How about a fountain, like in 1973? Photo from the US National Archives.
Mayor Walsh is soliciting ideas on how to convert City Hall Plaza from a barren brick wasteland into a place people would actually want to spend time on when it's not being used for concerts, festivals or circus performances.
This is the people's plaza, and we’ve seen how it can bring the City together for international events and community events alike. I’m looking to our experts in architecture and urban planning for design, curation, and partnership ideas, as well as residents of Boston and other interested parties.
So you've got a canvas of 200,000 square feet to work with: Go! Oh, and keep in mind that anything truly monumental would probably be promptly vetoed by the federal government, which has final say over major alterations to the plaza due to the JFK Building and which has, in the past, indicated it likes the plaza just the way it is.
You can download a copy of the formal RFI and attend a meeting at 1 p.m. on March 25, in City Hall Room 608.
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Comments
Got it.
By ElizaLeila
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 9:53pm
Thanks.
I think it may still be tight, but worth a looksee.
Just something that doesn't remind me of the Hunger Games
By mjc
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 2:44pm
This is what CHP currently brings to mind:
https://leftisminfilm.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/...
This Is What CHP Brings To Mind
By BlackKat
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 3:39pm
[img]http://www.grudge-match.com/Images/CHiPs.jpg[/img]
President Snow...ironic
By snowww
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 9:53pm
Nice touch with the photo of the reaping...and more importantly, a photo of "President Snow"...
Big trees.
By J
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 2:55pm
Big trees.
Not those little sticks they plant in sidewalks that die after 6 years and about 7 inches of growth.
BIG TREES
And make them evergreen too. Its cold here. You know what trees look nice in the cold? PINE TREES.
80 feet minimum.
8-Hole Putting Course
By Brightonbuoy
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 3:20pm
Seriously. With putter rentals like Hubway stations. Once a day someone is chosen at random and given the opportunity to drive a long ball at the mayor' office. Hitting the Mayor's window gets you a free year of parking.
Ideally...
By tcf098
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 3:35pm
Another Dunkin, and at least 2-3 more BoA's.
But seriously, just more green space. That area of the city is completely devoid of anything green. Add space for food trucks to park, and turn it into a great place to hang out on weekends when there's nothing going on.
As echoed by many commenters before me, they need to plant lots and lots of BIG trees. Create plenty of shade and a more serene, tranquil environment. Even a water feature or fountain would be nice. It could mimic a small combination of the Public Garden and the Common. I'm becoming relaxed just thinking about it...
There's SO much potential with City Plaza. I just hope the powers that be make the right decisions.
No, what's needed is a CVS.
By Refugee
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 3:47pm
No, what's needed is a CVS. And more jersey barriers and bicycle rack barricades.
You lack imagination
By lbb
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 4:02pm
Where's the Verizon store? And a few Starbucks? Now that's local color.
You forgot a bank!
By anon
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 4:22pm
You forgot a bank!
Here's how it's going to go down:
By UHub fan
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 4:05pm
Everyone is going to say "trees and grass". Everyone here has said "trees and grass." Everyone at the meeting is going to say "trees and grass." Everyone who's not at the meeting is going to say "trees and grass."
No trees and grass will be put in. Nobody will explain why trees and grass are not possible. Twenty years from now another mayor will hold another meeting and ask for ideas. Everyone will say "trees and grass."
Rocks and Trees
By ElizaLeila
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 5:31pm
A fun little Canadian ditty matching Stargate Atlantis, but applicable here.
[youtube] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo4rOPzbhPI [/youtube]
How can anyone not love the
By bannedinboston
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 10:20pm
How can anyone not love the Arrogant Worms?
run some public streets...
By teric
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 4:07pm
along sears crescent down to Quincy Market. and another one on the other side by the fed building...break up the massing of the plaza, intensify edges, more doorways open to the plaza, add landscaping
and then stir
(No subject)
By kvn
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 4:38pm
[img]http://www2.isye.gatech.edu/~jjb/wh/sites/cf/image...
Terminal
By SwirlyGrrl
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 4:53pm
Looks terminal.
Floor By Floor Online Directory of City Hall needed !
By theszak
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 4:38pm
Floor By Floor Online Directory of City Hall needed !
Two words
By AllHat
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 4:53pm
Hedge maze
What? No corn maze?
By Neil
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 8:34pm
Use your imagination!
City Hall is already
By anon
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 8:59pm
City Hall is already architecturally a metaphor for oppression. Do we really need a hedge maze leading into it as a metaphor for bureaucracy?
Two more words
By lbb
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 9:32pm
Death maze.
Already installed
By SwirlyGrrl
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 9:44pm
That's the inside of city hall!
Two more, more words....
By PeterGriffith5
Tue, 03/10/2015 - 4:21am
Velo Drome
Although I would be in favor of naming it, The Swirly G. Rrrrl Velodrome, I am presently in talks with former Mass Governor, $7,500/day about temporarily tearing down city hall and using the whole area as a Dressage arena.
We are almost there, but need to iron out a few things - whether Tag or Trip will receive the security contract. whether Speaker of the House, Bush-Hager can strike a deal with President Kardassian to avert another Goverment shutdown, and if the long awaited red and orange line cars are completed.
Two more more more words
By lbb
Tue, 03/10/2015 - 2:39pm
Thunder Dome.
Two men enter! One man leaves!
We already have lots of ideas....
By Anonyme
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 5:18pm
There must be a shelf, perhaps even a bookcase, that dates from Kevin White's earliest days in the mayor's office that is full of plans,proposals, reports, designs and doodles that cover the possibilities of the plaza. They have different subtitles: "Seemed like a good idea at the time," "We ran out of money," "We couldn't get our act together," "The feds don't like it," "What were we thinking?!"
Here's my suggestion. Carve the names of all the initiatives that have been launched over the years, and the names of all the people involved, into the brick. It will serve as reminder the next time someone decides we need to do something about this space.
Seriously, the mayor and his team should just review everything, pick a couple of ideas, and then MAKE THEM HAPPEN!
From 2011:
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/03/16...
http://www.boston.com/business/gallery/cityhallren...
http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/GAC_Boston.pdf
http://www.utiledesign.com/projects/greening-ameri...
From the competition in 1995:
Question: does the City Hall Plaza Trust still exist?
http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/67432
Homeless Shelter & Casino
By Suldog
Mon, 03/09/2015 - 5:56pm
Build a shelter for the homeless. Next door, put a state-run casino to fund it.
(As a bonus, those who blow the mortgage money playing at the casino can just take a short walk to their new home.)
Suldog
http://jimsuldog.blogspot.com
How many floors are there in Boston City Hall ?...
By theszak
Tue, 03/10/2015 - 12:15am
How many floors are there in Boston City Hall ?...
Friends of Boston City Hall
http://friendsofbostoncityhall.org/
Just please, let there be no
By tcf098
Tue, 03/10/2015 - 3:58pm
Just please, let there be no more Big Apple Circus. MYGODICAN'TSTANDTHECOMMERCIALSANYMORE.
Too late
By Michael Kerpan
Tue, 03/10/2015 - 4:10pm
They are back, taking over most of the plaza. (They may have started their re-occupation yesterday, as I didn't cross the plaza then -- by this morning, blocking off was already well-advanced). So, I have to use Haymarket (and the back entrance to the JFK Building)for the next 6 weeks.
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