Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
JW Capital Partners, LLC (John Moriarty and Will Adams) has entered into an agreement to purchase from the DeNormandie Companies the property at the end of Lewis Wharf. If they move forward with the purchase, their goal is to build two large buildings consisting of a 150 room hotel connected to a building containing 30-40 condominium units which would sell in the range of $4 million. The buildings, as proposed, would be 55 feet high, connected by a 22 ft high connector, built on the existing wharf and over the pilings at the end of the wharf. The proposed project would also include underground parking for approximately 300 to 400 motor vehicles. This development would significantly eliminate the view and natural vistas of many of the residents of the current North End/Waterfront and thousands of residents of Boston and visitors who enjoy the waterfront every day as they walk along Commercial Street and Atlantic Avenue. This massive development seeks to change the nature and character of our historic residential waterfront neighborhood.
Harbor tidelands, over which the proposed project would be constructed, have been recognized since the beginning of our nation to be a unique kind of property, subject to a public trust for the benefit of all who seek to use the harbor. Title to the land under the pilings at the end of Lewis Wharf was conveyed by a grant of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1832 to the Lewis Wharf Company. The grant was specifically made subject to a “public trust” and to be used for a “public purpose.” That specific restriction on the land at the end of Lewis Wharf, consistent with other public tidelands, continues to this day. In the case of Boston Waterfront Development Corp. v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 378 Mass 369 (1979), the Supreme Judicial Court addressed the very land and pilings in question at the end of Lewis Wharf. The Court held that “the land in question is subject to the condition that it be used for a public purpose related to the promot(ion of) trade and commerce by enabling and encouraging the owners of flats to build wharves, warehouses and other structures thereon for the use and convenience of …. those having occasion to resort to the ports and harbors.” What the developer is proposing to do at Lewis Wharf is “NOT” for the benefit of marine commerce or for a “public purpose.”
If this development project is allowed to be built at the end of Lewis Wharf, it will set a precedent for others to build hotels or condominiums on other parking lots and wharf pilings along the waterfront in the North End. This may be appropriate for the Seaport District, where they are converting vacant, commercial parking lots, but it is not appropriate for the historical enclave of the North End/Waterfront residential district.
Many years of extensive construction and its aftermath are certain to create unprecedented traffic congestion, toxic emissions, and other safety and environmental concerns, not to mention an infestation of rats that will inevitably appear during construction, as has often been the case with wharf construction in the past.
Please join us today by signing the petition to protect our North End/ Waterfront residential neighborhood and oppose the proposed development.
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Updates
October 11, 2014
We hit 100 signatures today. Post the petition link on your Facebook page to get the word out to our neighbors. Call your city councilor and tell them the waterfront is not for sale.
Reached 100 supporters
October 8, 2014
20 Comments
The harbor is a vital presence to residents and visitors to the waterfront, and is a vital part of our commerce, recreation and history. Why should we make the harbar an aquatic urban alleyway by erecting yet another barrier building? The Seaport development has done quite enough of that.
This is appalling!! A nightmare for wharf residents, of course, but more importantly a terrible loss to Boston and all its visitor. This has been our historic face to the sea for centuries. If it's lost, we can't get it back. What's the city's role here? We need something to benefit the neighborhood, Boston, and the nation. Where's the vision??!
I completely disagree with this development - we must keep all the historic habor tidelands for the enjoyment of all and not allow an out-of-scale development of this incompatible nature to go ahead.
It would be a hugh mistake to lose this Harbor tideland amenity for a massive development that is completley out of character with this historic residential area.
I am a resident at Lewis Wharf and would be very disappointed if these proposed plans were to be approved. It would ruin everything I love about living here and the entire area would be changed for the worst and lose the charm many appreciate.
Would devastate the views and historic feel for many nearby residents, not to mention set an awful precedent. Please, please, no.
The roads cannot the additional traffic that will be generated by this project
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Status: Closed — this petition is no longer accepting signatures.
Final supporters
JW Capital Partners, LLC (John Moriarty and Will Adams) has entered into an agreement to purchase from the DeNormandie Companies the property at the end of Lewis Wharf. If they move forward with the purchase, their goal is to build two large buildings consisting of a 150 room hotel connected to a building containing 30-40 condominium units which would sell in the range of $4 million. The buildings, as proposed, would be 55 feet high, connected by a 22 ft high connector, built on the existing wharf and over the pilings at the end of the wharf. The proposed project would also include underground parking for approximately 300 to 400 motor vehicles. This development would significantly eliminate the view and natural vistas of many of the residents of the current North End/Waterfront and thousands of residents of Boston and visitors who enjoy the waterfront every day as they walk along Commercial Street and Atlantic Avenue. This massive development seeks to change the nature and character of our historic residential waterfront neighborhood.
Harbor tidelands, over which the proposed project would be constructed, have been recognized since the beginning of our nation to be a unique kind of property, subject to a public trust for the benefit of all who seek to use the harbor. Title to the land under the pilings at the end of Lewis Wharf was conveyed by a grant of the Massachusetts Legislature in 1832 to the Lewis Wharf Company. The grant was specifically made subject to a “public trust” and to be used for a “public purpose.” That specific restriction on the land at the end of Lewis Wharf, consistent with other public tidelands, continues to this day. In the case of Boston Waterfront Development Corp. v. Commonwealth of Massachusetts, 378 Mass 369 (1979), the Supreme Judicial Court addressed the very land and pilings in question at the end of Lewis Wharf. The Court held that “the land in question is subject to the condition that it be used for a public purpose related to the promot(ion of) trade and commerce by enabling and encouraging the owners of flats to build wharves, warehouses and other structures thereon for the use and convenience of …. those having occasion to resort to the ports and harbors.” What the developer is proposing to do at Lewis Wharf is “NOT” for the benefit of marine commerce or for a “public purpose.”
If this development project is allowed to be built at the end of Lewis Wharf, it will set a precedent for others to build hotels or condominiums on other parking lots and wharf pilings along the waterfront in the North End. This may be appropriate for the Seaport District, where they are converting vacant, commercial parking lots, but it is not appropriate for the historical enclave of the North End/Waterfront residential district.
Many years of extensive construction and its aftermath are certain to create unprecedented traffic congestion, toxic emissions, and other safety and environmental concerns, not to mention an infestation of rats that will inevitably appear during construction, as has often been the case with wharf construction in the past.
Please join us today by signing the petition to protect our North End/ Waterfront residential neighborhood and oppose the proposed development.
Updates
October 11, 2014
We hit 100 signatures today. Post the petition link on your Facebook page to get the word out to our neighbors. Call your city councilor and tell them the waterfront is not for sale.
Reached 100 supporters
October 8, 2014
20 Comments
Since it is not for the public and only for profit. I say stop it before it takes away every thing good in Boston's harbor area. I work on the water front and enjoy the open spaces surrounding the towers in Boston's buissness district.
The harbor is a vital presence to residents and visitors to the waterfront, and is a vital part of our commerce, recreation and history. Why should we make the harbar an aquatic urban alleyway by erecting yet another barrier building? The Seaport development has done quite enough of that.
This is appalling!! A nightmare for wharf residents, of course, but more importantly a terrible loss to Boston and all its visitor. This has been our historic face to the sea for centuries. If it's lost, we can't get it back. What's the city's role here? We need something to benefit the neighborhood, Boston, and the nation. Where's the vision??!
I completely disagree with this development - we must keep all the historic habor tidelands for the enjoyment of all and not allow an out-of-scale development of this incompatible nature to go ahead.
It would be a hugh mistake to lose this Harbor tideland amenity for a massive development that is completley out of character with this historic residential area.
I am a resident at Lewis Wharf and would be very disappointed if these proposed plans were to be approved. It would ruin everything I love about living here and the entire area would be changed for the worst and lose the charm many appreciate.
Would devastate the views and historic feel for many nearby residents, not to mention set an awful precedent. Please, please, no.
The roads cannot the additional traffic that will be generated by this project
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Since it is not for the public and only for profit. I say stop it before it takes away every thing good in Boston's harbor area. I work on the water front and enjoy the open spaces surrounding the towers in Boston's buissness district.