Celebrating Our Heritage The following recommendations represent an incremental strategy to build a "heritage infrastructure" into the redevelopment of East Boston’s waterfront and adjacent historic neighborhoods. They are arrayed not as alternatives, but as a series of steps, from a minimum public investment approach to more substantial investment requirements, that will provide for incorporation of East Boston’s historic and cultural heritage into future public realm improvements and private development. East Boston Heritage Network Recommendations include: Use the Harborwalk as the main spine of pedestrian and vehicular circulation. Promote a series of incremental components toward an interpretive heritage infrastructure, which are described below: Heritage Trail Expansion (Minimum Investment) Step 1 - Develop interpretive signage and/or kiosk system along the Harborwalk at numerous points which would tell the history of East Boston’s waterfront. Step 2 - Designate a branch-route off the Harborwalk to pass through Eagle Hill Historic District and reconnect back to Harborwalk at Condor Street. A more elaborate branch-route would visit various East Boston historic places, especially those identified in the Boston 400 packet. Feasibility (+) Step 1 could be tied into the original design of the Harborwalk system, funded by private development occurring on the waterfront as well as public funds. (+) Step 2 is a low cost solution, similar to the Freedom Trail, which would highlight lesser known historic places.
Educational Interpretive Opportunities (Mid-range Investment) Create waterfront playgrounds at 4-5 harbor points with different heritage themes, illustrating different elements of East Boston’s history, providing some minor indoor space at one or more locations for teaching opportunities. Develop indoor exhibition space along the waterfront, which could serve as educational facilities for classrooms teaching local history, as part of new development public accommodation requirements, similar to the North End Historic Piers program.
Feasibility (*) Option 1 would allow unique educational opportunities, potentially involving the Schools Department for minor funding. (*) Option 2 would require private developers to allocate first-floor space for exhibition use by the community. A similar effort is being launched in the North End.
Museum/ Visitor Center (Full Range Investment) Develop small museum or interpretive facility with visitor services at Boston East as part of residential development. Develop medium sized museum at Boston East as main attraction adjacent to a working maritime industrial use. Develop a small museum or interpretive facility with visitor services at Pier One/Clippership Wharf as part of a joint public accommodation concession on ground floor of new development.
Feasibility (-) While strong community desire for museum exists, the ability to draw substantial attendance from other locations is untested. (-) The potential for draw would be enhanced by affiliation or connection to other users/uses (Piers Park, Freedom Trail, Harbor Islands National Park, etc.) (-) Feasibility for capital investment and operations will require mixed subsidy, including public funding support, private fundraising, land-write down, grants, below-market-rate financing, etc. (-) Success will require relatively experienced, sophisticated, and deep-pocketed sponsors. (+) Likely to work best if undertaken in small stages, emphasizing programming and interpretive exhibits first, with more ambitious built spaces following after the drawing power of the concept is better understood.
Conclusion: Base Case is most feasible Mid-range provides greater educational opportunity but will require public and/or private investment. Full range is the least feasible because of capital and operational demands which will require subsidies (public and/or private).
posted 3/19/99 |
