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BRA keeps fighting to stick a restaurant at the end of Long Wharf, in effort that has now cost more than $500,000 in legal fees
By adamg on Wed, 09/14/2016 - 9:49am
NorthEndWaterfront.com reports on the BRA's latest court wranglings to try to put a restaurant in the kiosk at the tip of Long Wharf.
Authority lawyers were in federal appeals court in Boston last week arguing why a US District Court judge was wrong to rule last year that the BRA should knock it off already now that paper documents amazingly reappeared that showed the structure was always intended to be part of a public park, not a commercial structure available for lease.
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Comments
BRA
Considering how shady the BRA is.. makes me wonder who's behind this? I mean is there some restaurant group that has been eyeing that space and wants to put something and nudging the BRA to do this?
They should just give it a rest.. waste of money. (I'll refrain from saying 'tax payer money' but in the end it is tax payer money paying for all of this since it's a quasi agency of the city). Not like there's not many other empty lots out there that need attention.
Bingo
I was going to say it's the Marriott or the Chart House but there's a building between them and this site so that's not obvious.
The real answer is to let a food truck set up shop out there, one per day.
Great Idea
That's actually a great idea. I'm not into giving someone this park to a full time restaurant... but if something TEMPORARY like a food truck wants to come and setup shop for a day. That's fine.
Or food boat? That would be
Or food boat? That would be awesome too!
Bring the Galata fish boats
Bring the Galata fish boats from Istanbul.
Absurd
This space isnt even dry land ... It now floods several times a year, including some high tides without storms. Nothing permanent should be built here ever.
Some tables and a rotating series of food trucks would bring the right vibe.
I like this idea in principle
But BRA is certainly acting shady.
I think a small, emphasis on small, café that served drinks and coffee, light food, and alcohol, (even just beer and wine) would be a great addition here. No late hours or music. Just a refreshment spot or sunset drink spot on the water. Absolutely not taking over most of the park.
A small café with limited seating and strict enforcement of capacities. Even just a summer spot would be great.
The Common is the mother of all public parks and we put a sandwich shop there.
I take one of the ferries and would love to have a drink out here in the evening.
US Attorney
I hope someone continues to look very closely at some of the local political institutions.
I can never tell whether there is watchdogging at the state level, or the state level only reacts to Globe Spotlight exposés.
The Globe is now owned by someone who's gotten at least one nice Boston real estate deal, so I won't hold my breath on the Globe tearing down the entire system of suspicious Meninoesque deals.
I can't see why anyone would
I can't see why anyone would fight this being a restaurant. It is a total waste of space at the end of the wharf. It floods? Since when?
There are three things most people don't dare entertain
around here. Removing "public" space that serves a limited public purpose, eliminating low numbered license plates, and removing the Route 128 designation south of Peabody.
No, it does.
I spend alot of time on Long Wharf these days. It does flood. Esp during high tied after we've had some rain. I mean not like huge amounts.. but a few inches.
Winter.. it's nothing but a land of splashover and everything turns into a sheet of ice.
Of course this is limited to Berth 8 area of the wharf. The pavilion area is a few steps up higher so it doesn't get that bad.
True, but
You can't get to the Pavilion without walking through several inches of water.
It floods on most NorEasters
It floods on the highest high tides (look up Frankentide)
It floods when it can't drain because the tide is up
Sure, it's
a waste in that it's very underused. But this city needs another high end (read:overpriced), mediocre restaurant, probably run by some "celebrity" chef you've never heard of, like it needs another building full of luxury residences.
The food truck idea above is brilliant, or they could even do some sort of permanent BYO kitchen right in the kiosk and rent it out on a weekly basis for local restaurants to do simple, food truck style menus. I realize the logistics around that could be difficult, but considering the way the word "innovative" is thrown around in this town, it shouldn't be a problem.
they call them
POP UP businesses now. That is also a good idea. Food truck is also something I give the thumbs up to. Building something permanent on a wharf that will be swallowed by the sea in 20-50 years is a poor idea at best. can't believe they keep throwing money into such a terrible idea.
Total waste of space? Not to
Total waste of space? Not to the office workers who bring their lunch down there, not to the families who stroll down there in the evening, not to the immigrants who fish there, not to the young lovers who make out there, etc., etc. Not every desirable location in the city has to be devoted to tourists and those with lots of disposable income. A food truck would be a great addition because it would benefit the average person who would like to enjoy the panoramic view of the harbor without paying through the nose for the experience. Therefore, the BRA is unlikely to go for the idea.
Since when?
Since the sea level rise rate started to increase. Google "Long Wharf flooding".
It has been flooding several times a year since 2011 or so ... Enough to erode the foundations of 200 year old buildings.
It doesn't even make the news anymore .
With another one to two feet of rise expected by 2050, building anything elaborate out there is totally foolish
Doubt there's a enough volume for a food truck
Food trucks set up in very high volume spots where tons of people are going to lunch within a few hours.
They crush it and leave.
Can't see one wanting sit out there all day. Esp. If they're rotating b/c who'd want to walk out there without knowing what's for lunch?
And tourists and necessarily going to be eating all the time.
Nice lil seasonal spot with light refreshments and coffee and beer/wine would work.
Could elevate it and design it to allow for. occasional flooding.
Very low impact and very small and off the water. People could just ignore it to just enjoy the open space if they wanted. But it could draw others as great spot for lunch coffee or afterwork drinks.
God knows I'd jump off the wharf before I set foot in Tia's
Could be a great oceanfront amenity.
It would draw people out there
Right now there is no reason to go out there other than to stand there looking at the sea (or check out the waves breaking over the end at full moon high tides).
People know what is out there because there is an app for that.
A food truck would definitely get people out there if there were additional places to sit and eat. People already do eat their lunches out there.
Elevating this would do no good at all - you have to be able to get out to it.
It wouldn't be at the end of the wharf
And there's already a Blue Line Tunnel utility/ tunnel escape infrastructure there. They somehow manage to keep that operational.
I'm on that wharf at least 2 times a day 2 or 3 days a week. I've yet to see it flood so bad that you couldn't walk around the last building.
I'm sure it happens occasionally but...
I doubt a single food truck would go there given the option when they could be at Copley or Dewey Sq or elsewhere with many more workers very close by. Maybe on weekends...
They're already on the Greenway nearby. Why would they opt for less foot traffic?
I'm talking a place with an extremely light footprint and cocktails. It would be a destination for more than lunch. Like sunsets. A food truck isn't going to want to be there all day and evening. Where do they do that now?
The light footprint means they could pack up and batten down the hatches or prepare for the occasional flooding.
Heck decking could be added above the hard scape.
Do you honestly think the BRA would be pushing so hard for something as completely unfeasable as you claim? Nope.
But what do I know? I'm pretty sure they're aren't any surf break off UMASS too.
Hands off our park space please
We don't care if you have a fabulous idea to make money out there, just leave it alone. And yes, they manage to keep an emergency exit "operational " but it is never used (because it is an emergency exit).
Tell it to the BRA
I'm suggesting a tasteful little semi-permanent spot that park-goers could enjoy daily, not a huge restaurant.
And, by definition really, an emergency exit has to be operational at all times. Otherwise it won't work in an emergency. Crazy, right?
And don't kid yourself, Long Wharf is going to be protected from permanent flooding well into the future. It won't be ceded to the water w/o a fight. (There are mitigation methods like pumps and barriers, you know.)
And why not enjoy a little summer shack serving drinks and snacks for the next 25 or even 10 years?
If the place goes under at least we'd have had more fun there.
If you had ever been to Umass or Long Wharf
You would know that one is on dry land raised above the water and surrounded by a buffer of boulders and sea walls (a surf break) while another is a wharf. I'll give you 3 guesses.
What you don't know
Occasional flooding will be permanent innundation in about 25 years, possibly less.
That's what you are ignoring - it floods a little now, it will be wrecked in very soon.
I know all about these projections
I live on the water.
That's why I'm advocating a very light footprint semi-permanent seasonal establishment. It's frigging expendable. what don't you people understand about that?
If you hold that space sacred as open parkland I respect that. Good luck to you vs. the BRA.
But arguing that a well designed spot with some shade and a few tables can't serve the public in the short term is crazy.
I'm often at the Wharf taking the ferry and I would love get a snack or coffee or drink there in pleasant weather.
Sadly for all of us it will probably be a Tia's 2 monstrosity.
This is not about a small foot-print
The City is indeed trying to put down a full service restaurant, much larger than Tia's. For the record what you say you want is already there in Tia's, 2 outdoor bars on the other side of the Marriot, and the patio at the Chart House. Any of those will fit your bill and not grab any park space. All the rest is navel gazing.
I'd prefer seasonal amenities at end of the wharf
Over any big restaurant.
I totally disagree with BRA plans but a little shop out by kiosk would be very different and much more inviting then any of the places you mention. I'm talking a place for takeout coffee/ light food as well as a few tables to sit and have drinks.
Let's put it this way, I'm on the wharf often. I don't frequent any of the places you mentioned.
I would frequent the type of place I'm talking about.
Good luck. I'll survive w/o this place but would really hate to see BRA impose something large there.
Here's what you don't know
http://climateready.boston.gov/findings
High tide
twice a day
Long Wharf - Historic location
On September 14, ceremonies headed by the US Coast Guard took place at the end of Long Wharf, celebrating the 300th anniversary of Boston Light. These were open to the public. The presenters included the Commandant of the US Coast Guard, up from Washington, the Mayor and others. Long Wharf is an historic focal point for the City of Boston....the location where the British invaded and evacuated, where China traders departed and returned, where many of Boston's maritime links to coastal cities began. Long Wharf is a unique gathering place for families, for downtown workers, for tourists. While the hundreds of thousands of those waiting to board the Boston Harbor Cruise vessels each year, they wander out to the end of Long Wharf to watch the passing scene. It's a rare public place on an otherwise crowded waterfront. And, it's a dedicated public park!
We don't need another trendy pub for millennials on Boston's most historic property. Save Long Wharf for the celebrations, the ceremonies, the anniversaries, and the historic and great public occasions....and for the folks who just want to come down to the water's edge to watch the sunrise, and Harbor activities.