A revised downtown tower
In May 2018, Boston City Properties reported approval of a 690-foot tower proposal at Winthrop Square. The project concerned the former garage site at 240 Devonshire Street and combined office space with condominiums. Its height had changed during review, so the approved version was not identical to earlier, taller schemes.
The article described Millennium Partners’ project as a roughly $1.3 billion undertaking with about 1.6 million square feet of space. It also recalled a reported $166 million deal for the city-owned development rights. These were historical project and transaction figures, not present-day property valuations.
Review beyond the site boundary
Shadow effects on Boston Common and the Public Garden were central to the debate. Aviation concerns also affected the tower’s height and design. Those issues show why a large downtown proposal can involve review extending well beyond its immediate lot.
The May 2018 approval was a milestone in that process. It did not itself establish a completed tower, occupied offices or condos available to purchase. The original visual carried the credit “Photo Rendering Via Handel Architects,” identifying it as a rendering rather than evidence of finished construction.
Historical attribution: Original Boston City Properties article, May 2018. Reported claims and attributed assessments have not been independently refreshed.