Docomomo US has been made aware of a looming threat to Paul Rudolph's Blue Cross/Blue Shield building (1960) in Boston. The city is considering five proposals from firms to develop a prominant site next to the Blue Cross/Blue Shield building. Four out of the five proposals pose no threat to the Rudolph designed building and one proposal is unclear of its effects on the building. The proposal from developer Trans National plans to demolish the building during the second phase of construction. Candidates will be interviewed in the beginning of June. Docomomo US and Docomomo US/New England are monitoring the situation as it unfolds.
Docomomo US has also learned phase two demolition plans are underway at Rudolph's Shoreline apartments (1974) in Buffalo, NY. This recent article reports the owner, Norstar Development U.S.A. LLC, has given the remaining tenants a November 1st deadline to vacate their homes before demolishing the remainder of the site. A battle that began in 2005, Norstar has demolished five of the existing 32 buildings despite the continued work of Mid-Century Modern Buffalo, Preservation Buffalo Niagara, the Preservation League of New York, Docomomo US and others to save and protect the remaining buildings.
The full complex was determined eligible for a National Register listing and was found to meet four of the six criteria for a local designation and yet the developer continues to move forward with its complete demolition plan for the site.
