I worked in the old Terminal A in the mid 90's for about a year and a half. It was Continental and USAir Shuttle. The rest of US Air was in Terminal B if I remember correctly. Also Cape Air and Colgan were in the "commuter pier" extending off the rear onto the ramp.
If you search the video for...
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I remember about 20 years ago there was another tower proposal for this same site. In fact , they did not reclad the side of the Hilton facing the proposed site. They just covered it with the panels temporarily in preparation for the new tower. This one wont be attached the same way as...
My guess is that the environmental review allows only so much pavement vs permeable surface on the airport. If they reduce the amount of pavement on a taxiway they can add pavement somewhere else where it may be more valuable.
Off topic but you can see the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal on the upper right horizon where they stage and assemble the windmills for the offshore wind. The radio tower near it is 600' tall and sometimes the crane is about 3/4 (or more) the height of it.
This might be a bit of a photo dump, but, I love to take photos when on my walks and runs with the dogs. Fairhaven has some beautiful buildings donated just over 100 years ago by benefactor Henry Huttleston Rogers.
Yes, apologies for continuing off topic, but also check out the Millicent Library, Unitarian Church, Rogers School, and Our Ladies Haven (formerly Tabitha Inn). All of these as well as the Town Hall and High School were built and donated by the same benefactor.