BREAKING NEWS 1/17/06

On Tuesday, January 17, 2006, at a public meeting of the Fort Point Advisory Committee, the Boston Redevelopment Authority presented a modified 100-Acre plan including community's proposed recreational park parcel in the heart of the District, thereby providing a greenspace with public access to the Fort Point Channel.
Developing story...

click here to view enlargement
click here to download modified 100-Acre plan from BRA website

 

PLANNING TIMELINE

The following timeline is presented to show the evolution and progress of Fort Point greenspace planning, from 1997 - 2006.

From years 1997-2000 many exciting steps were taken, as evidenced in the Boston Redevelopment Authority South Boston Public Realm Plan, to create a vital public realm plan for the Fort Point neighborhood. In 2000, as public attention shifted away from the public realm planning effort, the BRA drafted a South Boston Municipal Harbor Plan which dramatically reduced Fort Point's greenspace program.

In 2000, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA), upon reviewing the Municipal Harbor Plan, called on the BRA to improve and resubmit its plan for the Fort Point area. In response, the BRA formed a "Fort Point Working Group" to collaborate on an improved plan.

Between 2001 and 2005, the Boston Redevelopment Authority hosted fifty three (53) public planning meetings and, in February 2004, hosted a Fort Point Community Open Space Planning Charrette.

Publication

  Date

pre-1997

In 1997, having convened dozens of meetings of a mayoral-appointed Waterfront Committee, the Boston Redevelopment Authority published a "South Boston Waterfront Master Plan Interim Report". This plan had been developed during a period in which proposals for a Football Stadium and Megaplex on the waterfront were also being considered. The stadium and megaplex proposals were ultimately rejected in favor of a standalone convention center.

The BRA’s 1997 draft master plan was the subject of much critique, inside and outside of the Fort Point community.

For one, the Waterfront Committee’s plan envisioned that Fort Point would evolve as a highly commercial district. At this time, the concept of an "urban neighborhood" was not targetted for this area. In fact, the word "neighborhood" was barely evident in the draft plan produced by the South Boston Waterfront Committee.

Shown: BRA South Boston Master Plan Interim Report, 1997

source: scanned to SAND archive

1997
SAND is founded by Fort Point residents, business owners and interested stakeholders.
  SAND was founded in 1997 by community members who recognized the potential of the South Boston Waterfront to evolve as an urban neighborhood, with Fort Point at the core of urban neighborhood planning. In late 1997, SAND began advocating for neighborhood planning ideals.

1998-1999

In response to demand from interested stakeholders for more involvement in the planning of the waterfront, the BRA announced that it would host a public and highly inclusive process for completing the next draft of the South Boston Waterfront Master Plan (to be later known as the "South Boston Public Realm Plan").

In early 1998, SAND continued its public realm planning initiative -- drafting plans which would suit the growth of an urban neighborhood rather than a commercial district. In January 1998, SAND presented its early set of planning principles to the Planning Director of the Boston Redevelopment Authority and began to raise awareness through a public visibility campaign.

SAND engaged with a number of organizations, including the Conservation Law Foundation, the Boston Society of Architects, the Boston Natural Areas Fund, the Boston Harbor Association, Adaptive Environments and the Boston Preservation Alliance, to develop advanced concepts for the area's public realm. To suit the ideal of an urban neighborhood, greenspace was critically necessary for recreation, public access to the Fort Point Channel and Boston Harbor, and providing connections between outlying areas.

In April 1998, SAND hosted a Fort Point Community greenspace planning charrette.

The Boston Society of Architects Seaport Focus Team, working in collaboration with SAND members, drafted a comprehensive greenspace plan (at left).

In June of 1998, the BRA held a Seaport Planning forum, to coalesce these and other concepts into a well-defined master plan.

Shown: BSA greensplace presentation,
June 1998

source: BSA Website

1997-1999

Boston Redevelopment Authority Seaport Public Realm Plan

The promenade and recreational parkspace as seen here were adapted from earlier concepts, as the BRA’s urban design consulting team of Cooper, Robertson and Partners worked over two years, through hundreds of Public Realm Plan meetings and with input from hundreds of stakeholders, to develop a comprehensive vision of the Seaport's public realm and master plan.

shown: Final PRP circa 1999

source: Public Realm Plan photo

1999-2000

Municipal Harbor Plan

In 1999, the Boston Redevelopment Authority appointed an Advisory Committee to advise on the drafting of a Municipal Harbor Plan (MHP). The purpose of the MHP was to officially receive State approval for the City’s waterfront plans.

Meetings of the MHP Advisory Committee were mainly held during working hours at City Hall. Whenever possible, community members and representatives continued to advocate for public realm ideals at these meetings.

In 2000, the BRA submitted a draft of its Municipal Harbor Plan to the State Executive Office of Environmental Affairs (EOEA) for approval.

The Fort Point greenspace plan as proposed in the draft Municipal Harbor Plan was significantly degraded from the greenspace proposed in the earlier Public Realm Plan.

SAND registered a comment letter with EOEA during the official public comment period in response to the BRA’s MHP draft — noting the degradation in the quantity and quality of greenspace planned for the Fort Point neighborhood.

Upon consideration of the BRA's draft Municipal Harbor Plan and public comments, the EOEA gave conditional approval to the BRA’s MHP but further stipulated that the Fort Point 100 Acres section of the plan required more detailed analysis and review.

Shown: MHP/BRA to EOEA, 2000

Fort Point Community
public advocacy
continues

2001-present

In and out of planning meetings, Fort Point community members continued to raise awareness regarding the planning of Fort Point greenspace.

One notable project hilighted Fort Point's deficit of parks, as community members unrolled a field of green grass across the sidewalk of the Summer Street bridge.

Click here to read about this project.

source: photo by Bill Greene, Boston Globe Staff, 2001

21 Meetings
Fort Point Working Group
 

2001-2002

In order to move the Municipal Harbor Plan forward (as directed by the State Environmental Affairs Office), the BRA formed a "Fort Point Working Group" to advise the BRA in the drafting of a "Fort Point 100 Acres Plan" which would eventually be submitted to the State as an addendum to the Municipal Harbor Plan.

The majority of Fort Point Working Group meetings focused on public realm, open space, streets, sidewalks, traffic and greenspace.

During this period, Gillette and the US Postal Service (USPS) worked privately with the BRA to develop a public realm plan and streetscape plan. The BRA adopted the privately drafted plan (released publicly in 2002, as seen below), with no modifications based on feedback registered by community representatives attending the 21 public meetings.

Fort Point Community
public advocacy
continues
 

2001-2002

SAND members and advocates from the Fort Point community attended and participated in every Fort Point Working Group meeting.

During these public meetings, community representatives continually and consistently registered ideals for Fort Point's public realm. Click here to read SAND's presentation to the Working Group.

 

2002

In 2002, the BRA appointed a Fort Point Advisory Committee comprised of former members of the Fort Point Working Group and other interested stakeholders.

Shown: The Gillette/USPS plan as adopted by the BRA, presented in 2002 to the newly formed Fort Point Advisory Committee after 20+ meetings of the Fort Point Working Group.

available on BRA website (download 2002)

Fort Point Community
public advocacy
continues

2002

Fort Point Community members continued to advocate for a combined recreational parkspace and access to the Fort Point Channel, attending and participating in every Fort Point Advisory Committee meeting.

Shown: Recreational park and access to Fort Point Channel as called for by community members on Fort Point Advisory Committee.

26 Meetings
Fort Point Advisory Committee

 

2002-2004

The vast majority of Fort Point Advisory Committee meetings continued to focus on public realm, open space, streets, sidewalks, traffic and greenspace. (Fewer than six meetings during this two year period discussed other issues, for example land use, height and density).

Community members consistently attended and advocated for a recreational park in the heart of Fort Point, with a signature connection from A Street to the Fort Point Channel, and a clear series of greenspace connections to the greater South Boston Waterfront and outlying neighborhoods. Despite the public advocacy effort during these meetings, no changes were adopted by the BRA in response to feedback.

 

January 2004

Shown: Boston Redevelopment Authority plan after 20+ planning meetings of the Fort Point Advisory Committee.

available on BRA website (download 2004)

 

February 2004

In February 2004, the Boston Redevelopment Authority hosted a Fort Point Community Open Space Planning Charrette. Approximately 60 residents, property owners and stakeholders attended.

Shown: Team 1 concepts

As evidenced by this team and the other teams working independently at the charrette, the one obvious and strikingly common ideal produced was a recreational park in the heart of Fort Point with a signature connection from A Street to the Fort Point Channel.

available on BRA website

 

February 2004

Fort Point Community Open Space Planning Charrette hosted by Boston Redevelopment Authority

Shown: Team 2 concepts, presented by members of Fort Point community

This concept included two tennis courts.

available on BRA website

 

February 2004

Fort Point Community Open Space Planning Charrette hosted by Boston Redevelopment Authority

The shape of this park was defined by the Central Artery Tunnel section, which limits development height.

Shown: Team 3 concepts, presented by members of Fort Point community

available on BRA website

February 2004

Fort Point Community Open Space Planning Charrette hosted by Boston Redevelopment Authority

Shown: Team 4 concepts presented by representatives of the Boston Society of Architects and Central Artery Business Committee

Photo: courtesy of BRA
available on BRA website

 

February 2004

Fort Point Community Open Space Planning Charrette hosted by Boston Redevelopment Authority

Shown: Team 5 concepts, presented by members of Fort Point community

available on BRA website

August 2004 - April 2005
no public meetings

 

August 2004 - April 2005

Between August 2004 and April 2005, the BRA met privately with representatives of Gillette, USPS, Boston Wharf Co. and Beacon Capital Partners to draft a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between these parties to codify an agreement regarding the height, density and land use of Fort Point’s acres.

No public meetings were held during this period, nor (despite repeated requests during this period) were small property owners or stakeholders allowed to read or review the privately drafted MOU.

BRA assurances were made that private height, density and land use negotiations would result in an improved public realm.

Subsequent to this year of private discussions, in May of 2005 the BRA presented its "100 Acres" greenspace plan, assuring audiences and the media that it reflected feedback from the many public planning meetings and community greenspace charrette. (June 2005 illustration provided below).

May 2005 to August 2005
7 Meetings
Fort Point Advisory Committee
 

May 2005-August 2005

No changes advocated by Fort Point Advisory Committee were adopted by BRA during this period.

In August 2005, the Chairman of the Fort Point Advisory Committee -- speaking on behalf of the Commitee and with no dissenting opinion -- informed the BRA that the "100 Acres" plan was unworkable, and would need revision to reflect Advisory Committee concerns registered.

Click here for additional SAND notes from this meeting -- a critical point in the history of Fort Point open space planning.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority agreed that the 100 Acres plan required revision — with consideration of past input from the Advisory Committee and interested stakeholders.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is expected to report back to the Fort Point Advisory Committee in late 2005.

  ANALYSIS OF PROGRESS  
 

BRA Plan
January 2002

available on BRA website (download 2002)

 

BRA Plan
January 2004

available on BRA website (download 2004)

 

BRA Plan
June 2005

Shown: The Boston Redevelopment Authority greenspace plan for Fort Point 100 Acres, resulting from 45 BRA-hosted planning meetings of the Fort Point Working Group and Fort Point Advisory Committee, a six hour Fort Point Community Open Planning Charrette hosted by the BRA in February 2004, and a year (Summer '04 - Summer '05) of private negotiations between the BRA and large-property owners.

source: Boston Globe, June 15, 2005

  UPDATE 2006

BRA Plan
January 2006

available on BRA website (download 2006)

Since 1997, the Fort Point community has represented a clear and consistent interest in having a centralized, signature recreational park and clear greenspace pathways hilighting access to the Fort Point Channel — ideals also supported by the Boston Society of Architects and the BRA’s hired planning team of Cooper Robertson and Partners, published in the BRA’s South Boston Waterfront Public Realm Plan of 1999. Neither of these responsible urban planning principles have been integrated despite over eight years of planning.

The same design ideals were clearly expressed by a large number of Fort Point community members, residents and property owners at the BRA-hosted “Fort Point Community Open Space Charrette” in February 2004 — in response to the BRA/Gillette/USPS greenspace plan presented as a basis for the charrette designs.

Shown below: BRA notes from Fort Point Community Open Space Charrette of 2004
source: BRA / February 2004 notes.

The following items are from the SAND news page, circa October 2005:

YOU DECIDE!
BRA 100-Acres Plan
 
Fort Point Community Plan

DID YOU KNOW THAT THE BRA’s 100-ACRES PLAN PROPOSES A NEW WALL OF OFFICE BUILDINGS BETWEEN A STREET AND THE FORT POINT CHANNEL?

CLICK IMAGES TO VIEW!

 
DID YOU KNOW THAT BETWEEN 2002 AND 2005, THE BRA HOSTED FIFTY THREE MEETINGS AND A COMMUNITY CHARRETTE REGARDING FORT POINT’S OPEN SPACE PLAN, YET MADE NO CHANGES TO THE ORIGINAL PLAN IN RESPONSE?  

 

BREAKING NEWS 1/17/06

On Tuesday, January 17, 2006, at a public meeting of the Fort Point Advisory Committee, the Boston Redevelopment Authority presented a modified 100-Acre plan including community's proposed recreational park parcel in the heart of the District, thereby providing a greenspace with public access to the Fort Point Channel.
Developing story...

click here to view enlargement
click here to download modified 100-Acre plan from BRA website

 

 


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