Earlier this month, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) held three sessions to begin to engage the public in the development of a new Downtown Waterfront Municipal Harbor Plan and zoning recommendations for the Greenway District. What many thought would be a routine planning exercise evolved into the start of a spirited and thoughtful public participation effort.
At the opening session, more than 175 people listened as BRA Executive Director Peter Meade and the City’s Chief Planner Kairos Shen discussed the evolution and transformation of the Downtown Waterfront as a result of the elimination of the Central Artery roadway. Neighborhoods once cut off from the harbor are now linked to the sea, and the potential exists for additional public amenities to further enhance the harbor and waterfront.
Besides discussing “big picture” issues such as climate change preparedness, residents shared more localized concerns. Some residents noted the high level of pedestrian traffic already on the HarborWalk. Others talked about the number of waterfront establishments with liquor licenses along the Harbor and Greenway, and questioned whether more liquor licenses should be allowed. One resident talked about the intensity of lighting at Piers Park across the harbor in East Boston. Increased traffic was a concern of many. A North End activist said that the process seemed so development-oriented that he was considering not participating.
Following walking tours of the planning district the next day, participants subsequently re-convened for a two-hour waterfront activation and public realm visioning charrette. Numerous ideas for short- and long-term waterfront activation were offered, providing a foundation for the efforts of the Municipal Harbor Planning Committee, which will meet monthly beginning in April. The North End activist had a change of heart, not only coming back but serving as the presenter for his group.
Variety Of Views
Democracy and public participation have sometimes been described as “messy” and time-consuming, but an open environment where all viewpoints can be expressed can foster creative ideas. At the opening session, presentations by the BRA were short and to the point, allowing ample time for public comments, concerns, and suggestions. Public concerns and suggestions were recorded by BRA staff for future reference.
During the visioning charrette, each table had a mix of waterfront users, such as residents, property owners, architects, water transit providers and waterfront businesses. It soon became clear that there were no sacred cows: A participant who had been on the previous day’s walking tour suggested replacing the New England Aquarium’s waterfront classrooms and offices in the Harbor Garage with facilities for the general public. Another participant of the walking tours suggested substituting the opaque fencing at Harbor Towers with a more transparent, attractive finish to allow views of Boston Harbor from the Greenway.
Perhaps most remarkable was how closely participants had been listening to one another during the opening session. In response to the concern about already high pedestrian usage of the HarborWalk, particularly at Long and Central Wharves, a participant suggested “spreading out use” on the less intensively used HarborWalk segments from the Harbor Garage to the Northern Avenue Bridge. To minimize additional traffic from new development, several participants suggested an enhanced, more integrated water transportation system all along Rowes Wharf to the Northern Avenue Bridge. Still another participant noted that with improvements slated for the Northern Avenue Bridge in the not-too-distant future, improved connections should be not only within the Downtown Waterfront district but also include the Innovation District in South Boston.
By timing coincidence, the visioning charrette ended with a number of positive announcements: plans for a new downtown elementary school on the waterfront, less than a mile from the planning area; new way-finding signage to help direct the public at Long and Central Wharves this summer; construction and opening of a permanent carousel on the Rose Kennedy Greenway by Labor Day; and a seasonal skating rink at the Boston Harbor Hotel this coming winter.
No one can predict how the Municipal Harbor Planning will ultimately conclude, but if the opening public sessions are any indication, planning for the Downtown Waterfront and Greenway will continue to benefit from robust public input.
Vivien Li is president of The Boston Harbor Association, www.tbha.org. Email: vli@tbha.org
