Last June, a study was conducted by a task force consisting of residents, businesspeople and development professionals that looked at over 20 air-rights parcels in the area to come up with a plan for future development. The study, "A Civic Vision for Turnpike Air Rights in Boston," was two years in the making and is not, as Meredith Baumann, spokesperson for the Boston Redevelopment Authority points out, a legal document. "But," she adds, "to get away from it is just not feasible. It was undertaken so when we got to this point we had something to measure against. It gives us a head start in knowing what will fit." She notes that, "this is the very beginning of the process, but the community is not pleased. I think the neighborhood concerns are legitimate."

Baumann emphasizes that the BRA will work with the developer to come up with a consensus. "The developer will have to compromise," she says. Baumann notes that the 25-story building was initially proposed as 38 stories. "I don't believe 25 is in the Vision, but that they brought it down to 25 is an indication that they are willing to work it out," she says.

A local group opposed to the size of the development has insisted that the project could go down as low as 15 stories and still be economically feasible, but Baumann wouldn't comment on that possibility. "I can't comment if 15 stories are feasible," she says. "As we go on the numbers will flesh out more. The numbers could easily change."