Some of us think Boston could do with a bit more height. Boston is fat: screaming for a few
high a/r buildings that would miraculously improve the appearance of its fat ones that sadly
will probably never come. Some of us like the neatness of exactness. i'm guilty. The people
who make these cool drawings of scale might update a few of them.
In recent years, planners have been made subject to formal Impact Advisory Group meetings,
and the BCDC, with the proposed heights quickly passed along Facebook, accompanied by
the nimby paper of record (the Globe)--allowing the narrative about the [ruination] of Boston
to flourish. It's been a full contact sport for years: a way for aged Bostonians to get out
and push planners and developers around. Eventually, they fade from view or retire to Florida--
to be replaced by more screaming, aged homeowners keen on protecting their nest eggs and
million dollar views. It's really a thing.
Long ago, during the time of Urban Renewal, Bobby Orr, Esposito, & The Big Bad Bruins,
Boston welcomed the building of the Prudential and Hancock towers. Their heights and modern
designs were flaunted. But, by the time the next group of towers were rising Downtown,
long held provincialism, dislike about tall buildings, their shadows, and the darkening of
streets, plazas and historical buildings became a rallying cry for purists and aging Brahmins
with too much time on their hands.
Planned into new office buildings often were setback mechanical floors angled to allow more
sun onto the narrow streets and historical treasures during lunch and afternoon hours.
The 80s tech/ financial services boom brought a new round of Downtown/ Back Bay office towers
--and planning was now running afoul of preservationists. The dubious language of height to the
'highest occupied floor' was born.
The recently elected Mayor Flynn announced an end to building taller than 400 feet. But, several
buildings were already u/c, or topped with their pinnacle heights rarely mentioned. The hope
was 'this' minor detail would soon be forgotten.
The heights of 1 Dalton, Millennium Tower and 1 Bromfield Street, 1 Congress and other towers
were state secrets. Their heights, including 1 Congress (611') and 50 Sudbury (539') were mentioned
only in passing years after their planning. 1 Bromfield St (709') failed in planning stages.
Developers were encouraged not to talk about heights at the public meetings--but when pressed
at more cozy IAG meetings, the details would sometimes come out, disseminated to angry neighbors
via Facebook.
Years later the heights of Boston's buildings is sometimes only learned by looking at FAA reports
when antennae replacements come up, or FCC docs give their correct heights (straightforwardly).
They list them as
1. 1 Financial Ctr (599')
2. Exchange Place (539')
3. The Devonshire Apts, (410')
4. 1 Boston Place (606') or at least 602'.
At the time of construction, it was not a well kept secret that 1 Financial was 600'--except, they
didn't advertise the top of the roof went a foot shy of 600. *(My dad worked with the architects).
News archives elucidates the shadow concerns w/ Faneuil Hall. The reasoning to fib about Exchange
Place's architectural height should be obvious. Add the Devonshire.
Don Chiofaro insisted 1 International Place be built not one foot less (than 600')--such that his tower
could be the tallest built in the 80s. This sticking point caused a delay of almost 2 years to get the
go-ahead for construction. A Dozen Globe stories later, and unions eager to see work start up:
(enough already) and Flynn finally caved. Money talks. It violated the 400' rule that had lasted ~5 years.
Planners long ago departed, but accepted numbers resist corrections. Luckily, they're written someplace.
We can report their true heights thanks to FCC and FAA documents around town.
With Exchange place, the 29' of mechanical floors aren't added to the reported heights.
Docs for antennae updates state the height at the base of the antennae stands (re; roof) at 539'.
The FAA has similar documentation for service communications for the building.
At 50 Sudbury the top of the tower is given as 560' AMSL. No confusion.
Accepting the FAA's base height of the site (21') renders 539', for the tallest wall (per FAA).
https://oeaaa.faa.gov/oeaaa/external...91770967&row=2
When you see 50 Sudbury filmed at distance, the tower rises ~near to the top of 1 Boston Place's roof
(~550)/at the base of the mechanical box (as it should).
Similarly, Exchange Place towers about 30' over its neighbor, 60 State--confirming the FAA.
I've consulted with BPDA staff over the years to fill in some gaps for the 'yimby' cause.
I was encouraged by Walsh's staff in 2018 to run for the Downtown Advisory Group, and help with
getting Chiofaro's Central Wharf tower approved under Article 80, unfortunately it was too late to help
with the 1 Bromfield St planning fiasco. Unfortunately, the nimby friendly interim mayor and
newly elected, Michelle Wu killed what would have been another great addition to Downtown Boston.
Boston planning is the worst.
Boston's tallest by 2025
1. JHT/200 Clarendon St. 790’
2. Pru 749’
3. 1 Dalton St. 742'
4. Winthrop Ctr. 691’
5. Millennium Tower 685’
6. South Station Tower 677’ (u/c)
^^>200m
7. 1 Congress St. (fin top) 611’
8. Federal Reserve 604’
9. 1 Boston Pl. 602’ (or 606')
10. 1 International Pl. 600’
11. 1 Financial Ctr.
599'
12. 100 Federal St. 591’
^^>180m
13. 111 Huntington Ave 554’
14. Exchange Place (roof)
539’
15. 50 Sudbury St.
539' *Skyscraper Page @532' is very close.
16. 2 International Pl. 538’
17. 1 Post Office Square
528’ (
after facade + mechanicals redo)
18. 1 Federal St. 520’
19. Hub On Causeway offices 510’
20. 60 State St. 509’
21. 1 Beacon St. 505'
22. 1 Lincoln St. 503’
23. 28 State St. 500’
24. Hub on Causeway residences 496’
25. Custom House 496’
26. Old JHT 495’
^^>150m
27. Alcott/Garden Garage 485’
28. 33 Arch St. 477’
29. 225 Franklin St. 477’
30. Ritz Carlton Tower 1 475’
31. 125 High St. 452'
32. 100 Summer St. 450'
33. Avalon North Station 449'
34. Ritz Carlton Tower 2 446'
35. 40 Trinity Pl. 446'
36. Atlantic Wharf 436'
37. 380 Stuart St
417’ (start soon)
38. 1 Devonshire Pl. 410'
39. McCormack Bldg 401'
40. Keystone Bldg 400'
41. The Huntington 400' (prep)
42. Harbor Towers 1 400'
42. Harbor Towers 2 396’
43. 100 Cambridge St. 396’
44. The Westin Copley Pl. 395'
45. 100 High St. 394’
46. 75 State St. 390’
48. JFK Federal Bldg 387'
49. Marriott Copley Pl. 382'
50. 101 Federal St. 381'
51. 1 Longfellow Pl. 381'
52. 4 Longfellow Pl. 381'
53. The Pierce 378'
54. The Clarendon 373'
55. 45 Province St. 367'
56. Church of Christ Scientist offices 355'
57. Car Gurus offices/Back Bay 352' (topped)
58. South Station #2 349' (u/c)
59. JW McCormack/Post Office 345'
60. Govt Center #3 residences ~342' (garage demo)
61. Ellison Bldg 342'
62. 45 Stewart St./AVA 338'
63. 3 Blackfan Cir. lab tower 338'
64. Fenway Ctr. lab bldg #3 337' (u/c)
65. Avalon Exeter 336'
66. 101 Huntington Ave 336'
67. 157 Berkeley St./Liberty Mutual 335'
68. StuVi2/33 Harry Agganis Way 331'
69. 500 Boylston St. 330'
70. Suffolk Courthouse 330'
71. 260 Franklin St. 323'
72. Simmons U lab tower (approved)
73. Jamaicaway Towers 320'
74. The Kensington Apts 313'
75. 100 Stewart St. "W" Hotel & Residences 310'
76. Sheraton North Tower 310'
77. Sheraton South Tower 310'
78. 30 Dalton St. 306'
79. 700 Comm Ave/BU Data Sciences 305'
80. 145 High St. 301'
81. 888 Boylston St. 301'
82. 125 Summer St. 300'
83. 160 Federal Street ~300'
84. 50 Post Office Sq/Telephone Bldg ~300'
85. 660 Washington St ~300'
86. The Radian 291'
87. South Block 1 289'
88. 265 Franklin St. 283'
89. 99 Summer St. 282'
90. Tree House dorms/Mass College of Art 280'
91. Andrew Sq main bldg 278' (u/c)
92. 101 Arch St. 276'
93. 240 Tremont/Marriott Moxy 273'
94. 10 St James Ave 272'
95. Burke Street Dorm #1/ NU 272'
96. 11 Harbor Way 270'
97. 10 World Trade 270' (u/c)
98. South Station Tower #3 270' (u/c)
99. Allston Yards residential tower (u/c)
^^>82.296m
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