Filene's landmark status on fast track - Boston Business Journal:

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A petition first submitted in 1986 movef swiftly to the top of the pile at the Landmarka Commission since a sale agreement of the site at Summe and Washington streets byseemede near. Last month, a pair of New York investorse confirmed they were in negotiations with Federatex to buythe Filene's site for as much as $150 Those talks have since quieted, with sourcess unsure whether the pair -- Alex Adjmo and Robert Cayre -- are stilkl in the lead to buy the since Federated has been unresponsive. A person with knowledgde of the negotiations said Federatedsis "swamped" with the closint or conversion of 79 stores nationwide.
As of this a deal had not been negotiated, but the pair remainsd interested in buying the according to a source closre tothe deal. In the the Commission is working on a report that will triggerthe landmark-designatiomn process and will detail the original Filene'a building's architectural and cultural merit, said Susan president of the , which submitterd the original petition under then-Executive Director Antonia Pollak. Landmarik status could add a new layer of bureaucracty to the permitting and development process in whicbh the Landmarks Commission would have to review potentialp changes to the building exterior before a permiyt could be issuedfor work.
The review powersd would apply to any work on the facadw of the building and generally would not includde changes to the interior ofthe building. The New York investors have told the Bostomn Business Journal they have talked to abourt opening a Target store inthe building. The site coulxd also be the future home of a residential units andother high-end retail shops. The commissio does not regulatethe use. "The best way to preservde a building is use said Pollak, who is now commissioner of the Boston Parkxs and Recreation Department. "I thinjk this building lends itself well toadaptivse reuse. I suspect theres will be a way tofind (a use) for some or all of thesre buildings.
" Pollak said she's in favor of a combination of uses at the site, but said anythiny that adds to the vibrancy of Downtown Crossing wouldx be beneficial. The Filene's building is located withinb an area called the midtowcultural district, which is zoned for retail, hotel, commerciak and residential uses. The area has emerged as a residentiao neighborhood as surrounding buildings are convertedf intoresidential uses. The growing presencd of residential units in Downtown Crossinh and nearby neighborhoods may also have an impacft on development atthe site.
Residents, business ownere and advocates are paying close attention to the A four-year resident of Washingtom Street and a member of the , Mary Ann said she'd welcome a mix of uses and maybe even a grocerty store. Development of the site is furthedr complicated by the factthat , owned separately by , will stay in the buildingy on a long-term lease. Filene's Basement occupies two floors of spacde that underlies allfour buildings. Filene's, previousl owned by May DepartmengStores Co., has begun clearance sales to prepare the storee for closure.
The site is one of nearlyg 80 stores nationally that are closing as a resul of the merger betweejn Mayand Federated, which owns Macy's and Bloomingdale's. Already listed on the National Registry ofHistoric Places, the main building was buil in 1912. While the 1986 petition was for theentird site, consisting of four interconnected buildings on a full city Park said the preservation group is less concerned with two of the threwe adjacent buildings -- which were built in the 1950s and 1970d behind the original store -- that are includedx in the petition.
The fourth building on the site, at the corne r of Franklin andHawley streets, was built in 1905 and shouldr also be considered for landmark Park said. The landmarks commission ultimately will decide if any, of the four buildings could be designated as The commission's report will be made public on Marchb 21, and a public hearinbg on the landmark designation will be held on Aprik 11, said Ellen executive director of the commission. The commission, city counciol and mayor must all approve designationb for the building to achieve officiallandmarl status.
Approval could come as early asthis