The Boston Preservation Alliance’s Executive Director, Sarah Kelly, has joined the Longfellow Bridge Task Force to provide input into the design for the rehabilitation and restoration of the Longfellow Bridge. The project aims to repair the century-old structure to ensure the continued safety of travelers by subway, car, bicycle, and foot and to restore and protect its historic integrity. The Task Force has been convened by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) and is part of the state’s Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP). To meet the cutoff dates related to receiving legislative funding for the ABP, MassDOT will present an Environmental Assessment to the Federal Highway Administration in the fall of 2010.
The Longfellow Bridge, originally named the New Cambridge Bridge, was built between 1900 and 1907, according to the design of Edmund Wheelwright. It was lauded as a feat of civil engineering and served as an architectural model for other twentieth century Boston bridges that followed. The bridge spans 2,135 feet and is 105 feet wide, with a granite block masonry substructure, ten hollow piers, and two hollow abutments. The two central piers are decorated with two pairs of neoclassically-dressed granite towers that give the bridge its “Salt and Pepper Shaker Bridge” nickname. The new bridge was renamed in 1927 to commemorate the famous local poet who often used the West Boston Bridge to travel to and from Boston. The Longfellow Bridge’s history as a route of transportation connecting Boston and Cambridge, and its location on the site of another earlier bridge, as well as its significant architectural and engineering achievements make it deserving of immediate rehabilitation and restoration.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Massachusetts Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Extended!
The Boston Preservation Alliance is pleased to report that on June 30th, the Fiscal Year 2011 State Budget was signed by Governor Deval Patrick and included an extension of the Massachusetts Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit (MHRTC) program until December 31, 2017.
The Alliance worked closely with our members, affiliates and partner organizations, including Preservation Massachusetts, in order to advocate to members of the Joint Budget Committee on behalf of the credit.
To date, almost 200 projects have applied since the first round of credits was made available in 2004 and approximately $270,000,000 in credit have been allocated statewide. Per Preservation Massachusetts’ economic review of the tax credit’s impact on the Commonwealth, it was found that the $74,000,000 in tax credits already claimed by the state has leveraged close to $1 billion in total investment, created 12,349 jobs and rehabilitated 2,655,688 square feet of historic buildings across the Commonwealth. The economic review also indicated that there is unfulfilled demand for the tax credits totaling approximately $293,800,000. The review further determined that if this demand were to be met, the tax credit could leverage between $1.5 and 2 billion in investments, create over 25,000 jobs and rehab nearly 8 million square feet of space in historic buildings.
The successful redevelopment and preservation made possible by the MHRTC over the past few years has also had a tremendously positive impact on the city’s and the Commonwealth’s economy. Projects like the redevelopment of the Dwinell-Wright Building at 311 Summer Street in the Fort Point Channel, a former warehouse that now serves as office and retail space; the transformation of the Ames Building in downtown Boston into a thriving 130 room hotel; and the rehabilitation of Engine House #40 into a performing arts space in East Boston exemplify how the tax credit has transformed historic buildings for new uses, created jobs, revitalized neighborhoods and fostered economic growth. (Tax credits are available for income-producing, commercial properties. Massachusetts does not have a residential tax credit program.)
As Boston’s lead historic preservation advocacy organization, the Alliance has witnessed firsthand the value of this tax credit and its ability to protect the historic nature of our city. We wish to thank everyone who advocated for this critical extension.
The Alliance worked closely with our members, affiliates and partner organizations, including Preservation Massachusetts, in order to advocate to members of the Joint Budget Committee on behalf of the credit.
To date, almost 200 projects have applied since the first round of credits was made available in 2004 and approximately $270,000,000 in credit have been allocated statewide. Per Preservation Massachusetts’ economic review of the tax credit’s impact on the Commonwealth, it was found that the $74,000,000 in tax credits already claimed by the state has leveraged close to $1 billion in total investment, created 12,349 jobs and rehabilitated 2,655,688 square feet of historic buildings across the Commonwealth. The economic review also indicated that there is unfulfilled demand for the tax credits totaling approximately $293,800,000. The review further determined that if this demand were to be met, the tax credit could leverage between $1.5 and 2 billion in investments, create over 25,000 jobs and rehab nearly 8 million square feet of space in historic buildings.
The successful redevelopment and preservation made possible by the MHRTC over the past few years has also had a tremendously positive impact on the city’s and the Commonwealth’s economy. Projects like the redevelopment of the Dwinell-Wright Building at 311 Summer Street in the Fort Point Channel, a former warehouse that now serves as office and retail space; the transformation of the Ames Building in downtown Boston into a thriving 130 room hotel; and the rehabilitation of Engine House #40 into a performing arts space in East Boston exemplify how the tax credit has transformed historic buildings for new uses, created jobs, revitalized neighborhoods and fostered economic growth. (Tax credits are available for income-producing, commercial properties. Massachusetts does not have a residential tax credit program.)
As Boston’s lead historic preservation advocacy organization, the Alliance has witnessed firsthand the value of this tax credit and its ability to protect the historic nature of our city. We wish to thank everyone who advocated for this critical extension.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Boston Landmarks Commission Evaluates Mid-Century Modern Buildings
The Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) has completed a new survey of 147 mid-century modern buildings in Boston’s Central Business District. The survey includes buildings constructed between 1920 and 1979 and provides new and updated information for buildings that were last surveyed in 1979-80. The survey was completed by consultants Wendy Frontiero and Lynn Smiledge and was funded through a Survey and Planning grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission.
“Without a doubt, Boston has one of the most important collections of mid-century modern buildings in the nation,” says David Fixler, a principal at Einhorn Yaffee Prescott and President of DOCOMOMO/US-New England, an organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings from this period. “The survey makes a broad range of information available that will help the public better appreciate and understand the buildings.”
In light of new information and changing perspectives, the BLC’s survey identifies 57 buildings that are potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as part of a district. The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Buildings on the National Register may receive historic rehabilitation tax credits, which can assist in making renovation and restoration projects feasible.
The buildings deemed eligible for the National Register in the new survey range from the unassuming St. Anthony’s Shrine/Worker’s Chapel (Maurize A. Reidy, 1952), to the dramatic Federal Reserve Bank (Hugh Stubbins & Associates, 1973), to the contextual Boston 5 Cents Savings Bank (Kallman & McKinnell, 1972).
The consultants also make a clear recommendation that a number of twentieth century National Register Districts in the area be pursued by the sponsoring agencies for the survey, the BLC and the MHC. They especially call out Government Center as an “extraordinary collection” of modern architecture in the city.
While Boston’s modern buildings have not always been well undrstood or appreciated, many people have noted a shift in attidudes in the past couple of years. An acclaimed exhibit by the pinkcomma gallery in Boston’s South End featuring the city’s heroic twentieth century concrete buildings is just one example of modernism making its way into public discourse about Boston’s built heritage. Recent press seems to affirm changing opinions, including a Boston Globe Magazine article on the city's mid-century architecture in January.
See photos and the locations of some of Boston’s most interesting mid-century modern buildings on the Alliance website at http://tinyurl.com/yhjrgsv
“Without a doubt, Boston has one of the most important collections of mid-century modern buildings in the nation,” says David Fixler, a principal at Einhorn Yaffee Prescott and President of DOCOMOMO/US-New England, an organization dedicated to the documentation and conservation of buildings from this period. “The survey makes a broad range of information available that will help the public better appreciate and understand the buildings.”
In light of new information and changing perspectives, the BLC’s survey identifies 57 buildings that are potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places, either individually or as part of a district. The National Register of Historic Places is the Nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Buildings on the National Register may receive historic rehabilitation tax credits, which can assist in making renovation and restoration projects feasible.
The buildings deemed eligible for the National Register in the new survey range from the unassuming St. Anthony’s Shrine/Worker’s Chapel (Maurize A. Reidy, 1952), to the dramatic Federal Reserve Bank (Hugh Stubbins & Associates, 1973), to the contextual Boston 5 Cents Savings Bank (Kallman & McKinnell, 1972).
The consultants also make a clear recommendation that a number of twentieth century National Register Districts in the area be pursued by the sponsoring agencies for the survey, the BLC and the MHC. They especially call out Government Center as an “extraordinary collection” of modern architecture in the city.
While Boston’s modern buildings have not always been well undrstood or appreciated, many people have noted a shift in attidudes in the past couple of years. An acclaimed exhibit by the pinkcomma gallery in Boston’s South End featuring the city’s heroic twentieth century concrete buildings is just one example of modernism making its way into public discourse about Boston’s built heritage. Recent press seems to affirm changing opinions, including a Boston Globe Magazine article on the city's mid-century architecture in January.
See photos and the locations of some of Boston’s most interesting mid-century modern buildings on the Alliance website at http://tinyurl.com/yhjrgsv
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Alliance Appoints New Board Members
Gill Fishman
A life-long resident of the Boston area, Gill Fishman grew up in Roxbury, graduated with honors from Harvard College with a degree in Economics, earned a Masters in Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and has studied at the Harvard School of Education as well as at MIT.
He is a nationally-recognized designer with a broad range of experience in all fields of design and communications and his firm, Gill Fishman Associates, has been honored with more than 400 national design awards.
Mr. Fishman is a founding committee member of New Center of Arts & Culture, co-founder of Water Music, Inc./Concert Cruise/JazzBoat, an original member of The Great Boston Kite Festival and a founding committee member of First Night, Inc., organizations all directly involved with the enhancement of life within the urban environment.
Jean Abouhamad
Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, Jean Abouhamad came to the United States to attend Columbia University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and also received the Jewell M. Garrelts Award for outstanding promise of scholarly and professional achievement in civil engineering. He went on to earn a Masters in Engineering in Structural Engineering from Cornell University in 1987.
Mr. Abouhamad is founder and president of Sea-Dar Enterprises, Inc. which includes Sea-Dar Real Estate and Sea-Dar Construction. In 2009, Sea-Dar Construction received a Preservation Achievement Award from the Alliance for work done on 0 Marlborough Street/6 Arlington Street in the Back Bay.
Mr. Abouhamad is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section, ASCE and the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts and is also involved with the South End Historical Society and Brookline Youth Soccer.
Tim Pattison
Tim Pattison is Director of Real Estate at Partners HealthCare, where he oversees the system's large leased property portfolio and is also responsible for a wide range of other real estate transactions including the ground lease of the former Charles Street Jail to the developers of the Liberty Hotel.
Before joining Partners, Mr. Pattison was with two national consulting firms providing real estate counsel to corporations, financial institutions, developers, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Prior to that, he spent three years developing office, retail and residential real estate in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and eight years in urban planning with the City of Boston.
Mr. Pattison earned an M.A. in History from Cambridge University and received a Master of City Planning degree from MIT as well as a Masters in Real Estate Development from the MIT Center for Real Estate.
A life-long resident of the Boston area, Gill Fishman grew up in Roxbury, graduated with honors from Harvard College with a degree in Economics, earned a Masters in Architecture from the Harvard Graduate School of Design, and has studied at the Harvard School of Education as well as at MIT.
He is a nationally-recognized designer with a broad range of experience in all fields of design and communications and his firm, Gill Fishman Associates, has been honored with more than 400 national design awards.
Mr. Fishman is a founding committee member of New Center of Arts & Culture, co-founder of Water Music, Inc./Concert Cruise/JazzBoat, an original member of The Great Boston Kite Festival and a founding committee member of First Night, Inc., organizations all directly involved with the enhancement of life within the urban environment.
Jean Abouhamad
Originally from Beirut, Lebanon, Jean Abouhamad came to the United States to attend Columbia University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and also received the Jewell M. Garrelts Award for outstanding promise of scholarly and professional achievement in civil engineering. He went on to earn a Masters in Engineering in Structural Engineering from Cornell University in 1987.
Mr. Abouhamad is founder and president of Sea-Dar Enterprises, Inc. which includes Sea-Dar Real Estate and Sea-Dar Construction. In 2009, Sea-Dar Construction received a Preservation Achievement Award from the Alliance for work done on 0 Marlborough Street/6 Arlington Street in the Back Bay.
Mr. Abouhamad is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Boston Society of Civil Engineers Section, ASCE and the Associated General Contractors of Massachusetts and is also involved with the South End Historical Society and Brookline Youth Soccer.
Tim Pattison
Tim Pattison is Director of Real Estate at Partners HealthCare, where he oversees the system's large leased property portfolio and is also responsible for a wide range of other real estate transactions including the ground lease of the former Charles Street Jail to the developers of the Liberty Hotel.
Before joining Partners, Mr. Pattison was with two national consulting firms providing real estate counsel to corporations, financial institutions, developers, non-profit organizations and government agencies. Prior to that, he spent three years developing office, retail and residential real estate in Massachusetts and New Hampshire and eight years in urban planning with the City of Boston.
Mr. Pattison earned an M.A. in History from Cambridge University and received a Master of City Planning degree from MIT as well as a Masters in Real Estate Development from the MIT Center for Real Estate.
Alliance Requests Review of Stuart Street Area
The Boston Preservation Alliance is seeking to ensure that the historic significance of buildings in the Stuart Street area will be properly studied in the wake of anticipated new development. Last week, Liberty Mutual announced plans for a major expansion and development project in the area. The Alliance looks forward to working with Liberty Mutual to support the company’s plans for expansion while ensuring that important historic resources are protected.
A first step in the process has been for the Alliance to request that the Boston Landmarks Commission review the survey forms for a number of buildings in the area. The most recent surveys for these buildings were conducted in 1980 and 1990. It is common for surveys to be reviewed after a period of several decades because new information and the passing of time often change perspectives about their significance. This review may also impact a pending zoning change for the area, which is under development by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The proposed new zoning would include incentives for historic preservation for buildings that are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. If buildings are deemed to have greater significance, they may be subject to added incentives.
The Stuart Street area contains a remarkably eclectic array of buildings, from the imposing, fortress-like First Corps of Cadets Armory (1891-1897) to the classical revival Salada Tea Building (1916) to the mid-century Modern Salvation Army Building.
“The diversity of architecture tells a remarkable story of the city’s evolution over time,” said Sarah D. Kelly, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, “New development and contemporary architecture have the potential to add yet another layer of history to this area. The critical task will be to ensure that new construction compliments and enhances its surroundings.”
A first step in the process has been for the Alliance to request that the Boston Landmarks Commission review the survey forms for a number of buildings in the area. The most recent surveys for these buildings were conducted in 1980 and 1990. It is common for surveys to be reviewed after a period of several decades because new information and the passing of time often change perspectives about their significance. This review may also impact a pending zoning change for the area, which is under development by the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The proposed new zoning would include incentives for historic preservation for buildings that are eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. If buildings are deemed to have greater significance, they may be subject to added incentives.
The Stuart Street area contains a remarkably eclectic array of buildings, from the imposing, fortress-like First Corps of Cadets Armory (1891-1897) to the classical revival Salada Tea Building (1916) to the mid-century Modern Salvation Army Building.
“The diversity of architecture tells a remarkable story of the city’s evolution over time,” said Sarah D. Kelly, executive director of the Boston Preservation Alliance, “New development and contemporary architecture have the potential to add yet another layer of history to this area. The critical task will be to ensure that new construction compliments and enhances its surroundings.”
Friday, January 29, 2010
Alliance Requests Long-Term Preservation Plan for Fort Andrews on Peddocks Island
The Boston Preservation Alliance has submitted comments to the Massachusetts Secretary of Energy & Environmental Affairs regarding a proposal to demolish fourteen buildings, stabilize eight buildings and rehabilitate four buildings at Fort Andrews, located on the East Head of Peddocks Island.
Fort Andrews was built at the turn of the twentieth century as a major component of the Boston Harbor defense system. Fort Andrews is included in the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s Inventory of Historical and Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth and Peddocks Island is listed in the State and National Register of Historic Places as part of the Boston Harbor Islands Archaeological District. The Fort is significant as the only fort constructed in Massachusetts during the Spanish American War.
After decades of vacancy, many of the buildings at Fort Andrews are in a state of severe disrepair, and the Alliance recognizes that it may not be feasible to restore a number of them. However, the Alliance has requested that the Boston Harbor Island Alliance and the Department of Conservation and Recreation complete a comprehensive feasibility study of potential adaptive use scenarios for buildings on the island and conduct a master plan for long term use before demolition, stabilization or rehabilitation occurs. This information will allow the project proponents to make a more informed decision about the future of Fort Andrews that is based upon an economically viable and programmatically feasible approach. It will also provide more information that will help regulatory agencies and the public assess the proposal.
The Alliance has also raised concerns about the landscape and archaeological assets of the island, and has asked for additional measures to protect these resources. Peddocks Island is known for its significant Native American archaeological resources.
The Alliance hopes to play a constructive role in ensuring that future deterioration of the buildings of Fort Andrews is prevented. Both the Alliance and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have expressed a desire to provide assistance in the development of a comprehensive preservation plan to guide sound decision making at the Fort. With a strong plan in place, the Alliance is convinced that solutions are possible to rehabilitate important parts of the campus for new uses and to permit the public to enjoy it for generations to come.
Fort Andrews was built at the turn of the twentieth century as a major component of the Boston Harbor defense system. Fort Andrews is included in the Massachusetts Historical Commission’s Inventory of Historical and Archaeological Assets of the Commonwealth and Peddocks Island is listed in the State and National Register of Historic Places as part of the Boston Harbor Islands Archaeological District. The Fort is significant as the only fort constructed in Massachusetts during the Spanish American War.
After decades of vacancy, many of the buildings at Fort Andrews are in a state of severe disrepair, and the Alliance recognizes that it may not be feasible to restore a number of them. However, the Alliance has requested that the Boston Harbor Island Alliance and the Department of Conservation and Recreation complete a comprehensive feasibility study of potential adaptive use scenarios for buildings on the island and conduct a master plan for long term use before demolition, stabilization or rehabilitation occurs. This information will allow the project proponents to make a more informed decision about the future of Fort Andrews that is based upon an economically viable and programmatically feasible approach. It will also provide more information that will help regulatory agencies and the public assess the proposal.
The Alliance has also raised concerns about the landscape and archaeological assets of the island, and has asked for additional measures to protect these resources. Peddocks Island is known for its significant Native American archaeological resources.
The Alliance hopes to play a constructive role in ensuring that future deterioration of the buildings of Fort Andrews is prevented. Both the Alliance and the National Trust for Historic Preservation have expressed a desire to provide assistance in the development of a comprehensive preservation plan to guide sound decision making at the Fort. With a strong plan in place, the Alliance is convinced that solutions are possible to rehabilitate important parts of the campus for new uses and to permit the public to enjoy it for generations to come.
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