HRC Meeting Notes for January
2000
Present: Olga Bachilova, Matthew Bronski, Nick
Brooks, Leslie Donovan, Marilyn Fenellosa, John Galanis,
Jack Glassman, Jean Marie Hall, Jeffrey Harris, Erin
Hester, Susan Hollister, Lisa Howe, Wendall Kalsow,
Kimberly Konrad, Michael Lynch, Henry Moss, Ivan Myjer,
Linda Mackowiak, Albert Rex, Susan Schur, Jonathon Smith,
Jay Stanbury, Sara Wermiel, Jane Yates
1. Historic Massachusetts, Inc. Ten Most Endangered
List, 1999: Marilyn Fennelosa (Acting Everything of
HMI) presented the current Ten Most Endangered List and
led an ongoing discussion of preservation challenges
posed by a remarkably diverse typology of historic
resources. HMI's list included road widening in historic
Newburyport; municipal buildings as a chronic problem
(from one room school houses to town halls and
libraries); Fenway Park; and a disused dairy farm in
Barnstable. HMI has a fine record of focusing attention
on generic problems to come where otherwise we might see
only isolated examples. In some cases, the dubious honor
of making the list has mobilized the politics necessary
to protect important landscapes and buildings.
2. Historic Bridges: Following the previous
month's dynamite presentation by Stephen J. Roper of the
Mass Highways Department, the committee discussed the
feasibility of our preparing a position paper on Boston's
historic bridges to present to the City and especially to
Congressman Moakley's office. The intent would be to
place significant bridges firmly in a constellation of
valuable resources in advance of assaults by traffic
engineers, deferred maintenance teams, and energetic
developers. Sara Wermiel said she would think about what
such a paper might involve and proposed that we also
consider design criteria for new bridges or road schemes
adjacent to important structures at the Charles and
across Fort Point Channel. Finding information may not be
too difficult. Putting together a useful critical
overview should be an interesting sequel to our guide to
Boston's Buildings, but with a new purpose and political
edge.
Michael Lynch offered to share ideas he had
collected while doing a similar exercise in New York
state. Matt Bronski will talk to his engineering brethren
at the ASCE historic chapter. Jeff Harris suggested
talking to Eric Deloney of HAER in Washington.
3. Tours: Bill Barry reported on the
building fabric investigation at the Motor Vehicle
Registry building on Nashua Street. Certain emblematic
details will be salvaged according to an agreement
between the Boston Preservation Alliance and the
Department of Capital Assets Management (DCAM). Bill and
his cohorts were able to explore the Registry's
construction and lived to tell about it.
Generally, the committee decided that tours should
take place after normal work hours. Where daylight is
necessary, tours will start again in the coming
spring.
4. Energy Code Changes, Existing
Structures: David Weitz, Energy Code Coordinator for
the State Board of Building Regulations and his
knowledgeable colleagues are concerned about interstitial
condensation and other moisture migration problems as
well as other ways that the Energy Code affects historic
buildings. Our committee suggested that the most
efficient way for us to help might be to meet to discuss
special problems and possible strategies for their
solution that the revised code could incorporate and send
those to the Energy Advisory Committee to develop.
[New questions about the Massachusetts State Building
Code have been raised by Governor Celluci, specifically:
whether we should have a separate, stand-alone
Rehabilitation code as New Jersey now does. We will
discuss this and our own innovative Chapter 34 at the
next meeting.]
5. Boston Landmarks Commission 25th
Anniversary: The committee will try to learn more
about the BLC's ideas for ways to mark and commemorate
this major anniversary in the life of modern Boston.
6. The Mayor's Office and City Agencies: Henry
described a recent meeting between Mayor Menino and
several representatives of the BSA and recapped the
Mayor's commitment to creating the post of Chief Planner
for the City of Boston under the new Director (to be
announced). Mayor Menino promised to involve the BSA in
the selection of the Chief Planner. Furthermore, the
Mayor promised to fund the BRA as an agency of the City
in order to disconnect its finances from
development-generated revenue. At the State of the City
address, these topics drew little audience applause or
evident interest compared to housing and education
initiatives. The BRA was way down the list compared to
the high cost of prescription drugs.
7. Keith Memorial Theater aka The Opera House:
The BRA's second public hearing on Pace Theater's
proposed expansion into Mason Street was scheduled for
January 19. [This well-attended event pitted
residents of Tremont on the Common against the
street-narrowing mercenaries of historic theater
preservation. Passions ran high, but momentum seemed
shift towards preservation of the theater even if Mason
Street (always an alleyway) must be narrowed to 10'.
Architect Henry Wood was among the residents' most
articulate spokespersons.
Next Meeting
(Chapter 34 of the Code will be a central topic of
discussion.)
8: 00 AM, Thursday, February 10, 2000
The Architects' Building
Broad Street, Boston
Fifth Floor