Boston is undergoing unprecedented change these days (more accurately called a Land War), and the Fenway is no exception. We have provided this web site as a resource on a the few of the issues confronting our neighborhood. So have a look, become informed, and get involved.
Topics
Boylston Square Proposal · Red Sox Megaplex Proposal · Transportation · Citizen Participation
Millennium's Boylston Square Proposal
This proposal now appears to be on life-support, if not dead all together. According to Tom Keane [1],"the stake that ultimately killed Millennium's deal was economics. It costs more to construct a building on thin air than it does on land. . But the Turnpike Authority made that difficult situation dramatically worse by demanding that Millennium pay it a huge premium of about $20 million for the air rights."Background: With a contractual agreement to build over the Mass Turnpike air-rights, the real estate development firm Millennium Partners has proposed a 49 story tower at Mass. Ave. and Boylston Street. The proposal contains a hotel, luxury residences, a multi-screen movie theater, space for retail stores and restaurants, and 800 parking spaces. FAC believes there are many flaws with the current proposal and are fighting to stop it. We are pushing the City to enforce the Zoning Laws on the land portion of the project --- on which the tower sits.
On November 8, 1999, the Massachusetts Secretary of Environmental Affairs (MEPA) released a certificate on the environmental notification form filed by Millenium Partners. It requires Millenium "to undertake an extensive alternatives analysis, ... [as] proposed by the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC), that will focus upn transportation and urban design/historic resource impacts." Millenium must also provide an economic study to help determine which alternatives are truly feasible.
The Details:
- MEPA Certificate, EOEA Number: 11969
- A Citizens Guide courtesy of the CLF and CRTD.
- FAC Press Releases
- Testimony given at EOEA Public Hearing regarding transportation and Millennium's Boylston Square. 08/18/99
- Millennium Partners "Boylston Place" subject to zoning 12/03/98
- Recent News Articles
- [1] Development bloom over downtown Pike Tom Keane's Column, Boston Herald, June 8, 2001
- [ Millennium Partners Turnpike ] Tower plan gathers dust,
Boston Herald, September 8, 2000- Turn of community in Millennium Shirley Kressel's guest editorial,
Boston Tab, November 26, 1999- Millennium project likely to stay on scale
Boston Tab, October 8, 1999- Group [CAC] urges Millennium to look at other options
Boston Tab, September 14, 1999.- Lawsuit may cut Millennium plan down to size
Boston Tab, July 5, 1999.Red Sox Stadium Proposal / IPOD
Update: July 2001 This proposal is currently stalled. The local papers are now engaged in wild speculation regarding where to build a new ballpark for the Red Sox. This is because the Red Sox have been unable to secure a loan for the project and have been unable to reach any agreements with current land owners, which is to say (all together now) the Red Sox have found that the Fenway proposal is too expensive to finance.The unfortunate consequence of these Fenway Follies, is that the land where the BRA told everyone the new Red Sox stadium was to go is now drifting towards "blight" while the area around it is flourishing.
Background: In May of 1999, the Red Sox came forward with a proposal for a new ballpark to be built on land bordered by Brookline Ave., Boylston St., Kilmarnock St., and west of Yawkey Way. The proposal includes increasing the seating capacity from 33,000 to 44,000, displacing current businesses in the area (Osco Drug, Howard Johnson Lodge, The Boston Phoenix, to name a few), building parking garages, and refurbishing the current ball field as a museum/relic. Once Fenway Park is torn down, there will be ample space for the Red Sox to expand the entertainment district on Lansdown Street. Such development is almost certain as the profits from the development are probably the only way for the Red Sox to finance the new stadium.
FAC is vehemently opposed to the project for many reasons, including: unconstitutional eminent domain land takings, political graft, misuse of public funds, increased automobile traffic, and violation of EPA Clean Air standards.
The Details:
- More Details on the Sox Stadium Madness
- An Open Letter to Fenway Residents
- A Guide to the IPOD
- FAC Press Releases
- Animal House II: Sox Stadium Lunacy Grips Beacon Hill 5/15/00
- Red Sox Screwball Economics, Transportation Plan 3/2/00
- Position Paper on Proposed Red Sox Megaplex 02/02/99
- Recent News Articles
- Giving up the ghost
The Red Sox' Fenway plan is dead. It's time to stop pretending otherwise
Boston Phoenix Editorial, 7/12/2001- Languishing in limbo: Stalled ballpark chills Fenway business activity Boston Herald, 7/9/2001
- Boston Globe, Fenway Proposal archives
- "Menino can't wait to stuff Sox with cash", Column by Joe Sciacca, Boston Herald, 5/22/2000
- Boston Phoenix, Where We Stand, Fenway Links
- Boston Herald Editorial, Ease Fenway traffic now, June 21, 2000
Transportation
The Fenway neighborhood is unique in the city, with a central park defining it's character. The Fenway has also been shaped by decades of transportation decisions; from the original rail lines stretching out across the Back Bay, to the Bowker overpass that feeds Storrow Drive and crosses the Turnpike. Those that live here get around mostly on foot, by bicycle, or public transportation. While these transportation modes are prevalent for residents, visitors most often rely on automobiles. The neighborhood is currently home to 12,000 commercial parking spaces, and there are plans in the works to increase this number by 50%. FAC is working to ensure that our neighborhood does not become overwhelmed by The Automobile.The Details:
- Hot Links
- Fenway/Kenmore Transportation Assoc. Meeting Minutes
- 2000-2025 Transportation Plan for the Boston Region a work in progress produced by the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO)
- Links that promote balanced transportation modes:
Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP)
- An Analysis of the Relationship between Highway Expansion and Congestion in Metropolitan Areas
- Why Are The Roads So Congested?
An Analysis of the Texas Transportation Institute's Urban Mobility Study.
- Mean Streets 1997
ed. note: There has been a lot of talk lately about making the streets safer for pedestrians. Check out this report for useful info.
- Transportation and the Livable City An Address to the Boston 400, by Richard Moe, National Trust for Historic Preservation President
- Texas Transportation Institute
- Urban Mobility Study 1999 Annual Report
- Sierra Club Challenge to Sprawl Campaign
- Links that promote the automobile transportation mode:
Elections / Political Participation
Register and Vote!
KUDOS to all Fenway residents for the great turnout this year. Special thanks goes out to those that braved to cold and stood in line for hours after work to cast your vote.
- Hot Links
- Vote Smart:
biographies, issue positions, and voting records on 40,000 candidates, from president to City Council members.- Open Secrets:
track down campaign contributions, by candidates or by donor name, ZIP code, or company.- Official Information for Massachusetts Voters
Including: Offices on the Ballot, and Info on Ballot Questions- Registration and Voting Information for Massachusetts Citizens
- Where do I Vote?
- Boston residents can get further information via Who am I? @cityofbostion.com.
- Recent News Articles
- Democracy without citizens. Boston Phoenix, Editorial, September 30, 1999
- Boston Election 11/2/99 Results
- Boston Globe Boston Election Results
- Boston Herald Dapper's defeat marks the end of an era
- Boston Tab Turner, Ross elected as new city councilors