Mayor Thomas Menino signs a white board during last week’s
ceremony. Traditionally during topping off ceremonies in the
U.S. the last beam to be hoisted is painted white and signed by
all the workers involved.
As the last beam was hoisted onto the first building constructed as part of Roseland’s $46 million Portside at Pier One waterfront development project in East Boston, the union workers involved as well as state and elected officials took the opportunity to thank Mayor Thomas Menino during a ‘topping off’ ceremony last Wednesday.
Traditionally during topping off ceremonies in the U.S. the last beam to be hoisted is painted white and signed by all the workers involved. Last week the last beam simply read ‘Thank You Mayor Thomas Menino’.
“This project is a testament to the vision and persistence of those who have always believed in the potential of the East Boston waterfront,” said Massport CEO Thomas Glynn. “And it is a great pleasure to introduce someone whose impact on this city has been as profound as any who has come before him, if not more so.”
Glynn said that no one was a stronger or more persistent advocate for Roseland development getting off the ground than Mayor Tom Menino.
“He saw the huge potential in waterfront development long ago with its incredible views of the Boston skyline the Mayor helped to create, and just minutes from the airport and downtown, close to major roadways and public transportation on “T” and next door to Massport’s nationally-celebrated Piers Park and the equally treasured Bremen Street Park and East Boston Greenway,” said Glynn. “The Mayor understands that success of Roseland can take some uncertainty out of developing Eastie, which could jump start other developments representing hundreds of new housing units and hundreds of new construction jobs.”
Glynn went on to say honoring Menino at the topping off ceremony reflects the Mayor’s belief there is a goldmine just waiting to be tapped here on Eastie’s waterfront.
Senator Anthony Petruccelli said the Pier One project reflects Menino’s 20 years of leadership. “Over his 20 years of leadership Mayor Menino has created a fertile climate for investment in East Boston,” said Petruccelli. “Here, by attracting private investment dollars and investing in public facilities like the new Bremen Street Library and Maverick Gardens years ago, Mayor Menino has created a good, safe community that is attracting young families