FAA Says No To 1,000-Foot Boston Skyscraper | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-10.06.25

AirborneNextGen-
10.07.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.08.25

Airborne-FlightTraining-10.09.25

AirborneUnlimited-10.10.25

Sat, May 17, 2008

FAA Says No To 1,000-Foot Boston Skyscraper

Height Restrictions Not Only Problem Project Faces

The Federal Aviation Administration has told officials in Boston, MA a proposed 1,000-foot skyscraper must be brought down closer to Earth.

The Boston Globe reports the FAA determined 75-story structure -- proposed by businessman Steve Belkin, designed by architect Renzo Piano and bandied by Mayor Thomas Menino -- lies perilously close to flight paths for planes flying to and from Logan International Airport.

Of particular concern to the FAA, said developers, was the danger the tower might pose to airliners landing to the west, that are forced to go-around... and fly low over downtown Boston.

Menino acknowledged this week the tower project is currently "stalled because of the FAA issue on height." Officials are working to determine what height the FAA would sign off on.

"We are working with the city and the appropriate agencies within the FAA to address these issues," said a statement released by Belkin's company, Trans National Properties. "In the meantime, we are continuing with our plans to fulfill the mayor's vision to build an iconic tower, which will be the most sustainable 'green' skyscraper in Boston."

Menino first proposed the new skyscraper two years ago, to add an even-taller building to Boston's skyline. Belkin's was the only company to submit a proposal.

Currently, the tallest building in downtown Bean Town is the 790-foot-tall John Hancock Tower. It's possible the new building will be scaled down closer to that 60-story structure.

"The FAA has a process to evaluate proposed projects, such as the tower the city wants to build, and to determine if they are a hazard to air navigation or not," said FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac.

Despite the setback, Menino remains optimistic about the building's chances of eventually meeting FAA standards. "I said whatever height he gets, let's do it," the mayor said. "Let's build the most significant building in Boston."

FAA objections aren't the only issue that might spell doom for the project, though. The world's financial markets aren't what they were two years ago, and Belkin has little real-world experience in the volatile commercial real estate market, according to the Globe.

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.massport.com/logan

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.13.25): Homing [ICAO]

Homing [ICAO] The procedure of using the direction-finding equipment of one radio station with the emission of another radio station, where at least one of the stations is mobile, >[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (10.13.25)

Aero Linx: European Regions Airline Association (ERA) The European Regions Airline Association (ERA) represents a diverse membership of over 50 airlines and more than 150 associate>[...]

ANN FAQ: Q&A 101

A Few Questions AND Answers To Help You Get MORE Out of ANN! 1) I forgot my password. How do I find it? 1) Easy... click here and give us your e-mail address--we'll send it to you >[...]

NTSB Prelim: CubCrafters Carbon Cub

While On Short Final, About 300 Ft, The Pilot Performed A Forced Landing Near Trees On September 7, 2025, about 0932 eastern daylight time, a CubCrafters Carbon Cub EX airplane, N4>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (10.14.25): Severe Icing

Severe Icing The rate of ice accumulation is such that ice protection systems fail to remove the accumulation of ice and ice accumulates in locations not normally prone to icing, s>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC