NIMBY success

Thomas Menino: Redo plan on Back Bay tower
By Thomas Grillo
Thursday, November 13, 2008 - Updated 1d 6h ago


Mayor Thomas M. Menino gave a thumbs-up for an office tower at the Prudential Center, but he wants the developer to revise plans for a nearby housing high-rise.

Menino’s comments came in response to a close vote Monday night by the Prudential Project Advisory Committee (PruPAC) on a proposal by Boston Properties for a 17-story office building at 888 Boylston St. and Avalon Bay’s plans for a 27-story apartment tower on Exeter Street.

PruPac - a 24-member panel made up of representatives from community groups and commercial interests - favored the office space by three votes, but tied on plans for an apartment complex.

“The developer has to go back and see how they can win majority approval for the residences,” Menino said. “The developer has made concessions on height and affordable housing, but they have to figure out a way to get majority community support for the apartments.”