I worked at St. E’s in ‘91 across the Pike from the Dorthea Dix Building in the older section. Although some of the old buildings were literally falling apart, it was a very beautiful place. Afterall, it had been landscaped for over 100 years. There were even several small (10-15 stones) Civil War grave sites tucked among the trees.
Yes, it’s a spectacular site. I’ve not seen detailed drawings or a model of the proposed redevelopment, but if done well it could (and should) be a game changer for the neighborhood.
Thousands of feds should translate into good street security in the immediate vicinity. Thousands of feds are also going to get tired of the cafeteria and start looking for neighborhood eateries. Starbucks, Subway, and the other chains won’t be far behind. And so it starts. Some of them will then realize that they can buy a fairly spacious home within a few blocks, and get it for a song if they’re quick.
Once the yuppie-to-junkie ratio reaches an acceptable level, things can change pretty fast.