News

Open the tower

by By Kevin Sowyrda
Thursday Sep 23, 2021

This article is from the September 23, 2021 issue of South End News.


Not every issue in the Boston Mayor's race has reached front burner status. One of them is the closure of a beautiful public park, located quite literally 790 feet above the city, where the views were meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
The John Hancock Tower, rechristened 200 Clarendon Street, was an architectural wonder when she opened her doors in 1976. Despite a myriad of construction problems, including thousands of Thermopane windows that had to be replaced (Purdue University did not get an 'A' for all those wind tunnel tests), the architect Henry N. Cobb was heralded for creating the Hub's tallest building. The New York Times architect critic Paul Goldberger wrote that despite the building initially being "an object of mockery more than of admiration" the edifice, warts and all, eventually became "justly celebrated as one of the great American skyscrapers of the 1970's."
And what better way to admire the greatness, her odd parallelogram shapes notwithstanding, than from the very top, the old Hancock Observatory. Considered a must stop for any vacationer's itinerary, and for any school outing, the Hancock's iconic sixtieth floor became an alluring destination, albeit intimidating for the acrophobia challenged. From this precious vista I would peer down into a seemingly infinitesimal Fenway Park and my imagination would run past every base. No matter what day or what weather, the Charles looked pristine, the Common could not have been greener and Boston's colloquial charm was superbly enhanced at 790 feet. To appreciate the beauty of Boston you need this falcon's perspective; unless your wings have been clipped.
On September 11, 2001, like similar venues nationwide, the observatory was closed. No one had any reason to believe that it was permanent.
Twenty years later, 200 Clarendon's sister observatories have long since reopened, some with inspiring enhancements. When I visited the top deck of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) last year I discovered the wondrous glass balcony, added post 9-11, which extends out about four feet from the tower's 103rd floor; letting you know what walking on air really feels like.
But the real estate moguls at 200 Clarendon (Boston Properties) have kept the doors locked for more than 20 years.
Boston's public park in the sky has transitioned from public access, to elegant, costly function space to commercial rental. Vacationer's, students and dreamers like me may not apply.
Advocates for re-opening have spoken of a written agreement signed by the original owners, John Hancock Insurance, promising a permanently opened observatory. But since no one seems to be able to find this Magna Carta of Boston real estate agreements, the tower chieftains have forsaken public access since 2001. When once asked about the agreement, backed up by a document no one can produce, the late Mayor Tom Menino confirmed to WBZ the historical chatter of a contract. "That's a rumor that's been out there 15 years, I haven't seen the document, and somebody, if they have the document, let me see it."
I've spent years advocating for the re-opening of the observatory and periodically looking for any paper trail; and I've concluded that success would require Indiana Jones. But I've had innumerable sources at the Boston Redevelopment Authority - since reincarnated into the Boston Planning and Development Agency - tell me that there was in fact a clear cut understanding between then Mayor Kevin White and John Hancock that the vistas of the top floor were to be treated as public access.
Document in hand or not, I'm suggesting the next mayor communicate the following to 200 Clarendon upon taking office in November.
First, a place as special and inspiring as the tower's sixtieth floor should be just as open to a field trip from Samuel W. Mason School in Roxbury as it is to the current tenants who drive in from Wellesley and Weston.
Second, Boston Properties should be told what they should know. A revamped observatory, with all the bells and whistles, will be a tourist destination rife with eager patrons at the precise moment in time when commercial property owners are short on tenants and cash.
A newly opened observatory at 200 Clarendon may not be the most important goal for the next mayor. But for all the kids out there, and the kids at heart, getting back to that park in the sky will be a nice way to start a new year.