More Drama on the Filene's Redevelopment

A project that has been the subject of some political problems is facing further pressure from Boston Mayor Thomas Menino.

Five months after developers halted construction at the Filene's site in Downtown Crossing and left two historic buildings torn apart and a gaping hole in the city's center, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino directed the builders to secure the remaining structures.

Menino sent a letter yesterday to the developers, New York-based Gale International and Vornado Realty Trust, expressing concern about the condition of the buildings' shells, which have been exposed to the elements for nearly a year, and told them to begin securing them by May 1.

"The current condition of the buildings requires attention to avoid deterioration of the structures and escalated rehabilitation costs," he wrote.