The Boston Development and Planning Agency last week signed off on the development of a 13-story, 12-unit condo building at 171 Tremont Street on the edge of Boston Common.
Recall that the spire was once supposed to stretch to 355 feet and 32 stories. Local (and vocal) opposition, including to the possible effects the spire might have on shadows on the Common and traffic on the surrounding streets, led to successive height-chops: first to 255 feet and 20 stories, and then to 235 feet and 19 stories as recently as April.
Finally, father-son developers Maurice and Joseph Dabbah trimmed 171 Tremont’s height to just 12 floors and 175 feet (of which 155 feet would be occupiable). The truncation also meant six fewer condos.
That appears to have done the trick for the Elkus Manfredi-designed tower, which will replace a four-story office building. Construction is expected to take 18 months, and, interestingly, plans (PDF) do not call for any on-site parking.