Filene's Department Store
Encyclopedia
Filene's Department Store is a historic department store
building at 426 Washington Street in Downtown Crossing
, Boston, Massachusetts that was home to the main Filene's
store.
. By 1929 Filene’s expanded the flagship building, converting the whole block around Washington, Summer, Hawley and Franklin streets into one department store. This was the last major project by legendary Chicago architect Daniel Burnham
and only work in Boston. His work is widley regarded as one of the best examples of Beaux Arts architecture in Boston.
In 1986, the Filene's Building was added to the National Register of Historic Places
. In 2006, Filene's stores were merged with Macy's
phasing out the Filene's name. In a normal store merger, the old stores are converted into the new stores. But this was a problem in Boston. The Filene's Building was located across the street from another Macy's store. When Filene's did close, the Boston Landmark Commission unanimously voted to protect two of the historic buildings that housed Filene's in Boston. The two oldest buildings were protected including the main 1912 Filene's store building and a 1905 former glassware and china seller's building on the opposite corner. The two newer buildings, built in 1951 and 1973 were not protected and demolished in 2008.
After the store closed, the building was put up for sale and was eventually bought by Vornado Realty Trust
of New York. Vornado teamed up with Gale International for a $700 million redevelopment of the Filene's site. The project contains a 39-story tower including a 280-room hotel, 125-seat restaurant, 475000 square feet (44,128.9 m²) of office space, 166 residential condos, 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) of retail space, and an adjacent park. Although the Filene’s Building is protected by the Landmark Commission, it only protected the facade of the buildings. This allowed the developers of the site to rip out the building's interior, leaving the exterior to stand on its own. However, when the project ran out of money, the site was left completely gutted and remains so to this day.
Mayor Menino
has put pressure on the company that owns the property to develop the site, come up with a new development plan, or to sell the property to a new developer.
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
building at 426 Washington Street in Downtown Crossing
Downtown Crossing
Downtown Crossing is a shopping district in Boston, Massachusetts, located due east of Boston Common and west of the Financial District. It features large department stores as well as restaurants, music stores, souvenir sellers, general retail establishments, and many street vendors...
, Boston, Massachusetts that was home to the main Filene's
Filene's
Filene's was a Boston-based department store owned by Federated Department Stores , and May Department Stores . It operated throughout New England and in New York.-Early years:...
store.
History
The building was completed in 1912 as a new flagship location for William Filene and Sons' department store, better known as Filene'sFilene's
Filene's was a Boston-based department store owned by Federated Department Stores , and May Department Stores . It operated throughout New England and in New York.-Early years:...
. By 1929 Filene’s expanded the flagship building, converting the whole block around Washington, Summer, Hawley and Franklin streets into one department store. This was the last major project by legendary Chicago architect Daniel Burnham
Daniel Burnham
Daniel Hudson Burnham, FAIA was an American architect and urban planner. He was the Director of Works for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. He took a leading role in the creation of master plans for the development of a number of cities, including Chicago and downtown Washington DC...
and only work in Boston. His work is widley regarded as one of the best examples of Beaux Arts architecture in Boston.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. In 2006, Filene's stores were merged with Macy's
Macy's
Macy's is a U.S. chain of mid-to-high range department stores. In addition to its flagship Herald Square location in New York City, the company operates over 800 stores in the United States...
phasing out the Filene's name. In a normal store merger, the old stores are converted into the new stores. But this was a problem in Boston. The Filene's Building was located across the street from another Macy's store. When Filene's did close, the Boston Landmark Commission unanimously voted to protect two of the historic buildings that housed Filene's in Boston. The two oldest buildings were protected including the main 1912 Filene's store building and a 1905 former glassware and china seller's building on the opposite corner. The two newer buildings, built in 1951 and 1973 were not protected and demolished in 2008.
After the store closed, the building was put up for sale and was eventually bought by Vornado Realty Trust
Vornado Realty Trust
Vornado Realty Trust is a New York based real estate investment trust. It is the inheritor of real estate formerly controlled by companies including Two Guys and Alexander's.- History :...
of New York. Vornado teamed up with Gale International for a $700 million redevelopment of the Filene's site. The project contains a 39-story tower including a 280-room hotel, 125-seat restaurant, 475000 square feet (44,128.9 m²) of office space, 166 residential condos, 300000 square feet (27,870.9 m²) of retail space, and an adjacent park. Although the Filene’s Building is protected by the Landmark Commission, it only protected the facade of the buildings. This allowed the developers of the site to rip out the building's interior, leaving the exterior to stand on its own. However, when the project ran out of money, the site was left completely gutted and remains so to this day.
Mayor Menino
Thomas Menino
Thomas Michael "Tom" Menino is the mayor of Boston, Massachusetts, United States and the city's first Italian-American mayor...
has put pressure on the company that owns the property to develop the site, come up with a new development plan, or to sell the property to a new developer.