Charlestown Navy Yard Concerned Citizens
22 December 2010
Mr. Kairos Shen
Chief Planner, Boston Redevelopment Authority
One City Hall Plaza, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02201-1007
Re: “Navy Yard ‘Head of Harbor’ Pier 5 – BRA RFP
Dear Mr. Shen:
We are writing as a group of concerned citizens to formally request that you, as Boston’s
Chief Planner, become aware of our vision for the “Highest and Best Use” for the
Charlestown Navy Yard’s Historic Landmark “Head of the Harbor Pier 5” — a visual
gateway to Boston by air and sea; and consider it in the context of current plans for this
location.
We believe that it is time for a new direction for the overall Navy Yard in light of recent
studies on opportunities of Green Technology, “Boston Sea Level Rise”, the Mayor’s
“2030 Initiative”, the Governor’s Global Warming Solutions Act, DOER MPG Rating,
recovery challenges, stimulus, and community needs. We see obsolescence in the
waterfront plan that is now over a quarter of a century old. Do you, as chief planner,
see our community as a bedroom community or as a part of a new technology economy
for Boston and Massachusetts?
Many concerned citizens of Charlestown are of the opinion that now, during this
economic hiatus, is the time to re-engage the City of Boston’s upper levels of
professional planning in the re-imagining of our rapidly evolving Charlestown Navy Yard
Community. Although the Community wants to be good stewards and has many
thoughtful ideas for what are appropriate uses for this emblematic site on our Boston
Harbor, we do not have the ability to form them into a Vision that can be understood and
realized. For this we need your help and engagement. We also will be working with our
several community groups to gain focus and consensus on this matter in coming weeks.
The attached memorandum Navy Yard ‘Head of Harbor’ Pier 5 – BRA RFP: 11/17/10
Meeting Memo realistically presents what our Community sees as problems, what we
“want” and “don’t want”, and a clear feasible program of Green Technology and mixed
uses open to the public that we would like to see. The potential exists to facilitate
funding and creation of a Maritime Research Station, Museum and Park, Marine
Educational Program, Alternative Energy field prototype (including tidal lift), Boston R &
D exhibition and water access.
We in the Charlestown community feel there are powerful long term economic and
social benefits to Boston, to the State, and New England that would be derived from
529 Main St., Suite 103, Charlestown, MA o2129
attracting vibrant 21st Century growth businesses, such as Green Technology R & D, to
our Navy Yard ‘Head of the Harbor’ Pier 5. There is much agreement among us, but we
are not professional planners and, of course, have no authority to implement nor the
ability to inspire a City. We want you to be aware of a sentiment that has broad support
in our community for a “higher end use” of Pier 5 and a desire that the resource that is
Pier 5 not be lost for the future. We need guidance as to how we can achieve what is
best for the citizens of Boston and the State in maximizing the special attributes and
public potential of this unique historic site for the benefit of all.
We will continue to work with fellow residents and community groups in the coming
weeks and fear that the planning process may ignore these higher uses by inadequately
providing opportunity for these ideas to be refined in the time frame of proposals
currently being solicited for the pier.
Please come and help us understand your Vision for the Navy Yard waterfront in the 21st
century and how the wishes of the community can be best integrated into that Vision.
Sincerely,
Charlestown Navy Yard Concerned Citizens (CNYCC)
Elizabeth Andrews
Barbara Babin
Keith Batchelder
Anne Beard
Jack Boyle
Dodie Boyle
James Brogan
Edward Cardinali
Joan Carr
Elizabeth Chow
Sherrie Cutler
Robert Donahue
Sherry Grancey
Jean Hackett
Chris Nicodemus
Joanne Spillane