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5/31/05

The BRA today opened a public discussion in the Fort Point community, presenting plans under way for the rezoning of Fort Point’s undeveloped parcels. The agency is nearing private agreement with USPS, Gillette, BWCo. and Beacon Capital Partners on height, density and land use.

Approximately fifty small property owners, residents, waterfront advocates and stakeholders attended and offered comments. This meeting was the second of two community meetings (the first in March 2004) at which the BRA entertained a discussion regarding height, density or land use (see history below for a timeline). No large property owners were represented at this public meeting.

The meeting opened with an update on the Fort Point Open Space plan, including a look at streets and parks. As presented, and despite approximately forty five (45) Working Group and Advisory Committee meetings and a community-wide charrette to propose ideals for the public realm and greenspace in Fort Point held between 2002 and 2004, few changes have been made to the Open Space plan since its initial development by Gillette and the United States Postal Service and adoption by the BRA in June 2002 (available on the BRA website).

Open Space Plan presented by the BRA in June 2002
Source: BRA Website


Open Space and Street plan presented by the BRA in February 2004
prior to Fort Point Community Open Space Charrette
Source: BRA Website

As of May 2005, the BRA’s current Open Space Plan is nearly identical to the plans shown above from 2002 and 2004. The current BRA plan will be posted here when it is made available.

About Height, Density and Land Use

The BRA presented an update to the “conceptual” height zones last discussed at the Tynan School in March 2003.

A chart showing proposed public vs. private uses of undeveloped parcels (USPS/Gillette) was presented.

Use Acres Percent
Public 21.6 59
Private 14.4 41%
  _______  
  36  

A chart showing proposed open space on USPS and Gillette parcels was presented.

Use Acres  
Open Space 8.4  
Sidewalks 8.1  
Streets 5.1  
Buildings 14.4  
     
Total 36  

A chart showing proposed development was presented:

Property Owner

Square feet of
proposed
buildout
(million)

Gillette 1.9
USPS 3.7
BWCo. .6
   
Total 6.2

A chart showing proposed breakdown of land uses was presented:

Use

Square feet of
proposed
buildout
(million)

Percent
Residential 2.5 41%
Office 2.1 33%
Civic/R&D 1.6 26%
     
Total 6.2  

A number of comments were noted by attendees:


Timeline of Fort Point Planning as of 5/31/05

The following timeline is provided to illustrate that the Fort Point and greater South Boston communities have had only two opportunities to engage in discussions regarding height, density and land use with the Boston Redevelopment Authority -- once in March of 2003 at the Tynan School and once last night at a meeting at Artist for Humanities in Fort Point.

On 5/31/05, the BRA hosted a public forum for the benefit of the Fort Point community. This meeting was the first public meeting held by the BRA regarding the Fort Point planing process in 11 months (since July of 2004). This meeting was the second of two community meetings held in South Boston over the past two years in which the agency entertained an open discussion of land use, height or density on Fort Point’s undeveloped parcels. The first such meeting occurred in March 2004 at the Tynan School.

In December 2003 and January 2004, the BRA presented "conceptual" plans for three height zones in Fort Point to the Fort Point Advisory Committee in two meetings (click here for more info). These “conceptual” height zones were presented in March 2004 to residents of Fort Point and greater South Boston at a community meeting held at the Tynan School.

Approximately 20 meetings of the Fort Point Advisory Commitee (2003-present) and approximately 25 meetings of the Fort Point Working Group (2001-2003) focused on public realm (streets, sidewalks, parks) and traffic issues -- with the exception of initial, introductory presentations by large property owners and SAND in 2001.


Your comments as a visitor to the SAND website would be appreciated and forwarded for discussion.

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