Despite Boston Redevelopment Authority 2030 Vision Plan, maintenance has been neglected.
Unfortunately, the promising Boston 2030 vision has been compromised by privatization which, disconnects people from the natural, cultural, and economic history of the region. Boston lacks a Public Private Project (PPP) oversight committee to stop this socio-economic and ecological backward course. A Private Authority determines Urban Development without a Comprehensive Boston Master Plan.
Coastal Cities are implementing the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations Global Compact. Urban Renewal components include resilience, climate adaptability, frequently mimic or function like nature. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) lists Boston as being in “retrograde” with respect to vital and responsible urban redevelopment. This affects relative federal funds allotted to the area.
Community voices have fallen on deaf ears for two generations throughout Boston. Fortunately, visions and revisions of the Boston 2030 visions are being revived and Pier 5 should set leading example moving forward.
The most recent engineering reports of 2017 and 2018 continued recommendations of maintenance. The City of Boston Redevelopment Authority has not maintained Pier 5 to date opening the door for privatization of this unique public National Waterfront Park.
One of the few fully open Harborwalk places, Pier 5 has endured over 40 years of missed opportunities for the public. Ethical, Sustainable Urban Renewal with resilient open green space would have bolstered the Charlestown Naval Yard capacity for tourism revenue and public well being. Are reparations in sight?
The City of Boston Redevelopment Authority has decades of unused funds designated for Pier 5 maintenance. As a part of Boston becoming a green city again, these funds should be considered as a financial source to reactivate National Park Pier 5. It would be a leap forward with a project ready to happen.
Unbridled development in Charlestown will severely compound deficient planning having detrimental impacts on public well being, resilience, property value, infrastructure and tourism revenue. With no Master Plan, repercussions will last for generations to come and soon challenge the Big Dig efficacy.