How Hard Work Is Keeping Droughts from Collapsing Boston’s Buildings
Wood pilings dating back hundreds of years support properties built on landfill across the city. Extreme droughts – another aspect of climate change – put them at risk.
This Month in History: The End of the ‘Plywood Palace’
Boston’s most iconic skyscraper had an inauspicious beginning when design flaws in its mirrored glass facade caused 500-pound panels to crack and crash to the sidewalk below from 1971 to 1973.
Doubling Down on Air Rights in Boston
Don Peebles’ pair of developments at highway tunnel portals in Boston come with complicated design considerations, but also potential transformational changes.
This Month in History: The Back Bay Begins
A crucial land transaction took place 165 years ago this August that generated funds to begin transforming a fetid, sewage-filled marsh into one of Boston’s most beautiful neighborhoods.
With New Plans, Parcel 13 Hits the Accelerator
Nobody ever said it was easy to develop air rights projects in Boston, or tall buildings in Back Bay. Peebles Corp. is attempting to accomplish both feats with a new design for a long-running project.
Boston’s Newbury Street Will Close to Cars Weekly
Boston’s biggest shopping street will be closed to cars every Sunday through the end of September in a dramatic move city leaders say will draw more foot traffic to stores and restaurants.
Boston’s High Spine Has a New Neighbor
Boston is a city rich with history. For many, this is what makes it so special. So developing a new luxury tower at the intersection of two historic neighborhoods came with its own set of challenges and unique solutions.
Legislature Cuts Hynes Center Sale from Key Bill
The proposed borrowing and spending bills that included Gov. Charlie Baker’s top priorities will now be advancing but without his long-held desire to redevelop Boston’s Hynes Convention Center.
Hospitality Workers Rallying Against Proposed Hynes Sale
Gov. Charlie Baker’s latest push to sell off the Hynes Convention Center is poised to slam into opposition from organized labor leaders, who plan to rally against the idea Wednesday afternoon with “hundreds” of hospitality workers who could be affected.
A Long-Term Horizon on Hotel Ownership
For four generations, Saunders Hotel Group has owned and operated properties that are on the short list of travelers visiting Boston. It gives Chairman Gary Saunders a useful position to gauge the future of Back Bay hotel market.
Luxury Retailers Stay Loyal to Back Bay
Seaport District developers have moved to overcome design and urban planning critiques in recent years, but one retail sector is unlikely to move to the South Boston waterfront anytime soon.
Orange Line Service Resumes Beneath Garage Collapse Site
Orange Line trains returned to service through downtown Boston on Tuesday afternoon after a team of engineers concluded their tunnels are safe for use, but several Green Line stops most affected by a fatal garage collapse will remain offline.
Office Landlords Forced Into Waiting Game
COVID concerns continue to cast a shadow over the future of office space and delay tenants’ decisions about long-term real estate needs, a state of uncertainty that’s expected to linger well into 2022.
Hot Property: 380 Stuart St.
Skanska is casting a vote of confidence in the Back Bay office market with plans to develop a 26-story tower at 380 Stuart St.
What’s the Hold-up with These Projects?
Boston has become a sea of cranes, but not every building is a slam-dunk. Here’s why these six projects have languished.
Hot Property: WHOOP Headquarters
Elkus Manfredi Architects recently completed an expansion of fitness wearables company WHOOP’s headquarters in Boston’s Fenway neighborhood to accommodate for the startup’s rapid growth.
Skanska Plans Back Bay Tower, Lab Space Possible
Skanska has bought the site and permitted design of John Hancock’s once-planned 26-story Back Bay office tower, and could add lab space to the design.
BPDA OKs Simmons Dorm Tower, Multifamily Projects
The Boston Planning & Development Agency’s board approved several new projects at its regular meeting last week, including ones that would add 142 new housing units to the city and a dormitory tower for Simmons University.
Streetwear Retailer Opens Flagship Store in Back Bay
A streetwear retailer with roots in Harvard Square is testing the demand for brick-and-mortar expansion with a new Back Bay store.
Walsh Cites ‘Untold Economic Damage’ From Unrest
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh denounced an outbreak of violence and vandalism following largely peaceful protests against police brutality that filled downtown streets Sunday night.
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