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March 10 Workshop Summary of Comments To: Boston Redevelopment Authority From: ICON architecture, inc. Date: April 16, 1999 On Wednesday, March 10, 1999 the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Planning Coordinating Group held a community-wide workshop to finalize the basis for the Master Plan. Attendance was roughly 50-60 participants. The workshop was set up to accomplish the following two goals: evaluate options for development sites and prioritize elements of the preferred alternative. Options Evaluation Condor Street/American Legion Playground: Discussion of the Condor Street option centered around the conflict between enhanced open space and traffic. While the majority of respondents preferred the option in which Condor Street remained in its current configuration, this majority was not overwhelming. Traffic conflicts on this stretch of Condor Street have been attributed to trucks which ignore the truck ban and its lack of enforcement. Respondents commented that perhaps an extension of Condor Street through the DPW site would help get trucks out faster and be less intrusive to the neighborhood. The addition of recreation space would increase pedestrian activity, thus respondents suggested a traffic calming device such as a rotary or stoplight for Condor Street. Participants recognized the need for pedestrian links to the American Legion Playground and all the way to the Hess Oil site as an extension of the Harborwalk. They were concerned for the immediate neighborhood impacted by this option, and comments stated that residents of Eagle Hill should have more input in the final option than should other East Boston residents.
Hess Oil Site: Option 1’s proposed addition of new open space as part of the Hess Oil site’s redevelopment was overwhelmingly favored by 2/3 of respondents. However, the infill residential component of Option 1 was not seen as a positive factor. Participants preferred to combine the off-street parking across the street from Hess Oil as described in Option 2 with the open space recommendation at the site as described in Option 1. Discussion illustrated the community’s aversion to increased marine industrial uses, particularly on Hess where members have been integral in furthering clean-up efforts of derelict oil tanks and contaminated soils.
Liberty Plaza/Central Square: Waterfront access drove Option 2 to be the preferred alternative by almost a 9 to 1 ratio. Respondents felt that the plaza blocks the neighborhoods’ enjoyment of the waterfront, particularly during the wonderful sunsets. A redesigned plaza could add retail shops, boutiques, restaurants, and outdoor cafes oriented to the waterfront rather than the parking lot. Participants noted that the wall created by the plaza could be redesigned by going through the Woolworth’s building, allowing for retail opportunities and a waterfront view corridor. Respondents were in favor of changing the DPA designation, while stressing increased water transportation capabilities and the implementation of an extended Harborwalk. However, comments reflected a desire to maintain some marine-related activity on the dockside in conjunction with a redesigned plaza.
Boston East: Respondents’ desire for a cultural attraction on the waterfront led Option 2 to be the preferred alternative by almost a ¾ majority. Marine industrial use on the site was seen as compatible with open space/cultural uses as long as the marine industrial activity was not a polluter. Respondents voiced their opposition to waterfront housing, which many felt would privatize a unique public asset; however, comments were favorable toward residential use in the vicinity of Boston East as long as it is not as excessive as shown in the illustrations. Respondents favored the use of waterside activities for port service such as layover berthing. Interest was expressed in seeing a mix of uses—such as a restaurant/café—to accompany the preferred cultural use.
Preferred Alternative Priorities After discussing and selecting various options, respondents were asked to prioritize several elements of the preferred alternative. These discussions were based on four issues: Waterfront Elements, Heritage Elements, Neighborhood and Transportation Improvements, and Economic Development. The following summaries of selected priorities will help guide the Master Plan and the subsequent Implementation Strategy. Waterfront Elements High priority:
Medium priority:
Low priority:
Respondents were eager to see redevelopment occur at two major sites in the near future: Boston East and Liberty Plaza. These sites present major opportunities for cultural and commercial uses which would complement adjacent commercial activity as well as furthering the goal of increased waterfront access. Although ridership was low in the past, water transportation is seen as a necessary component of the plan due to emerging developments charted for the waterfront’s Harborside vicinity. Heritage Elements This section was brief and allowed participants to evaluate which strategy of heritage infrastructure should be pursued within the Master Plan. Three strategies were presented, designed to build upon each other. While the basic strategy dealt with the expanded Harborwalk and existing historic resources such as historic buildings and districts, participants were also eager to see indoor space such as a new museum or exhibition space within a new development, as described within the mid range and full range strategies. Participants were most interested in planning for a museum along the waterfront, but feasibility of museum development was presented in detail, allowing for a greater understanding of the difficult economic factors involved in development of a viable museum. Neighborhood and Transportation Improvements High priority:
Medium priority:
Low priority:
Participants favored neighborhood beautification-related components and major transportation mitigation projects as short-term elements of the Master Plan. Streetscape improvements along Bennington Street and at Maverick Gardens would help enhance vehicular and pedestrian corridors within East Boston. Meanwhile, major transportation improvements such as the truck bypass route and depression of the tunnel portal were marked as high priority in an effort to cast more importance on these projects whose size and complexity would mostly likely demand longer timeframes. Residential parking has been identified numerous times as a high priority component throughout the entire planning process. Although participants were presented with the case study of Jeffries Point, triangular intersection enhancements were not supported due to the community’s hesitation to alter its informal, illegal, yet convenient system of residential parking. Low priority items such as Orient Heights improvements were marked as such due to reluctance of some participants to interfere in the assessment of projects better evaluated by members of communities directly impacted by the changes. Economic Development High priority:
Medium priority:
Low priority:
Participants viewed the efforts of the Main Streets program as a valuable asset which should be expanded to other squares within the near future. Traffic and parking improvements were identified as integral components of the viability of existing commercial retail activity. Overall, participants favored economic development improvements within their unique neighborhood retail centers as opposed to large-scale commercial retail activity. Streetscape improvements at Central Square and Orient Heights, as well as ongoing plans for Maverick Square, were looked upon favorably within the short term of the Master Plan. Results and comments from the discussion illustrated hesitance toward any type of industrial use development due to potential negative impacts identified by residents. Conclusion: The workshop participants ideas were consistent with previous workshop results and continued community input. Waterfront development elements dominate the discussion of the future of East Boston. The options selected by the community illustrate the need to diversify the waterfront with marine industrial, cultural, residential, commercial, and open space uses. Workshop participants were adamant about improving the physical presence of residential and commercial areas, with streetscape improvements and traffic reconfigurations. While regional elements of industrial and commercial development were not seen as important, cultural attractions and water transportation activities were given high priority by most participants. First priority was accorded to waterfront improvements including Clippership Wharf, preferred options at Boston East and Liberty Plaza. Though lower priorities were given to recommendations for Massport Piers Project, it is possible the community did not rank these as highest priority because the public process for this project affords an opportunity for direct input on this development. Priority was given to elements which need to be developed; whereas a project which is ongoing was given less priority. |
