Letters to the Editor

Value neighborhoods

To the Editor,

I was saddened but hardly surprised at the recent actions taking by the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals in the matter of 144-146 Maverick Street. This board reversed a ruling by the Boston Landmarks Commission and it now looks like the developer will be allowed to move forward with plans to develop the old Rapino funeral home and raze both Maverick Street buildings.

The three buildings in question are next to the Maverick Marketplace Cafe on Maverick Street. The neighborhood saw the  144-146 structures as architecturally in need of saving. No one thought the third building was historic and that building wasn’t the subject of neighborhood ire. While the ZBA now believes by its vote that the three buildings are just old, the neighborhood believes they are wrong in that assumption still.

I grew up in Boston’s South End in the ’50s and ’60s and I lived on East Springfield Street which ran between Washington Street and Harrison Avenue. While I agree that a neighborhood is always the people who live there, buildings are an important legacy of past times. I do not think that East Springfield Street structures have been declared historic but I think they are and surely do its residents today. They are beautifully designed and help make the neighborhood a living space.

Back here in East Boston no one cares what happens to the house next to the cafe, it is just an old building that has outlived its time but 144-146 are relics of the past. The Board of Appeals apparently differs on this matter. I also was saddened and not surprised by City Hall’s reaction to just lay down its arms and raise the white flag of surrender. There are not many courageous politicians out there. They just fold up like a sofa bed.

The last good mayor this city had was Mayor Ray Flynn who actually cared for the neighborhoods and not just in press releases. He came from a neighborhood and values neighborhoods and the voices within neighborhoods.

I certainly hope that the latest news is not the end of the process on these two buildings. I would hope that saner heads prevail. I would hope that the developers are open to sitting down with its neighbors and try to find a solution to this impact without hopefully getting politicians involved in the outcome.

We all must search for ways in which developers can design something good working with the neighborhood that might include at least the facade of these two beautiful. I have seen this done before. All of us have. Old Boston City Hall on School Street is just one example but there are plenty others too.

We don’t need to have an “US versus Them” conflict. We can mesch  the old with the new and make a project even better. Don’t rush to demolish even if you think it isn’t historic because historic is in the eyes of area residents.

Sincerely,

Sal Giarratani

East BostonValue neighborhoods

To the Editor,

I was saddened but hardly surprised at the recent actions taking by the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals in the matter of 144-146 Maverick Street. This board reversed a ruling by the Boston Landmarks Commission and it now looks like the developer will be allowed to move forward with plans to develop the old Rapino funeral home and raze both Maverick Street buildings.

The three buildings in question are next to the Maverick Marketplace Cafe on Maverick Street. The neighborhood saw the  144-146 structures as architecturally in need of saving. No one thought the third building was historic and that building wasn’t the subject of neighborhood ire. While the ZBA now believes by its vote that the three buildings are just old, the neighborhood believes they are wrong in that assumption still.

I grew up in Boston’s South End in the ’50s and ’60s and I lived on East Springfield Street which ran between Washington Street and Harrison Avenue. While I agree that a neighborhood is always the people who live there, buildings are an important legacy of past times. I do not think that East Springfield Street structures have been declared historic but I think they are and surely do its residents today. They are beautifully designed and help make the neighborhood a living space.

Back here in East Boston no one cares what happens to the house next to the cafe, it is just an old building that has outlived its time but 144-146 are relics of the past. The Board of Appeals apparently differs on this matter. I also was saddened and not surprised by City Hall’s reaction to just lay down its arms and raise the white flag of surrender. There are not many courageous politicians out there. They just fold up like a sofa bed.

The last good mayor this city had was Mayor Ray Flynn who actually cared for the neighborhoods and not just in press releases. He came from a neighborhood and values neighborhoods and the voices within neighborhoods.

I certainly hope that the latest news is not the end of the process on these two buildings. I would hope that saner heads prevail. I would hope that the developers are open to sitting down with its neighbors and try to find a solution to this impact without hopefully getting politicians involved in the outcome.

We all must search for ways in which developers can design something good working with the neighborhood that might include at least the facade of these two beautiful. I have seen this done before. All of us have. Old Boston City Hall on School Street is just one example but there are plenty others too.

We don’t need to have an “US versus Them” conflict. We can mesch  the old with the new and make a project even better. Don’t rush to demolish even if you think it isn’t historic because historic is in the eyes of area residents.

Sincerely,

Sal Giarratani

East Boston

 

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