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Waterfront building owner ordered to open grounds to the common people
By adamg on Wed, 05/13/2009 - 9:22am
The state has fined the owner of Independence Wharf on Atlantic Ave. for failing to open public areas on its property to the public.
In a statement, the department says Independence Wharf LLC has seen the error of its ways and agreed to pay both a $21,000 fine and $35,000 in missed state fees dating back to 2001 - when the owners agreed to create public spaces on the property as part of getting state permission to build right on the water.
The company will create "a facility of public accommodation of 2,856 square feet" on the ground level and will post signs letting the public know a 14th-floor viewing area is actually open to the public.
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Comments
At least they kept the
At least they kept the paperwork this time. Its still a shame the public can not obtain views from the John Hancock building anymore because the city could not find the agreement that was made 30/40 years ago that said they had to have public space.
I will have to check out the viewing deck at the Wharf, it must be pretty cool.
There already is a sign,
There already is a sign, though not too obvious, outside the building alerting the public to the observation deck. I stopped by there two weekends ago, and once the guard saw me and opened the door, I had no trouble going up, after showing ID and signing into a log book. I was the only one up there, and it's a pleasant enough space, with views of the Fort Point Channel and Greenway and harbor, and an indoor air-conditioned room too.
On the subject of observation decks, the policy has changed at the Custom House Tower, where I stopped by afterwards. It used to be that its observation deck it was open to the public, free, at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., except Sundays. Now you'll only be let up for free at 2 p.m., but at any other time, if you pay $3, donated to some charity the concierge mentioned, you'll be let upstairs. You can still stay as long as you'd like. Fair enough, especially if you're into photography and want to go later than 4 p.m. on a long summer day.
Chapter 91
You've got to love the BRA and DEP for approving the plans on this. Where is the Harborwalk here? The 2,856 square feet of "public accommodation" is going to be a pricey restaurant, and good luck getting to the 14th floor.
Harborwalk at Independence Wharf
is behind the building along the channel, connected to the Harborwalk behind Russia Wharf and the Intercontinental Hotel.
that part of the Harborwalk
that part of the Harborwalk is embarrassing. It is claustrophobic, I'm not tall and my head almost hits the ceiling. Plus, to get from the bridge there to the Harborwalk, you have to go all the way back to the street and double back, since the bridge sidewalk and harborwalk run parallel but are a foot apart separated by a rail. What is the point.
Low clearance
You're right. I didn't realize how low it was until I bicycled through it this evening with a group. Heads down, folks!
Yeah, that's the one that gets me
Scrunching through the tunnel is a bit unpleasant, but the pissah comes when you've got to go all the way back up to the road to cross Seaport. It'd be nice if they could fix that part, but I don't see how.
Ehm, Ive been to the 14th
Ehm, Ive been to the 14th floor many, many times without problem. Only a couple of months ago was I told it was closed for the week "due to repairs".
They dont make it easy though, only one door is open to the lobby, and it changes every time.
The building also has restrooms open 24 hours to the public, accessible directly from the street.
I dont understand why theyre actually pushing for more. No other building gives as much as they do
Agreed
I've been to the observation deck once after reading the sign a few dozen times (without my camera) and I've used that restroom many a time, as this city, as much as it loves it's sauce, does not come close to accommodating the bladder in that respect. That building is a savior after a Harpoon Brewery fest. I didn't understand this news item either when I heard it on the radio earlier today.
It's open people. Just go up. I've even seen a local business annual publication that had a front cover photo obviously taken from that building's deck. It's open. Just have your ID and sign in. Go to the elevator, and go to level 14. There's no tourist souvenir photography involved, no quack lip whistles...just plain, simple, leisurely enjoyment of what this city has to offer.
I recommend evening time.
Its because they were built
Its because they were built on former tidal land... Thats the whole point. They wanted to build on the land and couldnt unless they offered the public some access. They actually got off lucky because they were able to put most of their share in the building, on lower floors (save for the deck and room) which in an area like that would fetch lower rents then the upper levels. In many communities they would have had to offer up open green space instead, thereby costing them a huge chunk of land.