From: “Sherrie S. Cutler A.I.A.” <sscutler@ecodesign.com>

Subject: Pier 5 meeting on July 24 should be postponed by the BPDA

Date: July 15, 2025 at 10:48:34 PM EDT

To: Benjamin.Merker@boston.gov

To: BPDA re Pier 5 meeting on July 24

Hello Ben,

The Pier 5 meeting on July 24 should be postponed by the BPDA.  As in the past, the BPDA has selected a peak vacation time for a high controversy meeting regarding our Navy Yard and Pier 5 –– a time when our community is most likely to be involved with family, elsewhere and/or otherwise distracted from the serious impacts of these proposals.

The Community needs time for people to study the proposal impacts, as some in the Community already have and as the BPDA should have.  There is well documented analysis that the actual height of the massive Courageous Sailing Center (CSC) proposal is 60′-0” BCB to 68’-6” in height (as opposed to 35’). This 60′-0” BCB to 68’-6” height includes the structure’s additional 5′ height raise of the new ground floor level, plus parapets, mechanical and shafts.  Without “to scale” Elevations, these impacts have been obscured by the select angles of perspective illustrations.  These Elevations were previously requested from the proposer, but were not provided.

Some of us have already written letters to the proposers about our concerns, so these letters should be shared.  Letters to Courageous express concern that the now greatly expanded CSC Program far exceeds the true “water dependent” needs of any Sailing Center ––with three enclosed, year round assembly venues!  The height, mass, and activity resulting from these program expansions are clearly evident.  The traffic, parking, utility access, aging Navy Yard infrastructure and seawalls, ADA, EPA, Harborwalk view shed, toxic waste, air/water/light pollution, carbon footprint, climate resilience, etc. are all impacts to be considered.

These same impacts must be considered with the Charlestown Marina proposal. The Marina impacts will include the number and locations of “Mega-Yachts” with their utility requirements, waste disposal, generator exhaust, and blockage of the views of the central Harbor and City from the Harborwalk..  Also important: the lack of any recognition of historic Pier 5 after its demolition.  Memorialization of Pier 5 and its historic place in the Navy Yard is possible, even in this proposal ––but no attempt has been made to incorporate history, memorialization or Community’s Harborside hopes and needs.

There is clearly much left unconsidered by both the BPDA and the Proposing Developers and now must be studied by the community itself …in lieu of proper Environmental Impact Statements by the responsible parties.  This is not information that can be gathered and considered responsibly in a quick one-off holiday time Zoom meeting.  This meeting must be be postponed until at least after mid-Sept and reformatted to accommodate the breadth of the proposal’s impacts.

Sherrie S. Cutler, A.I.A.

sscutler@ECODESIGN.com

970-948-8822