For Public Art meeting, and August
monthly meeting 5:15 to 8 P.M.
Attending: Vinny Ieni, Nancei Radicchi, Maddy
McComiskey, Leigh Hall, Robertson Ward, Gail Miller, Susan Voloshin, Karyl Stoia (Friends
of Belle Isle), Ana Maria Gomez, Loretta Pardi, Carmella Ferrante, Theresa Czerepica,
Brian Palm (Boston Harbor Association), Adam Holbrook (Channel Fish), Fran Riley, Terry
Scheller (Bugatti Leather Goods), Pat Fidler, Tomasa Brenes, Juana Borja Mejia, Woody
Dorsey and B. Amore (Kokoro Carvers) and Stacey Chacker (NOAH).
Public Art Planning for the Urban Wild: B. Amore
and Woody Dorsey (Kokoro Carvers) attended to present the schematic plan, get feedback and
discuss text.
Slide Show: B. and Woody showed slides – 1) of
site, and what they had observed there. They pointed out artifacts from the site that that
they saved to perhaps incorporate into the public art piece; and 2) of the day that they
were on-site at the Urban Wild with cranes removing the rocks, the chain, anchor, the
remnants of the boat in the water, etc.
Funding: As mentioned at our last meeting, the Browne
Fund is funding an additional $23,500. B. pointed out the boat that they will be
preserving – cast in bronze.
Presentation of Model: B. and Woody presented a model
of the artwork, laid on top of a scaled version of the plan. The rocks, to be sandblasted
with the seal of East Boston and text, will be set in the shape of a boat (approximately
29’ by 15’), right off of the path in the left hand area of the site. It will be
on compacted gravel (37’ by 23’); it will have a 4’ parameter around the
rocks, and access to get into the rock area. This is all in accordance with the American
Disability’s Act – that requires wheelchair (and other) accessibility. The
entire project is designed to be low maintenance.
Discussion: Participants asked/made the following
questions/comments:
Fran would to preserve the piece of wood shown in
slides. B. said it was deteriorating, but could be cast in bronze. But, she is not sure
there is enough money for this extra expense.
Terry would like rocks to look more like a boat –
(e.g. pile some on each other (kids like to climb), with the chain and anchor out front).
B. pointed out from a safety perspective they wouldn’t be able to pile to rocks.
Woody said that it was a good idea to accentuate the boat – putting different heights
of rocks – with a low flatter one in the back. However, the chain is rough, and will
need to be put in a spot where people won’t climb on it.
What stories should on the rocks? How should
Artists go about collecting them?
Artists want to make a booklet, video, and/or
pamphlet (depending on funds available) on the history. Woody describes that each rock
will have a short phrase – basically the title of a chapter. The booklet would
provide more information on the subject introduced on the rocks. Visitors and schools
could use it to learn more. B. will be videoing individuals during the next couple weeks.
Discussion: Participants asked/made the
following questions/comments:
Fran said that there are a lot of historical photos of
the Creek from the 1800’s that the
artists could look at – at MIT, Harvard, Copley
Library, and said that Frank Campe has some. Fran will contact Frank to see if he has
photos he could lend. Ana Maria did research a couple of years ago at Copley and will see
what she has.
Ideas for history: 1) Explosion/fire at Cabot Paint
many years; 2) historical use of the docks; 3) Clipperships (though these were not made on
the Chelsea Creek); 4) Natural history – salt marshes, etc.; 5) Revolutionary battle;
6) Industrial history; 7) Spice trade – Slade’s Mill; 8) Block and Tackle shops;
9) Condo Iron Foundry – 1880’s; 10) Immigration history; 11) Ferries (though
never were on Creek); 12) Local personal histories (e.g. I swam here as a kid); 13)
Activism history – with link to CCAG.
Someone asked what are we concentrating on for the
history – all of East Boston, or just the area. This will be decided later. Nancei said that she would like to see a cohesive theme.
Next steps: B. suggested a sub-committee to help
artists review the information submitted and to decide what to put on the rocks. The
following volunteered: Maddy, Leigh, Nancei, Susan, Ana Maria, Vinny and Pat. B. will set
up meeting.
June Meeting minutes
were accepted.
Updates/other business:
Meridian Street Bridge – dumping update. Many
officials looked into this issue. Steve Spencer at Mass DEP (617-556-1086) informed us
that DEP investigated and decided they couldn’t pursue a case due to lack of
evidence. They stated that the material ended up at bottom of Creek and that it would be
difficult to determine a reportable release. CCAG decided to not further pursue this
issued.
To report environmental violations to the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, call their customer call center 888-372-7341 and
National Response Center 800-424-8802 (24 hour spill reporting line).
There have been reports of Harbor porpoises and seals
in the Chelsea River!
Hess: Trust for Public Land (TPL) is in the
process of setting up a meeting with Hess to see if they will sell TPL an option on the
land on the behalf of TPL/NOAH/CCAG.
Bronx "Creating Greener Communities"
Conference – Susan, Maddy, Carmella, Ana Maria, Loretta, Stacey, Aaron and Rosie
attended. Susan and Loretta summarized what we learned: * Tree planting helps maintain the
ozone layer and air quality, and provide shade and cooling; * We visited the South Bronx,
which has been badly dumped on (they have sewerage plant, trash transfer stations, etc)
and has many similarities to Chelsea Creek area. Like us, they have been working to
improve the environment. Their campaign is called "Greening for Breathing". They
keep going ahead even though they face obstacles like new highways; * For every old tree
that is cut down, 25 new young trees are needed to affect air quality in the same way. *
Making environmental improvement is a slow process…but in the South Bronx they
learned that it does improve air quality and help lower asthma attack rates. Susan did
research, and reported that East Boston has the lowest number of street trees than any
other Boston neighborhood. It would be good to do a tree survey in East Boston.
Gail reported that there is a proposed mall for part of
Suffolk Downs that would destroy 50-75 large pine trees. She has suggested that they keep
the trees and incorporate into the parking lot. Stacey wrote to Revere Mayor on behalf of
EB-CCAG asking them to fight to preserve the trees. Gail asked others to contact Revere
Mayor.
An anonymous donor has given $215,000 this year for
CCAG. This includes $75,000 for Urban Wild construction; $55,000 for Mill Creek
improvements; and $85,000 for staff at NOAH and Chelsea Greenspace to continue organizing,
a youth program and programming for the Urban Wild/River. CCAG will be hiring an
additional staff person in February or March, and plans to launch an East Boston CCAG
youth program in July (Chelsea has one already). The youth crews would do some joint work,
and would also do field ecological studies working with Urban Ecology Institute.
Shore Plaza has asked us if we could have a table at
event they’re having on August 23rd – 12 to 5 P.M. As it is the same
day as the Urban Wild groundbreaking (and a workday), no one volunteered.
Stacey asked if EB-CCAG would like to do a "Year
in Review" as we did last August to see where we are with our projects. It was agreed
that this is a good idea. We will try to do in October.
CCAG and Urban Ecology Institute are submitting two
applications for technical assistance – both to the federal government– one to
the Interagency Working Group for Environmental Justice and the National Parks Service
River, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program.
DPW Yard - Stacey and Vinny wrote a
letter, on behalf of EB-CCAG, to the Commissioner to thank him for what they’ve done
so far and to remind him of his other commitments. We also clarified that EB-CCAG was not
in existence when certain community members opposed re-building the DPW yard in its
current site. We stated that, if approved by EB-CCAG, we would provide an endorsement
letter for this project at present.
Marine Debris Removal Program – The Boston Harbor
Assn: Brian explained that they got a grant to remove debris from the Harbor and would
like to identify some problem spots in the Chelsea River. They are working with City of
Boston, MassPort, Eastern Minerals, and Coastal Zone Management to do this. They will only
be able to remove debris that they can get to in a boat. The following places were
recommended: 1) Mary O’Malley Park – by the piers; 2) The cove area between the
Condor Street Urban Wild and the Hess site; 3) By the Condor Street Urban Wild and the DPW
yard (during low tide). ; 4) By the Meridian Street Bridge – the old pilings near
Fitzgeralds’ Boat Yard (TBHA will not be able to remove pilings). Brian said that if
anyone else had other spots to contact him at (617) 482-1722 or at mail@tbha.org.
Condor Street Urban Wild:
Construction update: Parks Dept. plans on issuing the
Notice to Proceed to Webster Engineering today to get construction underway. They will
start with the upland work and then move on to the water work once they have all permits
needed.
Groundbreaking ceremony on August 23rd at
1:30 p.m. We are co-sponsoring this event. Lucy & Ana Maria will speak for EB-CCAG.
Stacey will speak for NOAH. Finally it’s happening!!!
Parks Dept has hired a new Urban Wild Project
Coordinator to replace Priya.
Chelsea Creek Visioning:
The Plan/report should be completed by
September/October. We will then need to figure out how to distribute/use, etc.
We will hold a joint meeting with Chelsea on Thursday,
September 5th to learn about/discuss Designated Port Area (DPA) Master Planning
process. We will discuss the pros and cons of this process and whether this is something
we’d like to advocate for the Chelsea River.
Meeting Schedule:
We are canceling our Sept. 11th meeting.
In addition to Sept. 5th’s meeting w/
Chelsea, we will need another meeting with the Artists for the Urban Wild. Due to the
Artists difficult schedule, all agreed that Stacey should look for a date in September
that works for them.
Proposed EB-CCAG 2002 meeting schedule
EB-CCAG 2002 meeting schedule is second Wednesdays
throughout the year, unless otherwise noted.
Meetings will be at the Harborside Community Center,
312 Border St, unless otherwise noted.
September 5th
September 24th
October 9th
November 13th
December 11th
Minutes submitted by Stacey Chacker. Call 569-0059
x13 with corrections or additions.
