The eight buildings proposed by the Pritzkers might be effective somewhere else, but on the Fan Pier they dominate the waterfront and set a precedent for higher buildings farther inland. The mayor cannot just send the Pritzker plan back for an another try. This is already the second version. He would do better to insist that the Boston Redevelopment Authority plan the area as a whole, not just parcel by parcel, so that it becomes a unified urban district. The Pritzker plan for an active cove at the Fan Pier is a good start, but it ought to be matched by equally creative work on the green space next to the Federal Courthouse.
Public buildings ought to be another priority on the land close to the water.
There should certainly be room for a new Institute of Contemporary Art and the two hotels sought by the Pritzkers, but most of the offices and condominiums planned for the site would be better farther inland. Heights should be much lower next to the water. That means inland owners would reap a dividend, but the mayor ought to find a way to share these profits with those who own property on the water's edge. Housing ought to be marbled throughout the district to encourage street life well into the night and promote an active neighborhood. Linkage money paid to neighborhoods by developers is certainly welcome, but it should not drive decisions about height and density.