Sox to buy more properties in the West Fens

Cross-post from my blog.

The Boston Globe says the Red Sox are looking to buy the Town Taxi garage on Ipswich Street and the McDonalds and WBCN building on Boylston Street.

'We have tried to stay quiet about it," said Janet Marie Smith, the architect of the Red Sox's plans to remake Fenway Park. She and other Red Sox officials said there are no immediate plans for major changes to the properties, though the deals should allow the team to continue to shift offices out of the park to make room for fans. ''We have been looking for anything in the area that might help us with our space problems," she said. ''It surprised us it took three years to find a single property."

Looks like the West Fens are getting more and more popular with developers. And the Sox are not happy with that, especially the proposed project to be built over the Mass Pike.

But the Red Sox thinking clearly goes beyond the park itself, and they are looking to maximize revenue both inside and outside the park. They are also thinking offensively and defensively as other developers eye opportunities around the ballpark.

The Red Sox, for instance, have been the leading opponent of Rosenthal's project, which in its most recent incarnation called for as many as 500 condominiums and apartments in two towers, one 15 stories and the other 17 stories. The Red Sox have expressed concern about having two towers just behind the left-field wall. . . .

Among the developers the Red Sox are watching -- and competing with -- is Steve Samuels, who heads Samuels & Associates. Besides the $200 million Trilogy project and his other mixed-used development planned on Boylston, Samuels is also in discussions with owners of the Goodyear tire store on Bolyston Street.

Other developers are buying up adjacent parcels. ''The Red Sox don't want Steve Samuels or others to box them in to a small square," said one development executive.

Community activists said they expect the Red Sox and other developers to abide by the zoning and other planning that has gone into the area.

''I would expect the city to hold them to the new zoning for the Fenway that just went into effect and that they'd not be allowed to do something different just because they're the Red Sox," said Bill Richardson, president of the Fenway Civic Association.

Ha! They already get to close off a public street because they're the Red Sox.

Man, I hope all these new buildings don't gentrify my ass out of here. I love living in the Fenway. It's a short walk to work in the LMA, I've got everything I need within a 3 block radius - grocery, liquor store, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, green space, movie theater, T stop, gas stations/mechanics, and free on street parking for residents. Plus a bunch of other stuff like dry cleaners, a gym, and video rental, if you're into that. And of course the museums are close by.

Current weather: 14º with 24 mph W wind gusting to 37 mph This is getting really old. I can't wait for baseball season.