Today we turn the keyboard over to Sarah Kelly, Executive Director, Boston Preservation Alliance
She answers your questions about the Boston Landmark Petition for the Charles River Esplanade
What is a Boston Landmark?
A Boston Landmark is a property (or a district comprised of multiple properties) with historic, social, cultural, architectural or aesthetic significance to the City and the Commonwealth, the New England region, or the nation. It has been designated through a formal process, and once designated, proposed changes to Landmark properties require Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) design review and approval. Landmark designation does not regulate use or occupancy.
What is the Status of the Boston Landmark Petition?
A hearing on the designation of the Esplanade as a Boston Landmark will be held on Tuesday, May 26 at 7 pm at Boston City Hall, Room 900. The public is strongly encouraged to attend this hearing and speak in favor of the designation.
Written comments may also be submitted in hard copy or by fax at 617-635-3435 (all letters must be signed) to:
Ellen Lipsey
Executive Director
Boston Landmarks Commission
Boston City Hall
One City Hall Square, Room 805
Boston, MA 02201
In October 2007, a petition to designate the Esplanade as a Boston Landmark was submitted to the Boston Landmarks Commission. While only ten registered voters in Boston must sign a petition, the Esplanade petition was signed by an unprecedented 850 people. State Representative Marty Walz, City Councilor Michael Ross and nine other Boston City Councilors expressed their support for the petition, as well as community organizations, including the Beacon Hill Civic Association and the Neighborhood Association of the Back Bay.
The Boston Landmarks Commission unanimously voted to accept the petition to landmark the Charles River Esplanade for further study. The study report was completed in May 2009 and recommends designation with specific design criteria that will preserve the key aspects of the park while allowing for ongoing maintenance and improvements.
What will designation mean for the future?
Boston Landmark Designation will provide the public the opportunity to weigh in on significant proposed changes to the park. It also provides an opportunity for the Boston Landmarks Commission to offer guidance for future modifications to the park in an effort to maintain its historic character while accommodating modern uses and activities. Landmark designation does not prohibit all changes to the park, but rather sets guidelines to ensure that if any changes are made they are in keeping with the park’s historic nature.
Other historic Boston parks that are designated Boston Landmarks are the Boston Common, the Public Garden, the Back Bay Fens, the Olmsted Necklace Parks (Jamaica Pond, Olmsted Park and the Riverway) and the Commonwealth Avenue Mall. Each of these parks benefits from the protection that designation provides, and still has the flexibility for changes and improvements necessary to ensure proper care and public enjoyment
How can I read the study report?
The Esplanade Study Report can be found at http://www.cityofboston.gov/environment/. Scroll down to Reports & Publications and click on Charles River Esplanade Study Report.
Questions?
Contact Sarah Kelly, Executive Director, Boston Preservation Alliance, at 617-367-2458
