Historic Resources
Committee
Meeting Notes for June
2000
Present: Joe Bartucca, Bart Bauer, Nick Brooks,
Matthew Bronski, Jean Carroon, Anne Delucia, Leslie
Donovan, David Fixler, Jack Glassman, Jeffrey Harris,
Doug Manley, Arthur MacLeod, Colleen Meagher, Henry Moss,
Bill Mueller, Albert Rex, Ron Roberge, Deane Rykerson,
Susan Schur, Jonathon Smith, Sara Wermiel, T. Luke
Young
1. Preservation vs. Architecture: A discussion
developed about architecture critics' attacks on historic
preservation as a reactionary cultural force that
allegedly inhibits high quality architecture. Herbert
Muschamp and Ada Louise Huxtable were examples cited of
influential journalists who have used this argument to
advance their contention that the political power of
preservation results in our maintaining unworthy
precincts of our cities as anti-modern theme parks. Matt
Bronski observed that Lowell's local politicians and some
landowners now openly state that old buildings are
"inhibitors of economic and social progress," an old
notion that often resurfaces but so far avoids any
suggestion that their renovation would damage local
culture in the city where Whistler and Kerouac once
lived.
David Fixler spoke about a symposium at Columbia where
most discussion assumed that historic preservation is a
modern idea, but still unassimilated in the design ethic
of most professional journals. (The editor of
Architecture wrote in a recent issue's manifesto: "Let's
keep history in books, where it belongs.") Albert Rex
said that the Boston Preservation Alliance has told the
Mayor that he would find their attitude more supportive
if the new buildings proposed for Boston were better
suited for their locations and better designed in
general.
Jean Carroon, among others, argued that projects like
the Tate Modern where there is an interweaving of new and
old deserve more attention as preservation projects among
design critics and as healthy design directions among
preservation advocates. Henry Moss suggested that our
committee could have a leadership role in helping both
practitioners and the public understand some of the ways
that new and old design solutions can coexist to their
mutual advantage.
2. Fenway Park: Jeffrey Harris reported that
apart from South Boston linkage money, Fenway Park's
financing had become the hottest political topic in town.
Although a renovation of the existing stadium doesn't
require any land acquisition, City and State politicians
are pursuing mechanisms to provide up to $270,000,000 for
parcel assembly, parking garages, and other
infrastructure changes while guaranteeing a return for
our investment. Jeffrey noted that this money is scarcer
than ever because of the Big Dig. New polls released on
May 19 showed respondents were decidedly against using
taxpayers' money to build a new stadium. 58% prefer
renovation. 39% prefer a new stadium. Jon Smith thinks
that Fenway is entering a period of "planned blight"
where painting and cleaning programs are being
reduced.
Save Fenway Park has organized a charrette at the
Boston Architectural Center on June 19. Philip Best, and
experienced designer of urban ball parks (Florida
Marlins, St. Louis, Chicago...) will work with volunteer
professionals to take Charles Haggenah's rehabilitation
plans to further stage of resolution.
[Richard Fitzgerald encouraged the committee to
contact Liz Padjen about a panel of architects and others
whose discussion of the Red Sox proposal and the
rehabilitation alternative could be edited and published
in Architecture Boston. When pressed, Richard's guess was
that 50% of the BSA membership would approve of the Red
Sox plan and 50% would not.]
3. NJ Rehab Code: Sara Wermiel spoke to Vernon
Woodward of the BSA Code Committee. That group will hear
a presentation from representatives of Congressman
Marini's office and an association of Small Business
Owners about their proposal for a new rehab code for
Massachusetts, at their meeting Wednesday, June 21. The
Code Committee wants to have make recommendations for
revisions to the existing buildings section of
Massachusetts Code; she gathers from Vernon that the
committee does not accept that replacement of Chapter 34
by a NJ-like rehabilitation code is necessarily the way
to go. Henry noted that the Massachusetts State Board of
Building Regulations has a tiny budget and staff
assignment compared to New Jersey's centralized
administration. New Jersey's budget is 12 times
larger.
4. Boston's Bridges: The large number of
neglected bridges in the state, as discussed in a Boston
Globe article, illustrate the lack of political support
for infrastructure maintenance, especially given Big Dig
cost overruns. Painting and pointing bridges just can't
compete with the Red Sox for public attention. Many
Boston bridges have not been maintained since 1959. Sara
Wermiel's informants say that the biggest threat to
individual bridges is modern highway loadings - that old
bridges are not strong enough for current traffic - more
so than road-widening. The process of strengthening
historic bridges with replacement members can destroy its
history character.
Sara and the BSA/ASCE Bridge Group have also concluded
that the Section 106 process is a proper and necessary
means for preserving historic bridges. The process is
most likely to be applied effectively when knowledgeable
and practiced agency representatives, such as Steve Roper
of Mass Highways, are involved. The MBTA and many other
public owners don't see their bridges as a stewardship
issue at all. When Bill Smith was at Mass Historical
Commission, there was a better chance that bridges owned
by other agencies would be treated carefully. The process
depends on knowledgeable staff committed to the goals to
work. Meanwhile, MHC is forcing the Section 106 review of
the Northern Avenue Bridge to take place properly.
5. Technical Topics: Jean Carroon introduced
the subject of laser documentation of building surfaces,
a technique that her group at Goody/Clancy are using at
Trinity Church and at the Boston Public Library. These
views and their records are an improvement over
photogrammetry and Jean promised to explain more about
their applications in a future meeting. Jean and Kent
Diebolt are both able to furnish names of firms that have
the cameras and software capable of producing "laser
cloud views" and "Q-views".
6. City Hall Shuffle: Albert relayed BRA
Manager Mark Maloney's announcement that Linda Haar would
be Chief of Staff. Our committee's old friend, Kathy
Kottaridis will become head of EDIC. Nancy Tintendo will
be Acting Chief Planner at the BRA.
7. Demolition Delights: The Salem Armory facade
has been demolished without enforcement of penalties for
violation of Section 106 and the Memorandum of Agreement
between the, now, Peabody Essex Museum and preservation
agencies including MHC and the national Advisory Council
for Historic Buildings. At least two of four Appleton
Mills buildings will soon fall to the wrecker's ball in
Lowell.
8. Listserv: Want to receive a periodic email
update about HRC member doings and events of interest? If
you are not part of our list, send your email address to
Sara Wermiel (fireproof2@worldnet.att.net).
Next Meeting
8: 00 AM, Thursday, July 13, 2000
The Architects' Building, Fifth Floor
52 Broad Street, Boston