An invitation: to work together

to create a great Green Way and

Waterfront public realm May 26, 2010
CONTENTS

‡ Background
‡ Context
‡ Opportunities
‡ Initial concepts
BACKGROUND
In March, 2010, The Chiofaro Company asked Goody Clancy to conduct a quick exploration of
potential public benefits related to their proposed redevelopment of the Harbor Garage. We
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authors and roughly a dozen other key stakeholders, each of whom brought long histories in
planning for the Greenway and waterfront.
Before beginning our work we had expected that these stakeholders would identify uses within
the base of the proposed project that might serve their organizations or provide other needed
facilities. What emerged instead was a far richer, more civic, and I think far more meaningful
focus on the surrounding public realm. I came to appreciate again how hard, and for how long,
these stakeholders and others had worked to shape the Greenway, bring the waterfront to life,
and enhance the livability of the waterfront as a neighborhood.
I also came to appreciate that a new round of partnerships that built on the years of planning
already completed and drew on the capacity, commitment and resources that key stakeholders
could bring to the table could unlock fundamental benefits for the city, downtown, Greenway,
and waterfront. Several, but not all, of these initiatives could involve the Chiofaro Company in
partnering with other stakeholders.
The following PowerPoint reports the results of our exploration. More than anything, it is an
invitation to build on the momentum associated with the iyh˅š Greenway Study and continue
to work together to envision, plan, and build a public realm worthy of the years of energy and
aspiration that so many have invested in the Greenway and waterfront.
David Dixon FAIA
Goody Clancy
May 24, 2010
CONTEXT
Vibrant downtowns matter more than at
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‡ Economic growth depends on attracting the

skilled and educated workers drawn by
downtown amenities
‡ Making diversity work requires lively places in
the heart of the region that invite people from
every walk of life
‡ Regional sustainability depends on creating
downtowns that attract more people to live,
work, and play in the heart of the region depend
 CONTEXT
Public realm is central to creating
vibrant 21st century downtowns

‡ Quality of life for downtown

neighborhoods³jobs now follow people
‡ Strong public private partnerships³
cooperation creates a vibrant public realm
‡ Improved transportation³more
people can not translate into congestion
‡ A stronger connection to the life of
the region³people need reasons to
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 CONTEXT
Much as already been accomplished
along the Greenway and waterfront

‡ Harborwalk
‡ «DQGWKH´VWULQJRISHDUOVµWKDWDQLPDWH
Harborwalk³Old Northern Avenue Bridge,
Rowes Wharf waterfront, Aquarium, Long Wharf,
etc.
‡ &RQVWUXFWLRQRIWKH*UHHQZD\´YHUVLRQµ
‡ Redesign of Christopher Columbus Park
‡ «WRJHWKHUZLWK7LD0DULD·VDQGRWKHUQHDUE\
lively restaurants and entertainment
‡ Harbor Islands initiative
‡ «DQGSDYLOLRQRQWKH*UHHQZD\
OPPORTUNITIES
What perspectives should shape significant new downtown public realm ?

‡ Region
‡ Citywide
‡ Downtown
‡ Greenway
‡ Waterfront/downtown neighborhoods
‡ Harbor
‡ The Aquarium
 OPPORTUNITIES
REGION: Boston has not built new destinations to draw the region downtown for
several decades
‡ Boston Common
‡ Duck Tours
‡ Faneuil Hall Marketplace
‡ Freedom trail
‡ Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
‡ Museum of Fine Art
‡ Museum of Science
‡ New England Aquarium
‡ North End
‡ Prudential Center Skywalk Observatory
 OPPORTUNITIES
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people of every walk of life to enjoy downtown Chicago
 OPPORTUNITIES
&,7<$V%RVWRQKDVJURZQPRUHGLYHUVHWKHFLW\ODFNVWKH´FRPPRQJURXQGVµWKDW
draw people from every neighborhood together
‡ ´RIFRORUµ
‡ URXJKO\´RIFRORUµ
‡ A city growing richer and poorer at the same
time
‡ A search for increased community in the midst
of growing diversity
 OPPORTUNITIES
&,7<7KH&RQVHUYDQF\·V*UHHQZD\LQDXJXUDWLRQ(Oct 04, 2008) demonstrated the
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 OPPORTUNITIES
DOWNTOWN: the Walk to the Sea began an unfinished effort to create an integral
link to the waterfront
‡ &(2·VIRUFLWLHVLQFUHDVHGGRZQWRZQDPHQLW\LVFHQWUDOWRUHJLRQDOHFRQRPLFFRPSHWLWLYHQHVV³and the
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‡ 6WURQJHUZDWHUIURQWDFFHVVZLOOGUDZUHVLGHQWV«ZKRGUDZMREVDQGLQYHVWPHQW
 OPPORTUNITIES
DOWNTOWN: the %5$·V Greenway Study and other plans stress a that many factors
contribute to enhanced pedestrian waterfront access
 OPPORTUNITIES

GREENWAY: the funding has not been available to achieve its promise
Vision : ´The Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway will be a first
class urban park where people discover beautiful public spaces,
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Earlier Greenway planning called for destinations such as the

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 OPPORTUNITIES
GREENWAY: THE %5$·V study articulated the challenges inherent in making the
Greenway an active destination
‡ Hold development to a uniquely high standard
‡ Emphasize street level uses that animate the
Greenway
‡ Greenway-area development will not create the
critical mass essential to make the Greenway a
destination
‡ )RUWKHJDUDJHVLWH«
‡ Include a mix of retail and civic uses
‡ Enhance access to the waterfront
‡ Help create the Wharf District/ State
Street/Long Wharf³distinct from the Broad
6WUHHWDQGWKH´.QXFNOHµVXE-districts

The BRA projected the number of new people

that projected development would bring to the
area around the Greenway as the area is built
out.
 OPPORTUNITIES
WATERFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD: 5(6,'(176/$&.$´0DLQ6WUHHWµRURWKHU
neighborhood-oriented places to gather

Rowes Wharf Charles Street, Beacon Hill

 OPPORTUNITIES
WATERFRONT NEIGHBORHOOD: Vancouver demonstrates planned waterfront public
spaces as regional, downtown, and neighborhood places
 OPPORTUNITIES
OPPORTUNITIES
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 OPPORTUNITIES
AQUARIUM: HQKDQFHGFRQQHFWLRQWRWKH*UHHQZD\«DQGGRZQWRZQ

‡ Major research/educational institution

‡ More than 140,000 visits by school children
annually
‡ More than 1.3 million annual visitors, less than
10% of those who visit nearby Faneuil Hall
(Monterey Bay Aquarium draws 1.8 million visitors)
‡ Downtown and the Greenway would benefit
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H[FLWHPHQW«DQGLQQRYDWLYHHGXFDWLRQPLVVLRQ
 OPPORTUNITIES
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program and animate the larger public realm
INITIAL CONCEPTS
Core place-making recommendations

‡ Implement the %5$·V goals for access to the

waterfront
‡ «DQGWKH&RQVHUYDQF\·VJRDOVWRSURJUDPWKH
Greenway, introduce innovative ideas over time,
DQGHQULFKWKH´*UHDW5RRPµ *
‡ Emphasize improvements that help draw the 16
million FHMP YLVLWRUVWRWKH$TXDULXP«DQG
* *
create a more integral connection between two * *
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‡ Create a vibrant Waterfront Square anchored by
*
the Aquarium
‡ «FRPSOHPHQWHGE\DZDWHUIURQWQHLJKERUKRRG-
RULHQWHG´0DLQ6WUHHWµ
‡ Enhance the waterfront character of historic
wharf district extending to the Customs House
tower
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
Core process recommendations

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process that includes the full spectrum of
stakeholders
‡ «WKH*UHHQZD\&RQVHUYDQF\DQGDQ
organization like the Boston Harbor Association
could be conveners
‡ Identify appropriate partnerships to move
forward individual initiatives
‡ The Chiofaro Company should begin now to
form planning partnerships with the key
stakeholders associated with public realm
projects related to its potential development

Photos: Copley Wolff Design Group

 INITIAL CONCEPTS
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‡ Build on the full body of planning work completed

to date
‡ Work with the city and others to identify all of
the appropriate stakeholders
‡ Investigate the potential of a Business
Improvement District-like organization (BID)
comparable to Bryant Park in New York to
support the Greenway
‡ Help stakeholders form working partnerships to
enhance Harborwalk, implement the Crossroads
[check spelling] initiative, link the Customs House
tower to the waterfront, and similar initiatives
‡ Help provide context and complement specific
planning by partners for projects related to the
potential Chiofaro project
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
Potential public realm partnership initiatives ² process can draw on a rich history of
ideas

Boston Redevelopment Authority Copley Wolff Design Group

 INITIAL CONCEPTS
2. Potential public realm improvements
related to the Chiofaro project

‡ (QKDQFHWKH*UHHQZD\·V´*UHDW5RRPµDQG
connection from Faneuil Hall Marketplace to the
Aquarium
‡ Collaborate with the Greenway Conservancy,
Harbor Towers, and other waterfront residents to
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‡ Collaborate with Aquarium, Frog Pond Associates,
and Greenway to create a vibrant waterfront
square, including an interior public room
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
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between FHMP and the Aquarium

‡ ,PSOHPHQWWKH*UHHQZD\&RQVHUYDQF\·VSODQVWR
enhance the Great Room with shade, vendors,

‡
etc.
Program the Greenway connection from Faneuil
*
Hall Marketplace to Central Wharf with
performance, arts, and other activities that invite *
people to walk from FHMP to the Aquarium
**
‡ 6XSSRUWWKH*UHHQZD\&RQVHUYDQF\·VORQJWHUP
goals to incorporate innovative programming,
technology, the arts, etc.
**
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
Greenway: implement the vision for a Great Room along the Greenway

‡ Create a Business Improvement District to fund all aspects of the Greenway at a high level
‡ A maintenance and operations fund for the fountain
‡ A shade structure and places for food vendors that frame the fountain
‡ $Q´LQQRYDWLRQµIXQGWKDWHQDEOHVWKH&RQVHUYDQF\WRLPSOHPHQWQHZLGHDVWKDWEULQJWKH*UHDW5RRP
to life

Boston Redevelopment Authority

 INITIAL CONCEPTS
Greenway: ongoing programming to invite people from Faneuil Hall Marketplace,
along the Greenway, to the Aquarium

16 million
visitors

1.3 million
visitors
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
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Conveners and partners: Harbor Towers, Chiofaro
Stakeholders: city, larger community of Greenway and waterfront stakeholders, state agencies

A distinctive character drawn from different sponsors

 INITIAL CONCEPTS
Neighborhood Main Street

‡ Program and design a quiet neighborhood square

‡ Line with 2 or more levels of shops, a small
market, cafés and other uses that serve the
waterfront neighborhood
‡ Connect to a small neighborhood waterfront
park and marina rehabilitated for use by the
waterfront neighborhood community
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
Waterfront Square

Conveners and partners: Greenway Conservancy, Frog Pond Associates, Aquarium, Chiofaro
Stakeholders: City, larger community of Greenway and waterfront stakeholders, state agencies

A distinctive character drawn from different sponsors

 INITIAL CONCEPTS
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‡ Transform Central Wharf into a dynamic public space that connects a newly enlivened Greenway to the
Aquarium
‡ Invite the Bostonians and visitors to celebrate the waterfront with the same level of ambition that
characterizes Millennium Park
‡ 7DNHDGYDQWDJHRIWKH$TXDULXP·VXQLTXHPLVVLRQWRSURJUDPDQGGHVLJQDVTXDUHWKDWLVXQLTXHO\RI
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‡ Respect the access and other needs of 225 State Street for access, amenities, identity
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
Central Wharf: unrealized potential from many perspectives

Remove non-waterfront Give the Aquarium a A place for fountains and

uses ² buses, Imax Greenway address art in which kids of all
ages can play

&DSWXUH6WDWH6WUHHW·V Transform the

ability to enliven the garage into a lively
waterfront invitation to enjoy
the waterfront

Animate the connection from Faneuil An opportunity to enrich

Hall Marketplace to the Aquarium Animate the waterfront
the Frog Pond park as
with a lively mix of interactive public ZLWK$TXDULXP·VXQLTXH
part of a larger public
art, fountains, and events vitality
square
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
WATERFRONT SQUARE: the Aquarium, Frog Pond Associates, Greenway Conservancy
and Chiofaro can create a great civic space
 INITIAL CONCEPTS
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‡ Create a great glass public room that forms

an integral part of the larger Square³during
winter the public room would form the
heart of the Square, full of music, food, and
public activities that spill out onto the larger
Square during warmer months.
‡ Host other attractions that would be good
neighbors for the Aquarium and deserve an
address on the Greenway
‡ Relocate the current Omnimax Cinema onto
the garage site and transform it into a state
of the art media center
‡ Host increasing number of kids from
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An invitation: to work together
to create a great Green Way and
Waterfront public realm May 26, 2010