Pier 5: Questions and Requests for Documents and Responses

Date: Wed, Mar 26, 2025 at 2:58 PM
Subject: Pier 5: Questions and Requests for Documents and Responses

Dear BPDA,

I am a member of Pier 5 Association, a community-based 501(c) which submitted a RFP proposal for the restoration of Pier 5, with suggested improvements for a public interactive, educational and historic, climate resilient waterfront center for all people, young and old, derived from our many meetings, events, in-community and online interactions with neighbors. We represent the thousands of voices who live in this community that has the highest population density, with more low income residents per capita and more children per capita than any other Boston neighborhood. We have one of the lowest greenspace, and lowest tree canopy which will be the lowest soon after the City’s unfathomable destruction of our urban forest in the public housing development, on soon to be desecrated 27 acres.

Our residents suffer high asthma rates, cardiac and respiratory disease, and recently increased heat stroke. Bunker Hill Housing, the fourth largest public housing in teh Nation, and largest in New England, is a mere few blocks away, with residents who will have inadequate recreation space as that population almost triples in size.

Charlestown residents want a public Pier 5 park for passive recreation and reflection, and for the preservation of this priceless, non-fungible historic site with unrivaled Head of the Harbor views of the Boston Harbor Islands, the City, and the Old North Church to Bunker Hill along the Harborwalk, which was and is preserved for the public appreciation of Boston Harbor (not for “some” but for all of the public – open, and accessible for ALL to enjoy).

For over three decades, the public has advocated for a public Pier 5 for public use. Instead the BPDA intentionally blighted the pier, refused to do simple maintenance which led to its demise, restricted public access, as the BPDA repeatedly presented proposals for buildings which the public, and Conservation Law Foundation rejected.

About the Boston Harborwalk

The Boston Harborwalk is a nearly 40-mile public waterfront walkway that winds through Boston’s waterfront neighborhoods, stretching from Chelsea Creek to the Neponset River, through East Boston, Charlestown, North End, Downtown, Fort Point, South Boston and Dorchester. It is designed to connect the public to Boston Harbor and link the water’s edge to the city’s open space network. The Harborwalk offers a variety of experiences, public amenities, and points of interest. Get out there and explore them all!

See Boston Commissioner of Inspectional Services Tania Del Rio advocating for a public park at Pier 5:
https://youtu.be/EeMvy_goqGQ

Pier 5 in the Charlestown Navy Yard is the first settlement, the birthplace of Boston, where John Winthrop landed in 1630, almost 400 years ago. In this 250th Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, a year when these sights and the experiences are important to remember, while standing at the water’s edge, seeing and feeling what generations before felt when they created a democracy and preserved it through two World Wars and every event since.

Millions of tourists will arrive in Boston. The National Park Service is investing millions of dollars for a new NPS Charlestown Navy Yard Welcome Center, two piers away to attract even more visitors, enriching the public’s knowledge of our history.

Please see National Park Service Superintendent Michael Creasey

These sights and experiences are more meaningful and critical to preserve, for our history is the birthplace of the American Revolution. There is no other place on Planet Earth where there was the first battle for American Democracy which changed the course of history, with sightlines of where Paul Revere rowed to warn the Patriots that “The British are Coming!” THIS is the first page of the story of the American fight for freedom from tyranny.
Learn about Paul Revere: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/videos/paul-reveres-ride

America does not have tourist attractions like castles, however millions of tourists arrive in Charlestown annually to see the expanse of the Boston Harbor and the City of Boston skyline, visit the USS Constitution, climb the steps to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument, and visit our historic community. Charlestown offers the American history experience from our shores to the first monument in our country.

Charlestown is an outdoor museum of views. Residents and visitors experience American history just by being here. It is a spiritual and moving experience, awakening understanding and appreciation of the courage of common people who stood for the greater good, not for the profit of a few – at a cost to the many. The Patriots gave their lives for our life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. We must preserve all three. We must remind ourselves and the world for generations to come what is possible when citizens band together for their rights.

Would anyone conceive of blocking the public access and view to the Battlefields of Concord and Lexington?

https://historythings.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/20150409_062901_North-Bridge-Battle-Commemo.jpg

Charlestown residents are reviewing the other two Pier 5 proposals:
LaGasse Marina which privatizes the watersheet, obliterates the views and the sky, and demolishes Pier 5, destroying this public amenity, enriching a private marina by dockage fees from mega yachts owned by oligarchs and billionaires, and insulting our heritage. (LaGasse manages East Boston, Charlestown, North End, Waterfront, and Seaport marinas, controlling a critical waterfront Boston asset)

At the end of Pier 6, there is a designated public viewing area that is completely obliterated by LaGasse docked megayachts which offer zero public amenity, violating the public viewing access.

The Courageous Sailing massive proposal destroys the views from the Harborwalk with an oversized structure which ignores public comments, and presents structural deprivation and obstruction of the required public use and enjoyment. The “inlet” along the Harborwalk seems like a flood risk, a destabilizer of the Flagship slurry wall, and a poor “tone deaf” gesture to community input.

Courageous Sailing Proposal 1 became bigger, ignoring public comments:

Became THIS:

Is this 35 feet plus the roof? What is the space for and who does it serve?
Courageous Sailing season is mostly June to September when school is on break, with some activity from late April until October except for the hardy, winter “frostbiters” who sail when the Boston Harbor is not frozen.

Courageous Sailing, located in the Charlestown Navy Yard on Boston Harbor, serves a diverse community of sailors. In their youth programs, they engage over 400 youth annually from the Boston area, with programs operating at both their Charlestown and Jamaica Pond locations.

What is the purpose of this enormous building?

The Pier 5 Association proposal, to my knowledge, has not been considered by the BPDA nor made public (which I do not understand since the other two proposals were considered and made public. When was the P5A proposal opened and evaluated, and rejected, and by whom? )

The Charlestown population is growing annually from 20,000 residents, and forecasted to double in size.

Please post P5A RFP submission on the BPDA website for public viewing.

See attached.

Click to access 20240719Pier-5-Draft-RFP.pdf

https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2021/12/08/pier-5-boston

Public Celebrations on Pier 5:

https://youtu.be/zrHZ3gafWww

Over 7,732 Letters & Reports for
Just Green Accountable Development

https://harborpark.org/2025/01/14/pier-5-chronology/

Additionally, please post the financial information for Courageous Sailing.
I am referring to the following sections of Courageous’ proposal that were withheld from BPDA’s release:

· “Section 03 Financial Submission”

· “Section 03 Financial Submission / Disclosures”

· “Section 04 Appendix /

Provided as Separate Document /

o Courageous Formation and Financial Documents

o Project Financial Workbook

o Price Proposal

o Submission Checklist”

Without this information, the public cannot assess the merits, or lack thereof, of the Pier 5 proposal, nor be aware that Pier 5 Association submitted a proposal which represents the community wants, needs and concerns.

I will appreciate a prompt response to this request for information and documents so we may continue with our due diligence on behalf of and with concerned Charlestown residents seeking two waterfront acres of desperately needed open green and blue recreation space in a community where 288 century-old trees are currently being destroyed and 15 acres of open greenspace is being built upon creating massive heat islands.

I have attached a letter which relates to the BPDA process, after a BPDA Hearing at the City Council yesterday. I concur that many answers are required. Some relate to Pier 5, so please consider this letter and respond?