Cambridge Preston Springs Redevelopment | 89.7m | 26s | Haastown | Arch. Unfolded

[emphurent]

The story of this one is kind of nuts, and an unfortunate example of demolition by neglect. This is the former Preston Springs Hotel, demolished earlier this year. This was once the main intersection of the town of Preston.

(Source)

As for the proposal, it feels rather unsympathetic to what was there before, it's almost oppressively modern. I'm not sure this is the right spot for this. The future station access will be a 7 minute walk away.

 

[Matt.R.WR]

Architectural Plans

Overall I mostly like it, but I do get the insensitivity argument. I'm still mad about the neglect, but no sense dwelling on the past. Not a fan of the exterior (knock-off Mies Van de Rohe vibes lol), but interior renderings, floorplates, etc. look pretty decent.

5 storey parking podium needs to go. 682 parking spaces is insane in a core like this and so close to an ION stop (and other transit + active transport infrastructure). 3 storey podium would net 539 spaces. Assuming same heights, this adds 72 units (2 tower floors x 3 towers @ 12 units/ floor - new 825 unit total), which would put the parking ratio at 0.653 per unit. Get rid of +/- 36 spaces on east side of ground level and replace it with bike spaces and you'd have a room for approx. 1265 bikes (173+156 existing in current plans). This brings parking down to 503 spaces with ratio of 0.609 spaces per unit for cars, and roughly 1.53 spaces per unit for bikes.

Edit: just noticed more bike parking on level P1. 186 spaces there. Using same hypothetical as above, for anyone that cares, this brings the total to 1451 bikes spaces and a bike parking ratio of 1.76 spaces per unit.

 

[Bjays92]

The overall design for this is pretty decent. I agree that I’m not sure this is the spot for it but one of the nicer looking proposals overall for the region.

 

[Matt.R.WR]

Site photos from 06/20/2024

No progress (obviously), but mainly for those not familiar with the site.

Wide angle shot from just west of the King/ Fountain intersection:

Looking head on at the site from the intersection:

In front of the site, looking into the site, facing west:

I don't even want to think about how "fun" all the earthworks would/ will be with this one