Advocacy Alert

Posted on the 09 January 2017 by Fopg @fopg

Dear Friends,

Now is the time to let the Boston Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) and your elected officials know your opinion about the Winthrop Square development proposal and the threat of shadows on our parks.

The deadline for BPDA public comment period on the Winthrop Square proposal is January 16, 2017. Please email the Project Manager, Ms. Casey Hynes, at casey.a.hines@boston.gov as well as call your elected officials including the City Council and the Mayor with your comments about shadows and our parks.

Individual messages are the most impactful, and please include your personal thoughts about these iconic parks.

We have included some of the important talking points about the Winthrop Square proposal.

  • Winthrop Square proposal violates the State's shadow laws
  • Preserve sunlight, prevent shadow creep in our historic parks
  • Amending the shadow laws would set precedent for future developers to seek exemptions resulting in more shadows on the two parks.
  • There should be a comprehensive, long-term development policy, not one-off decisions or exceptions
  • Boston Common and the Public Garden are national treasures and would be damaged by the shadows. Both are on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, and are City and National Landmarks.

Below is the list of emails (formatted so you can copy and paste) and phone numbers of the elected officials, City Councilors, and the Mayor.

Mayor Marty Walsh 617-635-4500 mayor@boston.gov

State elected officials:

Boston City Councilors:

Comments can also be left on the BPDA Winthrop Square page.

http://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/115-winthrop-square