A new website, Preserve Boston’s Waterfront, is actively lobbying to limit development heights along the downtown waterfront and Greenway District. The initiative is seeking public participation in the Municipal Harbor Planning (MHP) process currently underway by the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
Eleven major projects are identified as being under development, although only the Harbor Garage (Chiofaro Company) and Hook Lobster sites are part of the Downtown Waterfront MHP review. According to the site:
We are a group of concerned residents of the North End and Waterfront who want to share vital information regarding projects and proposals that will affect this historic neighborhood.
Waterfront residents, the city, and many others spent years developing the Greenway District Guidelines for the purpose of protecting and enhancing the quality of life along the waterfront, and the restrictions on height at 200 feet were imposed for a reason. Chapter 91 was put in place to insure that 50 percent of any development along the water is open to the sky so that the water views are maintained.
In addition to information on proposed development, shadows and traffic, the site presents a petition and asks readers to send letters to government officials.
If we do not get involved and speak up to protect the waterfront, the zoning could be changed, increasing the Greenway District Guidelines from 200’ to as much as 650’ and the skyline could be changed forever. Sensible development is what we are targeting and we must get involved so that the mayor, city hall, and the BRA understand what the community is looking for as to its future.
One thing missing from Preserve Boston’s Waterfront are the names of the backers. The site is anonymous with no names or contact information.
