The last block of Boylston Street has not lived up to its past glory in recent years.
Once a noted section of the Back Bay for high end retail, the block has suffered in recent times through a general decline in panache and appeal.
However, an ambitious new building project put forward last week by development firm The Druker Company aims to reestablish the east end of Boylston Street as a premier location in the city.
Company President Ronald Druker unveiled design plans last Thursday for a brand new mixed-use glass and limestone building for 350 Boylston Street, designed by renowned Argentine architect Cesar Pelli. The building as proposed would contain 210,000 square feet of office space, along with ground floor retail and restaurant space.
"This is not a cookie cutter project," said Druker. "This is a very special site."
Pelli, whose resume includes such landmark feats such as the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and Manhattan's World Financial Center, said his goal in designing the building was to create a structure that was both "simple and complex" and that fit the neighborhood's Victorian yet modern character.
"It will feel as if the building has been there for a long time," said Pelli when remarking on the building's appropriateness.
Part of its Boston-style charm will come from the extensive use of tall bay windows (alternating with flat windows set in limestone) that will provide grand views for those within the building and an "impressive" sight for pedestrians and passersby, said Pelli. The bay windows will ascend to the very top of the nine-story structure, including the top two recessed floors.
The building will sit at the corner of Boylston and Arlington Streets, with retail frontage on both streets. The south side of the building will be on Providence Street. The northeast corner of the building will be rounded bay windows, providing a "special opportunity" for a striking restaurant space on the ground level, said Druker. Pelli said it would also create a new "pleasant and civilized" corner at Arlington and Providence Streets.
Druker only presented renderings of the north and east faces of the building, and State Representative Marty Walz said that it was important that residents and officials see visualizations from all four directions before coming to any conclusions. Druker said that plans for the south and west faces would be forthcoming.
Although residents in attendance expressed some concern about what the new building's possible impact on vehicular traffic,
representatives from Druker were quick to point out that the building would have its own loading dock, which would eliminate traffic snarls on Province Street currently caused by delivery trucks for the current building.
The building also aims to be parking self-sufficient, and will have 150 sub surface parking spaces, according to statistics provided by the Boston Redvelopment Authority. Druker said that the building's access to public transportation (it sits atop the Arlington Street subway stop) and its walkable location would reduce the number of people who chose to drive to offices and thus the need for parking. "We're erring on the low side [in the number of spaces]," he said. Parking would not be open to the public, though a restaurant or restaurants on the building's ground floor might have valet parking after working hours and on weekends.
Eliot Laffer, longtime neighborhood activist, expressed optimism for the project but also questioned whether the additional pedestrian traffic would be sufficiently served by the block's current sidewalks.
"Crowded sidewalks are good sidewalks," said Druker. "It will give the block a vital, urban experience. It's going to contribute to street presence."
Druker also stressed the building's sustainability, saying that the company was aiming for a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating of silver. A silver LEED rating is the third highest rating possible, a step beyond green certification but below a gold or platinum rating. Sustainability beyond silver would be cost-prohibitive, he said, but he stressed the company's commitment to sustainability.
"We think it's correct to be green," he said.
The proposal is currently in a public comment period, which has been extend to February 1st due to the holidays. A scoping determination incorporating all comments received on the plan notification form will be issued on Friday, February 15. Residents wishing to comment on the development can contact Jay Rourke with the Boston Redevelopment Authority at 617-918-4317 or jay.rourke.bra@cityofoboston.gov.

Representatives from the Pour House attempting to amend their liquor license were met with strong opposition at the Licensing Board for the City of Boston hearing held Wednesday, January 23, at city hall.
Pour House’s current license states that after 1:00 a.m. patrons can’t be served alcohol without ordering a meal. The Pour House is seeking to limit this condition only to those seated at tables, making it possible for those standing or seated at the bar to continue drinking until close without purchasing food.
Among those opposing the Pour House was Tom High, chairman of NABB’s Licensing and Building Use committee. “Basically, the current condition means that between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. the Pour House is functioning as a late-night restaurant. With the change, it would mean that about half of the establishment (about 150 in occupancy) would be functioning as a bar,” said High.
High said his major concern, should the amendment be adopted, is the increase of noise in the surrounding area the change would bring.
High was not alone in his opposition. Representatives on behalf of City Councilor Mike Ross, Councilor-at-Large Stephen Murphy, the mayor’s office, and two Back Bay residents also opposed the change.
General Manager of the Pour House, Brian Peters, said the current language of the license is confusing. Peters said at the least he wants the wording on the license changed so that it will say alcohol may be served after 1 a.m. “in conjunction with food” rather than the current phrase which requires patrons wanting alcohol to “order a meal.”
Representatives on behalf of restaurant Bottega Fiorentina also spoke at the hearing on Wednesday. Another Bottega will be opening at 264 Newbury Street and the restaurant is seeking to purchase the wine and beer license previously held by Marcello’s Pizzeria of 272A Newbury Street.
After Marcello’s closed in 2007 and was replaced by B. Good, which does not serve alcohol, their license became available.
Besides the change of location and corporation, Bottega also wants to add an outdoor, seasonal patio, which seats 12, from April through November.
High, Murphy and Ross all supported the petition. No one was opposed.

Good things have been happening in the Back Bay for Eric Glassoff. And
the 45-year-old realtor has been making good things happen for people
wanting to buy or sell properties in the Back Bay.
Glassoff has been one of Coldwell Banker’s top realtors in Brookline
and Newton for the past six years. In 2007, Glassoff expanded his
business to the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and South End real state
markets.
He recently sold a condominium on West Cedar Street on Beacon Hill that
listed at $1.295 million and another condominium in the Back Bay at 73
Marlborough St. listed at $499,000.
“Living in the same area where I sell gives me great insight,
knowledge and understanding of the area and this in turn gives my
clients a sense of trust in my judgement and recommendations,” said
Glassoff.
The Back Bay, Beacon Hill and South End are much sought-after
locations for young professionals who work in Boston, according to
Glassoff. “I’ve met a lot of young professionals, people in the medical
field, empty nesters, and baby boomers and they’re all attracted to the
Back Bay lifestyle of being close to the theater, shopping trendy
restaurants, and public transportation,” said Glasoff. “I personally
like the charm that the buildings in the Back Bay have to offer.”
Glassoff attended Everett High School and UMass/Amherst and holds an
MBA Degree from Babson College. He made the switch to real estate in
2002 after working previously as a sales representative for AT&T and as
a mortgage broker.
Why the career change?
“I had bought and sold my own properties and I liked being around the
real estate field,” said Glassoff. “I felt an affinity toward it and
now I really enjoy working in real estate. For me, there’s nothing as
rewarding as seeing the smile on someone’s face when they buy their
first home or property and you’ve helped them get there.”
Glassoff said he prides himself on his unique background in sales and
marketing, his accessibility to clients, mortgage background, hard
work, all of which have contributed to his success.
“Each year my business has grown to the point where I needed to employ
a full-time assistant enabling me to maintain the high customer service
that I like to deliver,” said Glassoff.
Clients also appreciate his boundless energy, positive attitude, and
savvy negotiating and marketing skills. Many have returned to use
Glassoff’s expertise to sell and upgrade to larger properties. His free
monthly newsletter that is available through his website,
www.BostonRealEstateExperts.com, has more than 1,000 subscribers.
Glassoff intends to increase his presence in the Back Bay and Beacon
Hill this year.
“Even though the market is volatile, it’s a great opportunity for
buyers to get reasonable deals and great value right now and I welcome
the opportunity to help people find the home or property they’re
looking for in the area,” said Glassoff.
(You can sign up for Eric Glassoff’s free daily property updates and
monthly newsletter at www.BostonReal EstateExperts.com).

CAPTION: The 214-room Lenox Hotel on Boylston Street.

With construction of the Mandarin luxury hotel at the Prudential Center now underway, another Boylston Street hotel is putting the finishing touches on large-scale renovations.
The historic Lenox Hotel, a 214-room luxury hotel built at the turn of the 20th century and located at Exeter and Boylston streets, is nearing the completion of its rehabilitation, which includes a total revamping of the front lobby, restoration of corridors on each floor and the thorough overhaul of a second-floor suite, according to Crystal Raymond, the Lenox assistant front office manager. Raymond couldn’t disclose the total cost of renovations, however.
Perhaps the most ambitious stage of the project is the rehabilitation of the Back Bay Suite. Located on the second floor of the 11-story hotel, the suite offers a view down Boylston Street of the Boston Marathon finish line, a working fireplace, a newly restored bathroom and three flat-panel televisions - one of which is discreetly located behind the bathroom mirror. All wood used in the suite renovation is Forest Stewardship Council certified (i.e. environmentally friendly), Raymond said.
The project’s first phase, consisting of rehabilitation to the front lobby, was finished in May 2007 and includes newly installed marble-floors, gold ceiling gildings and hand-painted wallpaper.
The final phase, including renovations to the corridors of each floor, is scheduled for completion next month, Raymond said.
While the Mandarin will undoubtedly rival the Lenox as one of the Back Bay’s premiere hotels, Raymond said its construction didn’t drive the Lenox rehabilitation. She said instead that Daniel Donahue, general manager of the Lenox since December 2006, spearheaded the project.
“He came in here and completely revamped the entire hotel,” Raymond said.