Joe Fallon is Mayor Tom Menino's favorite developer. He is not, it is safe to say, the favorite developer of Michael Flaherty, the man who would be mayor.
Flaherty leaves no doubt about that in a blistering letter he wrote last week criticizing Fallon's attempt to protect the water views of his own new development on the South Boston Waterfront. "It is a bit unnerving that a developer who has constantly asked for cooperation, flexibility and in some cases, leniency from the City and community in regards to the company's own developments, would oppose an abutting project," Flaherty wrote in a letter to state environmental regulators. Then he adds: "I would hate to see a good public process hijacked by a wealthy developer with self-interest in protecting a view."
Just so there is no misunderstanding, the city councilman from South Boston elaborated, at length, in an interview with me yesterday: "Here is a guy from Belmont who seems set on making this his own personal playground."
It was only two months ago that all Boston officialdom - Flaherty included - was applauding Fallon for finally getting a shovel in the ground at his personal playground, otherwise known as Fan Pier. But what set Flaherty off now is Fallon's opposition to the design of a new project slated to rise where Jimmy's Harborside Restaurant, one of the city's old standbys, once stood.
In a letter last month, Fallon Co. said it "strongly objects" to Cresset Development's design for two modest-size buildings across the street from Park Lane Seaport, Fallon's large apartment complex. Fallon's objection: The corridor between the two Cresset buildings is not lined up to provide appropriate views for Fallon's tenants. "The currently proposed building configuration on Parcel E will adversely impact the marketability of resident and retail space in the Park Lane Seaport development," Fallon's attorney wrote.
The man is breaking my heart. Considering the size of Fallon's development - 13 stories and 465 units - it is amusing to see him whining about a neighboring project that is all of 70,000 square feet and is four stories at its highest. Fallon told me it's all a misunderstanding. "I want to see this building built," he says.
Consider: Here on the barren South Boston Waterfront we actually have developers complaining about blocking each other's views. Who thought we would see the day!
Look for mayoral candidates to start jockeying for position, too, even two years before an election. Take Flaherty and Ralph Martin, for instance.
Two weeks ago, the two undeclared candidates met for drinks at the Hilton's Caliterra Bar on Broad Street. The topic: Who would run against Menino in 2009? The two are good friends; Flaherty, in fact, was Martin's deputy in the Suffolk district attorney's office. Both want to be mayor.
Martin's pitch to Flaherty: I'll run for mayor, and you run for district attorney against Dan Conley. After two terms, I'll back you for mayor. Martin is 54; Flaherty is only 38. You have time, Martin said. I don't.
Flaherty had a better idea: Why don't you be my campaign chairman?
Developers jockeying with each other to build on the waterfront. Good candidates jockeying with each other for a mayor's race. This is a good thing, not bad.
Neighborhood news:
Speaking of the waterfront, Legal Sea Foods, among my favorite restaurants, will be taking the smaller of the two buildings on the old Jimmy's site. Legal chief executive Roger Berkowitz says the restaurant will be spread across two floors, plus a roof deck, and will be more upscale (read: expensive) than anything else in the Legal chain. "It will be one of a kind, not to be replicated," Berkowitz says.
The Legislature has approved the Winthrop bill, which would allow members of cooperative apartment buildings to reject prospective buyers only on financial grounds. The legislation grows out of a dispute -well chronicled here - between John Walsh, chief executive of Elizabeth Grady Cos., who tried to buy a unit in a Beacon Street building, and Jonathan Winthrop, chairman of the co-op board that led the opposition. The bill needs only the governor's signature.
Steve Bailey is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at bailey@globe.com or at 617-929-2902.
