Stop the Pier 5 RFP Process Pending Comprehensive Cost/Benefit Analysis

The purpose of M.G.L. Chapter 91 is to protect the public interest in the waterways of the Commonwealth. It ensures that the public rights to fish, fowl and navigate are not unreasonably restricted and that unsafe or hazardous structures are repaired or removed.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS) currently lists the Boston participation status as being in “retrograde” since 1997.

Boston Waterfront FEMA Status “Retrograde”

Participation in the CRS delivers public insurance rates that more accurately reflect regional flood risk, fundamentally changing insurance pricing regulations and determines real estate flood risk.  

Accordingly, FEMA will reduce disaster-related suffering costs in Massachusetts through insurance and mitigation of flood risks by leveraging advances in industry best practices, technology, and flood risk modeling. This ensures NFIP effectiveness.

Boston’s lack of participation in CRS leaves the public with no discounts for Special Flood Hazard Areas (NSFHA) and vulnerable to other public safety and economic losses. Boston seems to be missing a requisite coordinator with the CRS. This should be considered by the Boston Public Private Projects (PPP) Oversight Committee.

Once the Boston CRS is implemented, waterfront due diligence updates should include ecological impact studies, structural integrity of adjacent piers, comparative historical structural integrity developments in the harbor, marine life impact, barnacle reef, bird studies, public view-shed, sound pollution study, sound exclusion, sun/shade study, heat inundation study, wind tunneling, archeological value study, historic value assessment, water sheet determination study, materials value estimate, air flow study, pollution mitigation study, traffic study, feasibility, prospective revenue streams, harbor site conditions, existing Berm value, environmental restoration vs demolition ROIs, among others.

This public/private collaborative due diligence provides a foundation for the Boston community to move forward together.  

To achieve our plan, an updated inclusive Boston Waterfront Master Plan is critical considering all of the fundamental global changes in the past several years (Economic/Covid/Climate Risk).  

Neighboring lease adjustments have been put on hold for this reason. The same should apply to all active and pending ‘City of Boston’ Waterfront RFPs.

April 1, 2021 

Participation in the CRS delivers public insurance rates that more accurately reflect regional flood risk, fundamentally changing insurance pricing regulations and determines real estate flood risk.  

This public/private collaborative due diligence provides a foundation for the Boston community to move forward together.  

To achieve our plan, an updated inclusive Boston Waterfront Master Plan is critical considering all of the fundamental global changes in the past several years (Economic/Covid/Climate Risk).

Neighboring lease adjustments have been put on hold for this reason. The same should apply to all active and pending ‘City of Boston’ Waterfront RFPs.

Failure to Address the City of Boston’s Climate Resilience Policies

The average citizen is at a complete disadvantage in understanding the proposals because of myriad laws, rules, regulations and requirements at the Federal, State and Local level that govern this type of development over public tidelands and waterways.

In an email exchange with a BPDA representative the following was stated: “Any development at Pier 5 is subject to the HarborPark Municipal Harbor Plan. A State approved harbor plan would supersede the provisions of the overlay. However, any new development would also need to address the City’s climate resilience policies.”

Failure to Address or Acknowledge the History and Significance of this Historic Site

The Charlestown Navy Yard built, repaired, modernized, and resupplied ships for 174 years. From here ships and the sailors serving aboard set off to places around the globe. The ships that left this yard represented the United States on every continent and defended the nation through both times of war and peace. The generations of workers at this yard took pride in the significance of what they contributed and the work that they completed. For many sailors, this was the last place they might touch American soil for months, years, or perhaps never again. (From NPS.gov)

Failure to capitalize and maximize the last remaining open space on the Boston Harbor

There must be better alternatives than those that were presented. Look at Piers Park in East Boston, various converted Piers in New York City, Brooklyn and the city of Philadelphia, among many. This last remaining open pier in the Boston Harbor should warrant more thoughtfulness and consideration as to how to capitalize on its location and potential. To that end, having a grocery store in this location, with minimal setbacks, is incredibly short sighted especially since there are other open parcels of land in the Navy Yard that do not present the traffic, congestion, delivery vehicles and trash issues that this location presents.

Is there potential for the Pier to be used against potential flooding and storm water management? It is likely that a 3-4 foot wall/barrier will need to be built along the HarborWalk and water line in order to protect against rising ocean levels. How can a floating residential community be placed and accessed in front of such an expected wall?

There must be better and more creative options to be explored for this unique and historic piece of property.