Images courtesy of Morris Adjmi Architects and Jaklitsch/Gardner
Boston Civic Design Commissioners pressed developers for changes to a building that would kick off the 2 million square-foot Fenway Corners project.
The 250,000 square-foot office and retail building would replace the Lansdowne Street parking garage.
The project will enliven Lansdowne Street outside of baseball season. A 2-story “loft” passthrough that could eventually connect to a Massachusetts Turnpike air rights development will function as a public gathering space, hosting winter markets and music performances, WS Development Senior Vice President Yanni Tsipis said in a presentation to the Boston Civic Design Commission this month.
“We think we’re pretty good at public events and activations across town,” Tsipis said, alluding to WS Development’s Seaport properties.
The latest version failed to satisfy several commission members, who urged WS Development to go back to the drawing board.
The project is the first phase of the Fenway Corners project, which comprises 13 parcels totaling 5.3 acres surrounding Fenway Park. WS Development is partnering with Fenway Sports Group and the D’Angelo family, owners of ’47 brand sports apparel brand and many of the properties.
The commission started its review of the project in June. Multiple ground floor storefront bays will include varied facades, similar to the historic architecture in Fort Point, Tsipis said.
At the request of commissioners, developers this month presented an option eliminating the ornamental metal framing on the face of the red brick building, which was designed to echo the cantilevers supporting Fenway Park’s Green Monster seating across the street.
“We frankly found it to be somewhat underwhelming,” Tsipis said of the stripped-down version.
But some of the commissioners urged WS to improve landscaping and streetscape designs, while renewing objections to the metal “exoskeleton” facade ornamentation.
“I like the idea that [the Green Monster] can be that overwhelming element on Lansdowne, and this building becomes a little bit of a quieter foil to that activity,” Commissioner Linda Eastley said.
The building at 55 Landsdowne St. is designed by Morris Adjmi Architects and Jaklitsch/Gardner. The primary tenants are expected to be the Boston Red Sox front office and Fenway Sports Group.
“We’re getting lots of conflicting directions, so it’s up to us to figure it out and navigate it. We’ll work with [Boston Planning Department] staff to figure out the most productive use of the team’s time and we’ll be back to you,” Tsipis said.
The project returns to the BCDC on Dec. 2, when WS is expected to present updated public realm designs.
Lengthy BCDC reviews that increase project timelines and costs were cited by developers in comments on ways to make Boston’s real estate permitting process more predictable and transparent.
In July, the Boston Planning & Development Agency board eliminated the design commission’s power to review projects under 200,000 square feet.
Images courtesy of Morris Adjmi Architects and Jaklitsch/Gardner
