A group of residents from Boston’s Back Bay filed a petition to preserve the 104 year old Shreve building at the corner of Boylston St. and Arlington St. in Boston’s Back Bay.  Ronald Druker, a local real estate developer with projects like Atelier 505, the Colonnade Hotel and Residences, and the neighboring Heritage on the Garden, owns the Shreve building and has plans to demolish and rebuild office and retail space on the site.

The city of Boston has already denied landmark status to the building clearing the way for Druker to move forward but this appeal is now stalling his $120 million plans.

Source: BostonHerald.com

My Thoughts: That block of Boylston is awful looking the way it is.  Retail is just about non-existent and the buildings are becoming dilapidated.  Druker owns the building, the people of Back Bay don’t.  While I believe historic preservation is important for key buildings, buildings like this shouldn’t have the right to the same protection.  Developers develop to make money.  If they aren’t allowed some leeway then buildings are going to sit empty and become a rundown eyesore.  As long as the plans fit in with the existing neighborhood I believe it’s time to put something that will add to the neighborhood on that corner.  It’s prime Back Bay real estate and should be treated as such.