The costs would be dramatically higher (based on the increases in real estate value). Evidence of this can be seen with comments from John Connolly (an aide to Flynn) who said, "The fundamental opportunity to create a public open space in what has to be considered ground zero of the city's financial district is an opportunity that comes less than one's lifetime. There was a unique set of circumstances that allowed people to even consider it both on the private and public side. The city did not have to pursue a strategy of selling that particular parcel for the highest short-term financial goal. Instead, we looked at the parcel from a long-term context." This is significant, in showing how the city sided with park developers based on the benefits that it will provide to everyone in the community. Once the project was completed, is when the revitalization of this part of Downtown Boston was finished. ("Post Office Square Park," n.d.) These different elements are illustrating the challenges that the City of Boston was facing. This is because the city had an agreement with Frank Sawyer to lease him the location for 40 years (as a parking garage). The problem...

At the same time, skyrocketing real estate prices increased pressure on administrators to sell the location to private interests. This caused a delay in the decisions about what to do (with administrators wanting to review all proposals for the greatest long-term benefits). ("Post Office Square Park," n.d.)
What the Mayor's Office determined, is that this property will help to develop Boston's financial district. This meant that city officials looked at the situation from a point-of-view that was in the best interests of the entire community. As a result, they decided to build a park at Post Office Square based on the potential benefits it will provide to: visitors and businesses. Over the course of time, this complimented this section of the city by creating an outdoor venue for everyone to use. ("Post Office Square Park," n.d.) ("Post Office Square," 2012)

References

Post Office Square Park. (n.d.) Harvard University.

Post Office Square. (2012). PPS. Retrieved from: http://www.pps.org/great_public_spaces/one-public_place_id=20