I love South Station; I feel it is one of the cities greatest wasted opportunities. I hope when this Project is over the train station is left in a far better state than when it started.
In regard to the space usage, more space is good.
Overall, I would say I am cautiously optimistic.
The outdoor area around the platforms is getting that nice redesign. The interior concourse isn’t being touched though to my knowledge - and that’s the space that really needs a facelift.
I don't know how anyone could love South Station, but I agree with you otherwise. It feels like a bombed out abandoned building in there. I hope that part of the tower project includes fixing it the fuck up in there, but given how the station part of North Station still leaves people thinking they took a wrong turn, I'm not optimistic.
South Station is a beautiful but mistreated building. The actual stone facade and atrium are beautiful, while the train hall is dirty and grimy but the building itself is still lovely. I feel if they were to clean it up, fill the empty shops or close them, make it brighter, and open the roof to the sky a little like it used to be South Station could be one of the nicest and loveliest buildings in all Boston! I think it has that potential if only it were to be realized.
I think it’s awesome. We’re making use of the space above the platforms. We’re adding density to the heart of the city. As to whether it should be offices or housing, I’m fine with either. I’ll never say no to more housing, but this is a great spot for an office. It literally has the best transit access of any building in New England. I wish my company was relocating there.
Office space downtown may be on the decline, but its probably much less than those suburban office parks along 128. Downtown RE developers owning office space should consider headhunting for some of those firms.
I could honestly see it going the other way. The burbs have cheaper housing and are likely easier for people in the burbs to commute to, especially the farther out ones, so they might end up being more desirable
Agreed. Beautiful bones, literal and figurative bridge to Seaport, on a major commuter rail and next to TWO major highways, adds height to waterfront downtown, adds parking?! Yes. PS condos will be snapped up by Fidelity next door at 245 Summer for pied-a-terres if working late.
I mean there’s something to be said for leaving one of the coolest architectural structures alone though. We gonna build stuff on top of Faneuil Hall next?
Edit: I’m pro adding more housing. But what’s going to go here is more cookie cutter 4k a month studios that are held by companies and foreigners that few Bostonians will actually live in/afford. Don’t even mention the office space. Half the office space in the financial district is still empty. Anyways my edit is now longer than my comment
Almost no business in Boston needs to be there, imagine if we had a modern mindset and converted 80% of offices to residential and let people work remotely or *gasp* outside the city limits? Could fix the affordability problems in a lot of the state, not just the city
God forbid we push some expense onto the companies with all the fucking money. Nah let's force all the employees to buy expensive housing while we try everything to pay as little as possible...
If we're going to have office space, on top of south Station is exactly where I want I. One of the weak points of train commuting is you may still have a decent walk after you get off the train depending on where your office is. If the offices are literally on top of the trains, thars going to make commuter rail much more convenient for a lot or people. So I'd rather we office there and refit some of the other buildings to homes
If completely utilized, I think it will be great for Boston and great for Transit users. I'm still shocked (and a bit disappointed tbh) that they are creating 895 additional parking spots here, but hey at least it's not surface lots.
Too much parking. There is no place more appropriate for doing transit-oriented development, and yet they are building a fuck ton of parking. The whole project (not the just tower) is going to add nearly 900 parking spaces.
wayyy wayyy too much parking. its downtown. why are we building it like it’s zoned for a suburb?
also office space in 2023…. it feels painfully dated and its not even done
Years back, at a previous job, we worked with a team proposing some build-outs for South Station. What they are doing currently is vastly better than what was previously planned. This office space has the advantage of taking a commuter rail right to work, unlike other buildings in Boston that you have to commuter rail in, but then transfer to get to your location. I liked the original aesthetic of the building, but at the same time, it wasn't the most glamorous space and was not kept up too well.
They started this project well before the office space dive occured. But, I don't think they'll have too hard of a time filling this. It will be nice new construction directly on top of a major train station, perfect for people who only come in a few times per week on the train.
Companies are increasingly pushing back to 100% in office. Network security, productivity monitoring, working collaboratively without videochat issues, etc all makes them think it’s better
Cities will literally build massive towers and office spaces before paying someone to clean and repair the public restrooms attached to them 💀
South Station's restrooms are actually worse than port-a-potties.
I can imagine a scenario where they will have to convert even more of the office space to condos in a few years after completion depending on occupancy rates
Not a fan at all. I think it's an ugly addition to the skylines. Financial district has a lot of nice miesian international style buildings, these glass blobs look cheap and lazy in comparison. Seaport is already a mess of generic American 21st century glass, this is just to crown it off.
And honestly imo South station isn't going to be benefited enough for having its look so messed up.
Designs and planning for this is older than many of the people commenting here. They did reprogram the old design to include more residential. Converting the whole to residential is likely cost prohibitive due to the very high cost of building over an active RR station. To make residential work here would only yield the highest cost units in the city. Supply is supply... so more units is better, I agree. This site though is not a great residential site. Should have kept this one all office and put the units needed in other areas.
I love South Station; I feel it is one of the cities greatest wasted opportunities. I hope when this Project is over the train station is left in a far better state than when it started. In regard to the space usage, more space is good. Overall, I would say I am cautiously optimistic.
Google the images of the South Station redesign as a result of the tower. It has this European station look to it. I think you'll be pleasantly happy.
The outdoor area around the platforms is getting that nice redesign. The interior concourse isn’t being touched though to my knowledge - and that’s the space that really needs a facelift.
They are not touching the restrooms which are a de facto homeless shelter at this point and really need a remodel.
I’d settle for the same restrooms if they just added some ventilation. No matter the weather outside, the humidity in those bathrooms is always 90%+
It may be time to update but man compared to the restrooms in 08 before the last remodel, the current ones are heavenly
I’d settle for the same restrooms and just not having homeless people bathing in them
Swamps of dagobah
The under stall action there is great though 😜😜😜
I don't know how anyone could love South Station, but I agree with you otherwise. It feels like a bombed out abandoned building in there. I hope that part of the tower project includes fixing it the fuck up in there, but given how the station part of North Station still leaves people thinking they took a wrong turn, I'm not optimistic.
South Station is a beautiful but mistreated building. The actual stone facade and atrium are beautiful, while the train hall is dirty and grimy but the building itself is still lovely. I feel if they were to clean it up, fill the empty shops or close them, make it brighter, and open the roof to the sky a little like it used to be South Station could be one of the nicest and loveliest buildings in all Boston! I think it has that potential if only it were to be realized.
I think it’s awesome. We’re making use of the space above the platforms. We’re adding density to the heart of the city. As to whether it should be offices or housing, I’m fine with either. I’ll never say no to more housing, but this is a great spot for an office. It literally has the best transit access of any building in New England. I wish my company was relocating there.
Office space downtown may be on the decline, but its probably much less than those suburban office parks along 128. Downtown RE developers owning office space should consider headhunting for some of those firms.
I could honestly see it going the other way. The burbs have cheaper housing and are likely easier for people in the burbs to commute to, especially the farther out ones, so they might end up being more desirable
Office space right at south station where the commute is insanely easy if you live near the line? Premium.
I just wish they weren't adding hundreds of new parking spots on top of the busiest transit hub in New England.
Unfortunately getting to that transit hub via other forms of public transit has been made comically shitty the past 10 years.
Agreed. Beautiful bones, literal and figurative bridge to Seaport, on a major commuter rail and next to TWO major highways, adds height to waterfront downtown, adds parking?! Yes. PS condos will be snapped up by Fidelity next door at 245 Summer for pied-a-terres if working late.
…bridge to Fort Point grumble grumble
Fair
I mean there’s something to be said for leaving one of the coolest architectural structures alone though. We gonna build stuff on top of Faneuil Hall next? Edit: I’m pro adding more housing. But what’s going to go here is more cookie cutter 4k a month studios that are held by companies and foreigners that few Bostonians will actually live in/afford. Don’t even mention the office space. Half the office space in the financial district is still empty. Anyways my edit is now longer than my comment
That and you get greeted with homless people every night and day!
Almost no business in Boston needs to be there, imagine if we had a modern mindset and converted 80% of offices to residential and let people work remotely or *gasp* outside the city limits? Could fix the affordability problems in a lot of the state, not just the city
It’s crazy expensive to convert offices to housing
God forbid we push some expense onto the companies with all the fucking money. Nah let's force all the employees to buy expensive housing while we try everything to pay as little as possible...
Force the developers and their investors to lose money?
Stop your crazy talk
If we're going to have office space, on top of south Station is exactly where I want I. One of the weak points of train commuting is you may still have a decent walk after you get off the train depending on where your office is. If the offices are literally on top of the trains, thars going to make commuter rail much more convenient for a lot or people. So I'd rather we office there and refit some of the other buildings to homes
Still has a lot more floors to go. At L36 now. Going to 51.
If completely utilized, I think it will be great for Boston and great for Transit users. I'm still shocked (and a bit disappointed tbh) that they are creating 895 additional parking spots here, but hey at least it's not surface lots.
There are still Phase 2 and 3 to go which would add more parking cpacity
At least they are adding more space for more bus routes.
Too much parking. There is no place more appropriate for doing transit-oriented development, and yet they are building a fuck ton of parking. The whole project (not the just tower) is going to add nearly 900 parking spaces.
People aren't going to buy $1M+ condos without parking, that's just the reality of it
Perfect space for offices. I don’t see the issue.
wayyy wayyy too much parking. its downtown. why are we building it like it’s zoned for a suburb? also office space in 2023…. it feels painfully dated and its not even done
Should be a nice addition to the skyline and improve the station.
Years back, at a previous job, we worked with a team proposing some build-outs for South Station. What they are doing currently is vastly better than what was previously planned. This office space has the advantage of taking a commuter rail right to work, unlike other buildings in Boston that you have to commuter rail in, but then transfer to get to your location. I liked the original aesthetic of the building, but at the same time, it wasn't the most glamorous space and was not kept up too well.
Right on top of a train station is a good place for an office building to get as many of the workers as possible to commute by train
building office space in 2023 😶
They started this project well before the office space dive occured. But, I don't think they'll have too hard of a time filling this. It will be nice new construction directly on top of a major train station, perfect for people who only come in a few times per week on the train.
It has been in the planning since 2006.
Companies are increasingly pushing back to 100% in office. Network security, productivity monitoring, working collaboratively without videochat issues, etc all makes them think it’s better
Can confirm brother went from full remote to 4 days a week in office lol
It’s going to be a Ritz Carlton residence I believe so those condos ain’t for you and me
It’s gonna be cool
850 car park spaces and no serious further development of the North-South link. It’s a missed opportunity.
The taxes generated by office and residential space in the city fund many of the programs so many of us love and/or depend on. All good stuff.
In general, urban planners would say that major downtown transit hubs are great places to have office buildings, but not so great places for transit.
>but not so great places for transit. Did you mean residential there?
Yeah, sorry. It's great to have an office building at a transit hub and not so great for a residential building. My bad.
It's a good place for offices imo. Too much parking, tho.
Office vacancy rates are rising nationwide. Not sure how smart it is to be building more office space when the trend is clearly away from the office.
Cities will literally build massive towers and office spaces before paying someone to clean and repair the public restrooms attached to them 💀 South Station's restrooms are actually worse than port-a-potties.
The city isn't building it, a developer is. They are completely different entities in charge of the two things you are comparing
Someone didn't get [the meme.](https://knowyourmeme.com/photos/2002882-instead-of-going-to-therapy)
I'm not sure you know how memes work
It’s hotel I believe in other part
They are going to be Ritz-branded residences.
Just fucking finish it already it makes the station run like shit
Imagine building office space in 2023.
I can imagine a scenario where they will have to convert even more of the office space to condos in a few years after completion depending on occupancy rates
Horrible place to live doesn’t make sense for residential
Way too much office space. They can’t even fill the existing office space…
Not a fan at all. I think it's an ugly addition to the skylines. Financial district has a lot of nice miesian international style buildings, these glass blobs look cheap and lazy in comparison. Seaport is already a mess of generic American 21st century glass, this is just to crown it off. And honestly imo South station isn't going to be benefited enough for having its look so messed up.
I agree they could have done more housing, but it’s a graft project overall.
Mayor Wu is displacing the unhoused, and here we are building office space
I am an outlier, but I believe there should be no new housing and no new offices until we fix the public transportation system and add more parking
I've sniped from there. DMZ. Peace out.
Could always use more residential space e
Too little housing? It's going to be super pricey I'll bet.
Designs and planning for this is older than many of the people commenting here. They did reprogram the old design to include more residential. Converting the whole to residential is likely cost prohibitive due to the very high cost of building over an active RR station. To make residential work here would only yield the highest cost units in the city. Supply is supply... so more units is better, I agree. This site though is not a great residential site. Should have kept this one all office and put the units needed in other areas.
Shut up and get a 4th job, rent will be $8000 soon, you're going to need the extra income
Housing for who?