In Thursday’s Boston Herald (and not in Thursday’s Boston Globe):

Hub planners envision more vibrant City Hall

Boston’s Government Center Plaza, reviled as an eyesore for decades, could be transformed into an oasis where skaters could frolic, cosmopolitan strollers could sip cocktails and tourists could find relief under leafy glades, according to one architect speaking on the eve of a City Hall brainstorming forum.

Haven’t we done this before?

Boston Globe, September 2007:

Working with City Hall

Gallery displays ideas for redesigning the controversial downtown site

Mayor Menino hates Boston City Hall. So do a lot of other people.

Now six young, bright architecture firms are suggesting ways to redesign it.

Why redesign City Hall? It was much admired when it opened, back in 1968. In a 1976 national poll of architects and scholars, it was ranked the seventh greatest building in American history.

But tastes change. City Hall is now probably the least loved building in Massachusetts, possibly the least loved in our entire galaxy. “Hulking concrete fortress” would be a typical description today.

Set-in-concrete fortress is more like it, given the Menino administration’s Don’t Task, Don’t Sell track record.

Which leads to a bigger question:

Why is it that Boston just can’t get things done?

For instance, how’s that bike-sharing program (which has received $3 million in federal funds and should already have 750 bike racks, 35 miles of Boston bike lanes, and 500 bicycles at 50 rental stations) going?

Not so good, apparently.

The Menino administration’s too busy spinning its wheels.