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Boston Globe

City plan would allow 700-foot towers across downtown. But some say ‘it was a sham.'

Allowing skyscrapers to be built as-of-right, and without zoning variances, would let the city of Boston take advantage of its densest areas and Related : Advertisement 'There's general recognition that the downtown has not fully recovered its full vibrancy,' Shen said. 'We have to have the zoning to allow for people to actually think about more creative ways of investing in their property.' Advertisement The zoning plan has been a years-long process to dictate what can be built and where in Boston's downtown core, and aims to balance the need to alleviate the city's housing crisis and and downtown's deep historic fabric, while also promoting the vitality of Boston's — indeed, New England's — economic hub. A new zoning plan would allow for more tall skyscrapers with minimal permitting in downtown Boston. Suzanne Kreiter/Globe Staff Implementing clear zoning rules will ease the path toward making real estate developments more viable, said Dave Greaney, whose Synergy Investments owns nine properties within the Plan Downtown area. As-of-right zoning cuts down on the risk of a project getting caught in a protracted city permitting and entitlement processes — 'Anything that promotes investment and development in the downtown is great and badly needed,' Synergy CEO Dave Greaney said. 'We've seen the