects from the recession into a period of normalcy again.

It is safe to say that should this developer secure the funding for this project the mayor has an obligation to allow this project to move forward. If he doesn't, it can only be that he's afraid of progress and doesn't care about the families in this country that are struggling to survive due to lack of jobs. Mayor Menino, please do reconsider allowing the height limitations to be high enough so this project has an opportunity to be conceived, allowing the citizens of this great country, state, and city to get economically healthy again. It is plainly obvious the benefits in this instance far outweigh the negatives.