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There could be trouble in the skies for the Winthrop Square Tower proposal in Boston. The Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), which operates Logan International Airport, has threatened to put the kibosh on current plans for the 775-foot tower, which would be the tallest residential building in New England. The development by Millennium Partners and Handel Architects would replace the Winthrop Square Garage with a soaring 55-storey tower.
Shadowing concerns, especially the tower's potential cast on Boston Common and the Public Garden, had previously endangered the developer's initial vision for the site. And now, a letter to state environmental regulators released last week could be the nail in the proverbial coffin for the current iteration. Massport says the tower, which is located approximately two miles from Logan, would block a busy takeoff corridor and lead to increased noise over the northern and western suburbs of Boston. The public authority has said they would object to any tower over 710 feet in height.
Because the city owns the parking garage, the development is expected to result in a substantial windfall for the local government. But a 65-foot reduction in height translates to roughly five storeys, which would likely reduce the number of units available. Since about one third of the purchase price is tied to the sale of condominiums in the new tower, a reduction in homes could mean a reduction in the city's take.
Bostonians are experiencing some déjà vu with this news; a scheme for a supertall tower a decade ago on this very site was similarly caught up in the web of the city's planning authorities. Though its shape and scale will likely be tinkered, Massport's concerns won't kill the entire proposal. According to the Boston Globe, Millennium executives have indicated the tower's height is a flexible element of the plan.
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