Why would a focused, mission-oriented, widely-known and respected non-profit like Courageous Sailing Center, with financial limitations, ever want to divert its limited resources and energies to take on the added expense (both financial and time-wise) of managing, curating, staffing, heating, maintaining and parking for high-tech theaters, wedding venues, art museum elements and even a “Great Hall” ( … three enclosed, year round assembly venues?)

Why, instead of enhancing the possibilities for true water access and the best Harbor views from the Boston Harborwalk’s “Head of the Harbor”, has this new proposal blocked that water access (on the 250th Anniversary of Bunker Hill) and those historic Harbor views of British landings from the Public’s Boston Harborwalk? 

Why, instead of open waterside classrooms with hands-on experience close to the water’s edge and breezes, are they encased in concrete and removed from a true water’s edge?

Why, in Boston where there exists fine Art Museums and Sciences Institutes does a Sailing Center need to spend millions of dollars building indoor high tech virtual maritime theaters and art space to “reveal” this very REAL “Boston Maritime Environment” at Pier 5? 

Why, in an era of climate change and resilience policies would a climate oriented non-profit want to demolish/rebuild/build a structure involving such major amounts of captured carbon? Was a Carbon Capture Audit done? The BPDA Engineers Report stated that existing structure was capable of restoration to Pedestrian load only, not a multi-story concrete building. 

Why were clearly anticipated impacts on traffic, parking, utility access, aging population, infrastructure and seawalls, ADA, EPA, Harborwalk view shed, toxic waste, air/water/light pollution, carbon footprint, climate resilience, etc. not considered simultaneously with the proposal’s development by either  the BPDA or the Proposing Developer? 

A successful and vibrant Courageous Sailing Center with full water accessibility to the public and the promised view easements from the Harborwalk is a key hope of the Community. 

The 12,500 constituents who share these concerns hope that a successful and vibrant Courageous Sailing Center with full water accessibility to the public and the promised view easements from the harborwalk. 

The Pier 5 Association is absolutely supportive of the Courageous Sailing mission, but not the bloated, bogged down program presented in this two pier presentation.  

11/11/24

Jeffrey Clark