On Tuesday, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the appointment of Peter Meade as the new director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA). The move comes two weeks after its current director, Thomas Palmieri, submitted his resignation. Palmieri’s last day will be May 1.The newspapers have been full of effusive praise for Mr. Meade, a Back Bay resident and born-and-bred Bostonian. He sincerely sounds as though he's a great guy. Buried deep in each article, however, was the fact that Meade has no redevelopment experience. He has worked in both the public and private sectors, notably at…

While most of the Boston neighborhoods grew, the population of the Back Bay decreased during the past two decades, according to the 2010 data released by the U.S. Census Bureau. The two census tracts that make up the majority of "Back Bay Proper" showed a net loss in population. The number of people decreased by 4.4 percent between 2000 and 2010, and 8.8 percent since 1990. On the contrary, the rest of Boston grew by almost the same amount: 4.4 percent between 2000 and 2010, and 7.5 percent since 1990. Population changes, 1990-2010 Back Bay census tract 1990 population 2000 population 2010 …

Turns out, I was a bit too optimistic about the state of the Back Bay economy.Two weeks ago, Borders Group, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection. Then, last week, the book store chain announced it would be closing 600 U.S.-based retail outlets this year. The Back Bay branch at 511 Boylston Street is scheduled to close by the end of April, along with five other Massachusetts-based stores. Terrible news for so many reasons, not the least being that the closing will leave a gaping hole in the Back Bay retail scene, both figuratively and literally. Seeing as it is located in such a prominent …

Recently, Northeastern University announced a proposal to expand its campus by building a 720-bed dormitory tower on land purchased from the YMCA. Some residents in the community have expressed frustration over the plan, feeling their  neighborhood is being overwhelmed by "institutional creep." Meanwhile, Back Bay residents breathed a sigh of relief, realizing that, had 19th-century city planners had their way, their neighborhood could easily have become what the Fenway is today. In the mid-1800's, meticulous plans were drawn up for the laying-out of the Back Bay, making it a neighborhood …

How will our city look in 10 years?We might think things change slowly, but if you look at photos of Boston in 2001 and in 2011, you see lots of changes. There's been an influx of residential housing and mid-rise and high-rise office towers. And more are on the way.At least 20, and possibly more towers will spring up in and around the Back Bay. Let's break it down:  Two new towers on the Prudential Plaza Two new towers on the Christian Science Plaza New towers at Berklee College of Music The Liberty Mutual tower A student dormitory rising about the YMCA in the Fenway, and the massive, billion…

The decision by a bankruptcy court in favor of the W Hotel and Residences means that the developer of the luxury condo/hotel complex will stay in control of the project, reflecting the overall strength of the downtown Boston real estate market. A victim of the world economic slowdown, The "W" filed for bankruptcy last April, just six months after it opened. Judge Joan N. Feeney ruled in favor of SW Boston Hotel Venture LLC, the developer of the mixed-use project. She concluded that the company “has shown sufficient progress during this Chapter 11 case to support the conclusion that there is a…

The Boston Public Library has uploaded over 16,000 images to the Internet, making them available to everyone. Included are an amazing number of photographs from 150 years of Boston history.Available on the Flickr website, the collection is overwhelming in its quantity and quality and astounding in its depth. Back Bay changes Of note to us in the Back Bay are the drastic changes that the Esplanade and Storrow Drive have endured. Storrow Drive was envisioned from the start as a peaceful roadway but turned mid-century into its current, monstrous, six-lane highway. Fortunately, the Esplanade has …

During these cold and gloomy January days it’s easy to get depressed. While on a brisk walk this week, I took note of the many empty storefronts along Newbury and Boylston streets. The Newbury Street retail situation looks like a mouth with missing teeth, with multiple vacancies on every block between Arlington Street and Mass Ave. But, that was just me in a sour mood. After a thorough analysis of the data, I found the situation is more optimistic than I first thought; the vacancies are nothing to be alarmed about. For example, powerhouse landlord company C. Talanian Realty recently took out …

Nary a day goes by when you don’t read of a professional athlete buying a home in Boston.New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, our most-famous local sports star, lives in the Back Bay. He loves the city; he’s been seen walking up and down Newbury Street, and drew a great deal of attention when he was in that car accident in September. (Until this past Sunday, we were all happy about his living here; now, perhaps he should take a long vacation in Los Angeles until we forget?)Last year, Boston Red Sox pitcher John Lackey and his wife bought a $2-million condo in the Back Bay. And former …

Neighborhood focus of the past week was on development, again. Specifically, the Stuart Street Planning Study area and proposals to increase building height zoning along the “spine” of the Back Bay to between 150 and 400-feet (as many as 40 stories). Already approved (and under construction) is Liberty Mutual’s 22-story tower at the corners of Berkeley Street and Columbus Ave.At a boisterous meeting held last week to discuss the plan, neighbors raised concerns over the heights of new high-rises and the effects of shadows on Copley Square and homes on nearby streets. Back Bay residents are …

Did you get a gift from the City of Boston at the end of the year?I did. It was a bill from the City Assessor's office. And, if you're like me, your property tax bill showed one of two things: your tax bill went up even though your property value went down; or, your tax bill went up and your property value went up.The city's residential tax rate has increased from $10.87 in 2009 to $11.88 in 2010 to $12.79 in 2011. So, if your condo is valued at $500,000, this year's tax bill is $6,395. That's a lot of lattes. In good times, most people probably take a look at their tax bills, shrug, and then…

Construction of a $129-million, 27-story apartment building on the Prudential Plaza is set to commence in early 2011. Located on Exeter Street at the rear of the existing Lord & Taylor store, it will rise approximately 311 feet in height and include as many as 188 rental units. In my opinion, this is a great project that will be located in the perfect location.2008 proposal met with oppositionAvalonBay Communities and Boston Properties received city approval back in December 2008, but the project was delayed due to the bad economy. At the time, the proposal was received with stiff …

Three new towers at The First Church of Christ, Scientist, along with a renovation to the reflecting pool -- which includes a walkway through the middle -- is starting to stress some people out. Overall, I support the proposed changes. But it's a lot to take in. On the table The church is planning to build a 35-story and 15-story tower on Dalton Street; a new underground garage; and a 291-foot tower on Huntington Avenue, next to the Sunday school building. It's a total of 950,000 square feet in additional development. The proposed expansion has worried some people. They fear new shadows on …

Berklee College of Music has announced that it's hoping to build a new, 16-story  "high-rise" dormitory at 168 Massachusetts Ave., at the border of Boston's Back Bay and Fenway neighborhoods.  It may be just what the community wants. Eye for design  With an estimated construction cost of $65 million, the proposed building will have approximately 170,000 square feet of space. It will include new dormitory space with 350 beds (increasing Berklee's on-campus housing capacity to approximately 1,200 students), a two-story, 400-student dining hall, a music technology center with recording studios…

The Common belongs to the People;The People - that means me!I can sleep on the lawnFrom twilight to dawn.I can watch a ball game, free.The Common belongs to the People;The People - that means You!You can stand on a chairAnd find fault with the MayorFor nobody cares what you do.     - Old Boston school rhyme Sadly, this might not be true for much longer.Boston City Councilor Michael Ross (District 8, including the Back Bay), along with councilors Sal LaMattina (District 1) and Bill Linehan (District 2), wants a private company to manage a new restaurant located on the Boston Common.At first …

The Church of Scientology is in the midst of relocating its Boston headquarters from the Back Bay to the South End. Its property at 448 Beacon Street is listed for sale at $10.5 million. The approximately 25,000 square foot building, originally a single-family mansion built circa 1889, is known for its unique exterior design, a mixture of tan, brick, and red sandstone. Because the property is in the Back Bay historic district, little, if anything, can be done to the exterior. A fair amount of original detail remains, inside. Some original woodwork remains, and several of the building's seven …

This week, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston opens its brand new Arts of the America wing. The museum has been in its current 100 Huntington Ave. home since 1909 but spent its first 33 years located in a building on what is now the site of the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel, in Copley Square.Three historic buildings are currently located around three sides of the square: Trinity Church, consecrated in 1877, the main branch of the Boston Public Library, completed in 1895, and the Copley Plaza Hotel, which opened in 1912.The fourth side is another story. At the corners of Dartmouth and Boylston …

Earlier this year, the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company received city approval to build a 22-story tall office tower to be located at the border of the Back Bay. The $300 million project, which will replace the old Salvation Army site on the corner of Berkeley Street and Columbus Avenue, is expected to create about 500 construction jobs and 600 permanent jobs. The Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay has written several letters in which it expresses its concern that the height of the new building will shade the sun on Boston Common, in violation of state law. The project has the support …