City looks at turning part of the BPL main library in Copley Square into an upscale mini-mall

for some quiet time to myself to read, check out new books or use my laptop. Please don't turn it into a "shopping center". There's a fairly large, upscale mall a block away already. Expand the children's center, sure, maybe open a day-care. But a shopping center? *barf*

Wow. This is just surreal.

Without doubt, the best part of the story is Michael Ross' tentative endorsement:

If there’s an opportunity to do it tastefully and do it well and if it’s the right type of use, it makes sense. There’s truth to the fact that there are some dead spots at the library, it closes early and it’s not open entirely on weekends. I’m looking forward to hearing more.

So first the city slashes funding for the library, forcing it to close on weekends and to cut back its hours. Then it justifies converting 150,000 sqf of space into retail, because the library isn't open often enough? If I hadn't just read it, I wouldn't believe it.

The demand that the library generate revenue to cover its operating costs is a betrayal of its foundational purposes. It's a public amenity. The Johnson building is ugly as sin, and re-skinning it to make it more welcoming is a grand idea. But if that's what's necessary to attract patrons to businesses, why not reskin it instead to make the library itself more welcoming and approachable? And it shouldn't be lost on anyone that the Johnson building is where the library's services to the disadvantaged are clusters - the classes and computers and space relied upon by so many to close the digital divide.

This story is an embarrassment to our city. Spending $1.5m on the study, though, is a positive scandal.

was designed the way it was for a reason: when you look at it in the same plane as the McKim Meade and White building (one of america's greatest buildings, as many architectural historians would tell you) there are themes from the older building echoed in the new one, not to mention the balance of the two buildings, etc.

How shameful that our society no longer values important architecture and that consumerism is our God. aren't there enough tacky malls and chain stores here? Keep the flip-flop-wearing American Eagles masses out of the BPL!!!!

Where is Xaviera Hollander when you need her? Proximity to The Mandarin and Lenox Hotels and the Hynes Convention Center all beg for adding a fancy Gentlemen's club to the area. One where the service providers are required to study the library' holdings during the day so that they can discuss classical questions and modern issues while satisfying their customers at night.

An off topic question arises however: why are there no brothels for women patrons? The BPL could be a leader in providing intimate services to both sexes and everyone in between.

Nordstrom or Target, where have I heard those stores mentioned before?

Right, the Filenes hole.

Ugh, just what Back Bay/Copley needs, more retail space.

How about adding in some beds and showers? That way, the homeless people who lurk, leer, and generally make patrons feel uncomfortable never have to leave.

Mumbles to turn bottom two floors of City Hall into a Wal-Mart

Convert the retail space across from Quincy Market with really ugly concrete building (Govt. Center) to one that serves the public.

“It could be the place for a Nordstrom or a Target.”

Someone having a little fun with the reporter? Or trying to scare people into killing it?

Also, shouldn't there be a second source to confirm this before it's published?

If this item had been posted on April 1 I would have assumed that it was a response to that holiday.

Back Bay has basically come down to 8 dominant demographic groups:

1) Mostly suburban commuters who work in the area

2) Tourists

3) RICH empty-nesters/ex-executive types

4) RICH mostly foreign 'students'

5) College students living mostly in school dorms along Comm. Ave.

6) Yuppies

7) 'Poor' living mostly in subsidized housing for the 'poor'

8) Homeless

I agree, B.B. needs another retail outlet/mall like a hole in the head. Traffic and congestion is already maxed. Why is so much development confined to this one small neighborhood? The city needs to draw more development, especially retail, to other areas, especially downtown crossing/Washington St corridor.

As far as the library is concerned, it already seems to be used primarily as a tourist attraction, complete with obnoxious tours with large groups, creating a anything but pleasant, quiet library experience. Regarding the homeless, why does Boston and other cities have so many? Primarily because social services and shelters, etc. are located here. We are picking up A LOT of the slack other places deal with by simply encouraging their homeless, mentally ill, etc. to go to the city. This is complete BS. We have a serious homeless and mental illness problem is this country that is not being adequately addressed, with most people looking the other way. A good start would be to audit and find out where all the millions in $ to address this issue ends up. Obviously, precious little trickles down.

What about opening a cupcake store in that space? Back Bay definitely has a shortage of cupcake stores.