Two major organizations, Pier5.org and the Charlestown Navy Yard Committee for Pier 5,

strongly recommend that the BPDA obtain federal funds as soon as possible to demolish and

rebuild the existing Charlestown Navy Yard Pier 5.

There is potential opportunity to obtain funds if the BPDA, with community support, acts now

to request federal funds for this urgent project to protect the environment and safety of

Boston harbor.

In a report to the BPDA three years ago, Childs Engineering Corporation found that the piles

supporting Pier 5 were “completely worthless from a load carrying capacity standpoint”. In

addition, the report recommended that the problem be addressed within the next five years.

The costs of demolishing and rebuilding Pier 5 have distorted considerations of how Pier 5

might optimally be designed for the public benefit. These costs have forced a rush for

decisions without allowing thorough examination of design and use possibilities to have a

pier which is a destination to be enjoyed by everyone who visits Boston from around the

world.

Together, the BPDA plus the Charlestown community, have chance to seek federal funds. We

may not succeed, but we will never know if we do not vigorously make the case to obtain the

funds at this time. Both Pier5.org and the Committee for Pier 5 will be working to obtain the

support of our elected officials for the BPDA to make this request.

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Reasons for community organizations to support Bob Markel’s efforts to obtain funds to

demolish and rebuild Per 5:

This necessary step does not preclude each organization from advocating for their Pier 5 vision.

The Childs Engineering Corporation study is the most recent, most professional, and most cost

accurate document we have to use as a basis to request federal funds.

The timeline to obtain earmark funds is very short. If we do not act now, we will give up without

ever knowing if success was possible.

The short timeline prevents uniting around a different, or more complicated, common goal that

both community organizations might support. We do not have time or means to obtain, for

example, what is needed to ask for a comprehensive Charlestown climate resiliency plan.

Between the two organizations, the community has power to connect with important elected

officials who might support this effort.