Skip to main content

To: Mayor Michelle Wu, Energy and Environment Chief Mariama White-Hammond, Boston Parks and Recreation Commissioner Ryan Woods, Boston Planning and Redevelopment Agency Chief J. Arthur Jemison, Diana Fernandez, Deputy Chief of Urban Design

Save Boston's Emerald Necklace Riverway Park, Liff Park, and Back Bay Fens!

Protect The Back Bay Fens, Justine Mee Liff and Riverway Parks of Boston's Emerald Necklace by requesting modification of proposed development at 305 Brookline Avenue/Longwood Place, to eliminate new shadows onto the park and mitigate the shadows onto The Riverway residential apartments, Boston University Wheelock Family Theater, Boston University Fenway Student Center and Student Residence Halls.

Why is this important?

+ The Back Bay Fens, Justine Mee Liff Park, and The Riverway are among the oldest portions of Frederick Law Olmsteds' Emerald Necklace, serving as an important resource for people and wildlife, and spanning key portions of the Muddy River watershed; and

+ These parks are visited by thousands of daily users including runners, bikers, walkers, and commuters, serving as sites for the BAA half marathon, art festivals, public art events and environmental classes and as public lands, are meant to serve as respite and resource to a dense and growing community; and

+ The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently completed a multi-decade flood management program of the Muddy River watershed; and These parklands provide key environmental benefits, increasingly important to Boston's climate resilience.

+ The proposed building heights in the project are up to 320 feet, and violate both building heights and shadow restrictions under the Longwood Medical Area Interim Guidelines, currently in effect; and

+ The proposed project will cast significant new shadows (Over 3 hours in some areas) onto the parks, exceeding limits set forth in the Longwood Medical and Academic Area's Interim Guidelines, permanently altering the park's ecosystem and the conditions of human access experience; and will also cast significant new shadows (Over 3 hours in these areas) onto Boston University Wheelock Family Theater, Boston University Fenway Student Center and Residence Halls; and

+ These impacts will permanently degrade the quality of life of residents, students, workers and park patrons and set dangerous precedent for monetary payments for irreparable loss to public parks;

How it will be delivered

Facebook, website, emails, printed versions

Category

Links

Updates

2023-03-16 09:17:51 -0400

Please join us for a spring-equinox WALK-SHOP to examine the extent of new shadow cast on the Emerald Necklace parks by the proposed Longwood Place development (305 Brookline Avenue). We’ll have local experts along to explain historic and environmental impacts of the shadow on the park and notable landmarks along the way.

Our walk-shop will take less than an hour. Please call or text (617) 794-9860 for more information or with questions.

· MEETING PLACE: Terrace between TimeOut Market and the Trillium pavilion at 401 Park (formerly the Landmark Center)
· TIME: 4pm, Monday, March 20/ Rain date: 4pm, Tuesday, March 21

We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Sponsored by a coalition of community and park advocates, including Fenway Civic Association and the Fenway Garden Society. http://www.communityartsadvocates.org/SavetheRiverwayPark/ShadowWalk.jpg

2023-02-26 18:39:39 -0500

REMINDER! Out of the Shadows; Into the Sunlight Meeting on MONDAY, 2/27 • FENWAY COMMUNITY CENTER • 6-8PM Address: 1282 BOYLSTON STREET, 02215 (ENTER AT JERSEY AND BOYLSTON ST)
Community meeting to discuss next steps in opposing shadows on Emerald Necklace parks from the Longwood Place proposal. "We will present shadow information, discuss the plan, invite feedback and discussion, and ask our representatives for solutions that help protect our parks and open spaces. Come join us to learn about this important and impactful project and what you can do." Details at https://www.facebook.com/FenwayCivic Link to flyer PDF http://www.communityartsadvocates.org/SavetheRiverwayPark/Longwood%20community%20meeting%202.27.23.pdf Please attend and share the community meeting details, Thanks!

2023-02-14 10:01:41 -0500

Save the Date: Out of the Shadows; Into the Sunlight, February 27th at the Fenway Community Center. Mark your calendars to join neighbors on February 27th at the Fenway Community Center for a discussion "Out of the Shadows; Into the Sunlight," reviewing proposed development at Longwood Place, what it means for our parks and city, sharing resident feedback, and the road ahead. Details at https://www.facebook.com/FenwayCivic Link to flyer PDF http://www.communityartsadvocates.org/SavetheRiverwayPark/Longwood%20community%20meeting%202.27.23.pdf Please attend and share the community meeting details, Thanks!

2023-01-12 11:09:06 -0500

100 signatures reached

2023-01-11 09:06:52 -0500

50 signatures reached

2023-01-10 18:45:51 -0500

25 signatures reached

2023-01-10 09:46:04 -0500

10 signatures reached