WEBVTT

METADATA
Video-Count: 1
Video-1: youtube.com/watch?v=OYgeOG31MmQ

Part: 1

1
00:00:04.080 --> 00:00:20.000
Okay, good evening everyone. Welcome and thank you for being here tonight for our first community meeting on the Jamaica Pond Boat House study. My name is Ka O of and I'm the project manager with Boston Parks and Recreation. Um before we begin,

2
00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:46.440
I'll quickly go over what to expect this evening. Um are we screen sharing? Did it stop? Maybe. >> There we go. Thank you. All right.

3
00:00:48.320 --> 00:01:03.359
Okay. So, we didn't receive any requests for language interpretation tonight, but please remember this is a free service available for future Boston Parks meetings. Um, tonight's meeting is being recorded and will be available on the project web page within the next week.

4
00:01:03.359 --> 00:01:18.640
Um, feel free to share the link with any neighbors who couldn't make it tonight. I'm going to drop this link in the chat right now. I'm sure you've all seen it, but there it is. Again, during the presentation, your microphones will be off um just to minimize distractions.

5
00:01:18.640 --> 00:01:35.119
Next, um we want to make sure this is a positive, respectful conversation where everyone feels comfortable participating. And since tonight's meeting is only 90 minutes and we have a lot of folks here, um please keep comments focused on this project and um

6
00:01:35.119 --> 00:01:50.880
give others a chance to share before jumping in again. Next, during the presentation, you can use the chat or non-verbal reactions like the thumbs up or the clapping. Um, but then when we open the discussion, you can

7
00:01:50.880 --> 00:02:06.799
post your questions or comments in the chat and we'll respond to them in order or um use the raise hand feature and our moderator will unmute you when it's time your turn to speak next. All right. We are often asked um how

8
00:02:06.799 --> 00:02:23.120
design decisions are made. design and parks is guided by a few key factors like safety and regulatory guidelines for example ADA um the city of Boston's priorities the goals of parks and wreck and then in this case because we're dealing with buildings the public

9
00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:39.840
facilities department and then finally um community input uh which is why we're here tonight to gather your feedback and guidance to help shape this study next for the parks department specifically we focus on creating accessible, inclusive

10
00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:54.959
spaces, engaging communities meaningfully, designing resilient and adaptable landscapes, strengthening connections between people and nature. Next, um, the public facilities department has

11
00:02:54.959 --> 00:03:12.480
similar goals and best summarized as designing inclusive, lasting, and culturally responsive public buildings, meeting user needs, schedules, and budgets, and then providing universal access and sustainable resilient design.

12
00:03:12.480 --> 00:03:28.640
Next. Um, and all of our projects together aim to support aim to support the city's key priorities listed here. Um, let's move on to project team. Thank you. Um, so as mentioned, I'm the

13
00:03:28.640 --> 00:03:44.640
project manager with Boston Parks and Wrath. I'll be your main point of contact throughout the course of this study. And then joining us from parks tonight is our community outreach coordinator, Mike McMillan. He's also tonight's moderator. Um, from the public facilities department, this study is led

14
00:03:44.640 --> 00:04:00.560
by project manager Alistair Lux. Our design team is led by Anom Architects. We have Jason Bowers, the principal in charge, Ashley Merchant, the project manager, and Mark Pentano, project architect.

15
00:04:00.560 --> 00:04:15.840
That team is supported by engineers, code consultants, historic preservation consultants, and landscape architects. Um, before we move into the agenda, I just want to give any elected officials or city staff that are joining us

16
00:04:15.840 --> 00:04:34.240
tonight, can you feel free to introduce yourselves and share a few words. >> Hi, good evening. My name is Ann. I work with State Senator Mike Rush and I'm really looking forward to tonight's presentation. Thank you so much.

17
00:04:34.240 --> 00:04:56.080
>> Thank you, Ann. All right. Looking through the list to see if there's anyone else. All right. So, >> ma'am, not an elected official, but a city official. >> Oh, thank you for joining. Would you like to state your name? >> Yeah, Carlton Jones, executive director of public facilities department. I'm

18
00:04:56.080 --> 00:05:11.919
just happy to support this effort um with the uh staff and full resources of the public facilities department. >> Thank you so much for joining. Of course. >> All right. Um, next slide.

19
00:05:11.919 --> 00:05:26.400
So, tonight our agenda is to cover schedule and scope for this study. Um, existing conditions, what we've heard so far, and the visioning discussion. Um, I'll go ahead and turn it over now to Alistister Lux from public facilities department to talk about schedule and

20
00:05:26.400 --> 00:05:42.160
scope. >> Hi everyone, my name is Alistair Lux. I'm a senior project manager with the public facilities department and along with uh Kia and all my colleagues at PFTD I'm helping to manage uh this boat

21
00:05:42.160 --> 00:05:56.880
house study. Next slide please. Uh so to start with I just wanted to review the overall project schedule with with you all so you have a better sense of the uh the timeline that we're talking about here

22
00:05:56.880 --> 00:06:13.919
for this study and uh any subsequent project. So um as you can see from the timeline we're in the study phase right now and we're expected to take about 12 months. We already uh we actually got started around the um January or early

23
00:06:13.919 --> 00:06:29.759
February of this year. Um but what's important on this slide is that after we complete our study, there will be um some cost estimates that come out of the study. And with those cost estimates, there will be a a process for budgeting

24
00:06:29.759 --> 00:06:48.560
where um the uh we'll look at uh potential uh budgets for the project. And once those budgets are approved, um, then if they are, the the project would go into a design phase, which would also likely take about 12 months. And then

25
00:06:48.560 --> 00:07:04.720
following that, once the project's bid for construction, that would also take another 12 months on top of that. So, um, as you can see, uh, we're talking about a 3 to fouryear timeline at the very least. It's a thoughtful and

26
00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:21.199
deliberate process. So, I wanted to make you all aware of that. Um, and I also wanted to mention that since we're just starting out, we don't have a really firm idea of what the overall schedule will be. Um things like state and local permitting, uh landmark and historic

27
00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:37.120
preservation review, uh the forementioned budgeting process, and the need to kind of work around the busy summer, uh programs at the boat house when when it uh any that would impact any construction could all um impact our

28
00:07:37.120 --> 00:07:53.199
our schedule and and in fact extend the timeline a little further. And also it's um as I mentioned uh any budget for design and construction would be determined once the study is complete and the uh budgeting process is also

29
00:07:53.199 --> 00:08:11.599
complete. And there will be um times like tonight where we're asking for community input in both the study and the design phases. Next slide please. So, zooming in a little bit to um talk about the scope of our study, just the

30
00:08:11.599 --> 00:08:28.000
study, the phase that we're in right now. Uh our our goal with the study is to um determine the extent of required repairs and smallcale renovations as well as legally required code upgrades related to accessibility and life

31
00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:43.039
safety. Those are sort of the very most important things we want to address um through this study. But we also um want to take the time to do a little due diligence and get some feedback from

32
00:08:43.039 --> 00:08:59.440
both the uh user agencies that work and uh manage the boat house as well as the community members like you who use the boat house to ask some questions and see if there's anything any renovations or that we can make

33
00:08:59.440 --> 00:09:16.800
while as long as we're um making some of these repairs and upgrades that would enhance uh existing programs currently operating out of the boat house or even add maybe one or two new programs that would further uh lead to further enjoyment and and uh better use of this

34
00:09:16.800 --> 00:09:35.040
fac uh city facility. So, um, as I mentioned, we started a couple months ago, and what we've been working on is, uh, for the past couple months are the existing conditions assessment of the existing facilities to try to determine what we're working with. And we'll review a little bit of that with you

35
00:09:35.040 --> 00:09:52.480
later tonight. And, um, once that work is complete, we're heading into the programming phase of the project. And uh for those of you who may not know, programming is sort of a planning phase that happens before you get to actually designing renovations or new spaces

36
00:09:52.480 --> 00:10:08.080
where you kind of try to find out more about what types of spaces are needed, how many people will be using them and and from that information you can determine um what size spaces need to be designed and what kind of features those

37
00:10:08.080 --> 00:10:23.519
spaces really need to have. And that's where your input is critically important as well as the input of the park rangers, the courageous sailing which is the vendor that currently operates out of the boat house. And once we have all collected all that information, then and

38
00:10:23.519 --> 00:10:40.399
only then will we go into the concept design phase where we sketch out some very preliminary concepts. And those concepts are not so much to uh serve as final design ideas or anything like that. They're just very basic ideas

39
00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:55.040
that will allow us to u determine some costs and help with that next budgeting phase. And the at the end of the study, there will be a final report where all of the information we've gathered, including all of your comments and

40
00:10:55.040 --> 00:11:12.399
feedback that will all be um compiled in a final report that's available for everybody to read, all the stakeholders, including members of the public. Next slide, please. So, uh, as I mentioned, your input, um,

41
00:11:12.399 --> 00:11:30.000
is very essential to a successful project, and we want to hear all of your ideas, whether they're big or small. This is the time to do it. It's a kind of a a brainstorming kind of process early on. And um I'll just say uh just

42
00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:47.839
to give a little frame of reference this uh due to some of the constraints, we're envisioning uh this renovation as a smaller scale renovation. So we're not um we're not envisioning any kind of project that's going to change the size

43
00:11:47.839 --> 00:12:04.959
or the aesthetics of the boat house. Uh, but we do very much want to improve the boat house nonetheless through um various upgrades. So although we want to hear all your ideas, we're especially looking forward to hearing ideas for small improvements that will have a

44
00:12:04.959 --> 00:12:19.760
really big impact. And so we have several different ways for you to contribute to the study and offer your feedback. Um, we have three community meetings planned. We're g we're hope to do the next one in person

45
00:12:19.760 --> 00:12:35.680
and that will likely take uh place sometime in June, but the exact date is to be determined and then we'll likely have a third community meeting in September. You can also please visit our um project web page and there you can find links to some of the surveys we've

46
00:12:35.680 --> 00:12:52.959
created. We already had over 300 or close to 300 responses on our initial uh pulse check survey and there you can sign up for email lists and um updates. Uh and with that I will hand it off to

47
00:12:52.959 --> 00:13:08.399
the team from ANOM to talk about uh some of the work that they've been doing. >> Thanks Alistister. Um I'm Ashley Merchant. I'm the project manager from ANOM. Um, I'm going to talk a little about the existing conditions and what

48
00:13:08.399 --> 00:13:24.800
we've seen so far. We've been digging into um both the historical documentation um of this project, the different um drawings that the city has um as well as uh making some site visits

49
00:13:24.800 --> 00:13:40.959
out there with our historic preservation consultants and um team of engineers and landscape architects um to really get a a sense of um what condition the building's in right now. um both in terms of the physical condition um and

50
00:13:40.959 --> 00:13:56.959
then also we'll also get in a little bit to how it's being used right now. Um so the uh these two buildings are at 507 Jamaica Way on the east side of Jamaica Pond. Um they at the closest

51
00:13:56.959 --> 00:14:12.959
point um is about a 5-minute walk to the center street shops and cafes um which extends in both directions on center street from this area. The emerald necklace was designed by Frederick Law Olmstead in the late 19th

52
00:14:12.959 --> 00:14:29.199
century. Um and the plan for the Jamaica pond um designated this location for a boat house. Um although these buildings were not designed until 1910 um and were not constructed until 1912.

53
00:14:29.199 --> 00:14:46.480
Um they were designed by William Downs Austin in a tutor bungalow style. Um there have been partial renovations of these buildings in the 1970s and 1990s which moved things around quite a bit on the interior from the original uh

54
00:14:46.480 --> 00:15:02.959
layout. Um, but as you can see from these photos, the exteriors um have changed very little um since the buildings were originally designed. The Emerald Necklace is on the National Register of Historic Places and Jamaica

55
00:15:02.959 --> 00:15:20.320
Pond is a City of Boston landmark. Um, and both buildings are considered contributing structures to these historic designations. Um, although are not landmarks in their own right. Um, so repairs or upgrades um must meet federal, state, and local preservation

56
00:15:20.320 --> 00:15:40.800
requirements. Looking at the site, um this is um a very busy intersection of the pond. Um Jamaica Pond is the second most visited uh Boston Parks and Recreation Park in the city. Jamaica Pond is classified as a great pond um which is means it has a

57
00:15:40.800 --> 00:15:56.639
surface area over 10 acres um and storm water runoff and pollutants have been major issues for the pond. Um this diagram shows all the various um uh uh circulation in the area um from the

58
00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:13.519
vehicular road um as well as the road leading to Center Street. Um, and then in orange, the cycle and pedestrian path around the pond. Um, and then in yellow, um, the pedestrian path close to the

59
00:16:13.519 --> 00:16:29.279
pond. Um, this is one of the major entrances to the park. Um, and both buildings have multiple points of entry. Um, a small plaza between them. Um and then the dock that extends out into the

60
00:16:29.279 --> 00:16:49.440
pond beyond. So this is a photograph looking um from the uh pedestrian entrance to the park um in between the uh two buildings. We just want to be clear about what we're calling each building um so that

61
00:16:49.440 --> 00:17:04.880
everyone can use the same terminology through this meeting to be very clear. Um, so the building on the left in this photo is the boat house. Um, and that is the uh building that Courageous Sailing operates out of and has the restrooms.

62
00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:22.480
Um, and then the band stand is the building on the right. Um, between these is I mentioned the plaza with the storm water planters. Um the site has um other features that include um existing

63
00:17:22.480 --> 00:17:41.039
benches, bike racks, a water fountain outside the boat house, um trash cans and portaotties on site. Um the immediate site around um these buildings was redone in the 2019 Jamaica

64
00:17:41.039 --> 00:17:58.400
Pond Park Pathways and Entrances Project. Um, this uh restored some of the uh stairs that were existing here um and added ramps that provide an accessible pathway to the building entrances that are off of this plaza. Um

65
00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:17.039
there uh from the original design um were uh planters um in these locations um that are historic to the project um and also provide storm water filtration. This is um the elevation of the boat

66
00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:33.200
house from the original 1912 drawings. Um as you can see, very little has changed over the years on the exterior of the building. Um so the boat house on the left here is a 1 and 1/2tory building. Um you can see

67
00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:49.120
there's a larger first story um and a smaller second story that just consists of one room. The bandstand um has a uh one-story building on the lower level and then an open air pavilion on the top

68
00:18:49.120 --> 00:19:04.160
that is accessed off of a set of exterior stairs. Um so we're going to share some of the major findings um of our assessment so far in terms of the physical condition of the buildings.

69
00:19:04.160 --> 00:19:19.760
Um on the exterior walls and trim, the paint is badly peeling. Um the brick has areas of damage that needs to be repaired. Um there's also some rot um on the wood trims and railings,

70
00:19:19.760 --> 00:19:36.160
particularly on the boat house. The roofs um are generally in good condition um although could use a cleaning um and have a need for some spot repairs at specific locations. Um there are also

71
00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:51.679
copper gutters um that in some locations need repair and/or replacement. Um the windows are not in good shape. Um they need either a significant restoration effort or replacement. Um there is also

72
00:19:51.679 --> 00:20:09.120
a known structural issue that predates this study. Um there is cracking at the brick on the southwest corner of the building um at the pier due to a known structural issue um that is being um studied um separately from the study and

73
00:20:09.120 --> 00:20:27.280
on a different timeline on the interior of the building. Many interior finishes are in need of maintenance um and repair or replacement. Um there are existing restrooms um that are in need of updated

74
00:20:27.280 --> 00:20:43.200
finishes, fixtures as well as accessibility upgrades. Um in terms of accessibility, both buildings have upper levels that are accessed from stairs and do not have an accessible pathway. Um in general, all of the systems in the

75
00:20:43.200 --> 00:21:02.080
building, which include the heating, cooling, uh electrical, and fire alarm systems, um are at the end of their service life. So in terms of the um existing uh conditions um moving on from the physical condition of the building to

76
00:21:02.080 --> 00:21:18.240
how they are currently being used um the boat house is being used um for boat rental. Um Courageous Sailing operates out of there um running both public boat rental and youth programs. Um the

77
00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:35.799
building also includes public restrooms. Um the band stand has a park ranger station um as well as a small nature center um and is also available for public events through a permit process.

78
00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:51.280
So we're going to go through the floor plans of both buildings um so everyone who has not been inside them can get a sense of the major uh spaces. So, this is the lower level of the boat house.

79
00:21:51.280 --> 00:22:09.039
This is the door here. Um, accessed off of that, uh, sunken plaza that we looked at. Um, the large room, which we're calling the fireplace room. Um, this is the main space that Courageous Sailing uses. Um, in the spring, summer, and

80
00:22:09.039 --> 00:22:26.080
fall, uh, there's boat rental and youth programs run out of here. And in the winter, this space is used for boat storage. Um, this is connected via a vestibule um to a me small mechanical room for the building as well as a

81
00:22:26.080 --> 00:22:43.120
support room in the back corner that Courageous Sailing uses as an office space and cool down area as well as a small kitchenet. The public restrooms in this building are managed by Courageous Sailing um which is why they are um open

82
00:22:43.120 --> 00:22:58.480
during to the public during sailing season and closed for the rest of the year. Um there is also a stair um that leads up to the oops sorry um just a couple photos of the the first floor

83
00:22:58.480 --> 00:23:14.559
spaces before we go upstairs. Um so this on the left is that fireplace room. Um and then on the right is a representative photo of one of the uh restrooms. Um so upstairs um is a room that

84
00:23:14.559 --> 00:23:32.760
Courageous Sailing um uses for both as a workspace and a program space um in the spring, summer, and fall. Um and in winter that is also used for boat storage. Um and these are a couple pictures of that space.

85
00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:51.919
Then moving over to the band stand. Um the entrance door is here on the left side uh off of the other side of that same plaza. Um coming in there's a small ramp that actually brings people down um because the floor level is slightly

86
00:23:51.919 --> 00:24:08.640
below the plaza level. Um this space is used by the park rangers um as a park ranger station. Um there's storage in here. It is also used as a nature center that is open irregular hours year round. Um and also

87
00:24:08.640 --> 00:24:23.840
hosts public programs. Um these are a few pictures of the space. Um there's some very low beams in this space. Um there is also these are the display shelves um for the uh mostly taxiderermy

88
00:24:23.840 --> 00:24:42.480
um specimens um for the nature center about Jamaica pond wildlife. Then on the upper level is the open air pavilion. Um this is available for the public to use um both as informal activities

89
00:24:42.480 --> 00:25:00.240
um as well as permanent uses and is accessed um from an outside stair um and has you can see in the picture um also has benches on two sides as well. Um so the parks department shared with

90
00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:16.400
us um a uh list of all of the permits that were granted for this space during 2025. Um there's a wide range of activities, a lot of um personal celebrations from weddings to alopments to engagement parties, uh birthday

91
00:25:16.400 --> 00:25:34.159
parties, memorials and baby showers. Um there's also uh music and dance uh performances that happen here. Um, I saw someone from the JP Jitterbugs um was on this call. Um, we'd actually uh used used one of their photos um of a

92
00:25:34.159 --> 00:25:51.440
representative uh performance here. Um, there's also exercise classes, yoga. Um, this is a place that a lot of runs and walks around the pond originate. Um, parades including the uh lantern parade. Um, this is also permitted for corporate

93
00:25:51.440 --> 00:26:07.120
and religious outings as well as other community events. >> Ashley, >> um, yep. You want me to pause here and answer any questions? >> Why don't we pause here just so we don't get too far away from when the hands got raised? So, we'll start with, um, it was

94
00:26:07.120 --> 00:26:26.000
Daniel, then Michael, then Tony, and I'm guessing that there may be some questions that need clarification based on what you've heard thus far. Um, so Daniel, are you able to unmute? >> I did. There we are.

95
00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:42.799
>> Um, question. You repeatedly talked about um, uh, the vanstand. And so is the van stand an integral part of this project assessment? >> Yes, we are looking at both buildings. >> Okay. Including the up. All right.

96
00:26:42.799 --> 00:27:00.159
Great. Um that that's an issue that's very important. So where how did who started all this um this project? Where did it come from? Out of what reality? Was it a political thing that somebody said we need to work on this? I mean where did where did the impetus come from?

97
00:27:00.159 --> 00:27:17.120
>> Alistaria do you want to take? >> It's a great question. I think it has been in in um conversation for a while. Um, and I'm guessing that some of the impetus came out of the um the structural cracking that's happening at

98
00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:34.240
the boat house specifically um where we're looking at doing some temporary shoring just to keep the building um structure in a safe and usable condition. Um and that's about the extent of my knowledge, but I can follow up with more

99
00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:50.159
information after this or maybe Alistair has further. >> Sure. I I can just say that uh PFD is usually asked to start a study or a design project um after the uh user

100
00:27:50.159 --> 00:28:06.399
agency which in this case would be parks puts in a request through the capital budgeting process and it's it's then reviewed by the um office of budget management and and it comes to us to uh execute or complete or manage the study

101
00:28:06.399 --> 00:28:24.039
in this case. And is it in the capital budget right now for next year? >> The study is, but that's the extent of the budgeting uh commitments so far. >> Okay, great. Thank you. There'll be more later. I appreciate it.

102
00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:40.960
>> Thank you. Um let's go to Michael. >> Hey everyone. Apologies. I'm not able to turn my camera on right now because I just left uh the state house after a very long day. Um, so also apologize for being late, but um, not so much a question. I just I just wanted to um on

103
00:28:40.960 --> 00:28:56.240
behalf of myself and rep McGregor just thank uh um the parks department, the city um for their continued investment and attention um to what I think we all know is is just a really great resource, not just for people in JP, but um for all around Boston. You know, I I think I

104
00:28:56.240 --> 00:29:12.720
think back to when I first uh came back to Boston after the pandemic and everyone was saying how the pond was um the entire pond was just such a such a huge resource as it has always been for um for people to get outside and and and be in community. Um uh see a couple

105
00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:28.159
constituents on the on the call who I know um are very very uh invested and passionate in this and I'm sure they'll talk. We're we're working right now with some people to try and uh try and support uh financially and and politically um uh the pond and surrounding areas. So, just really really appreciate the continued

106
00:29:28.159 --> 00:29:43.919
partnership um and thank you guys so much for this meeting and and and for bringing us all together. Really appreciate it. Thank you. >> Thank you so much for joining and sharing and supporting the meeting. And I see that Melissa from Councelor Weber's office is also here. So, thank you as well.

107
00:29:43.919 --> 00:29:58.880
>> Yeah, I I think Ann from Senator Rush's office is on as well. It's hard to to jump back in, but I usually share my email in the chat. Um, I am in transit right now, so I will not be able to do that um safely. Uh, but my email is my first name, last name at mahous.gov if anybody wants to to get in contact, but

108
00:29:58.880 --> 00:30:13.520
thank you guys so much. I appreciate it. >> Thank you. I'll put that in the chat, too. Um, and next was Tony. >> Hi, thank you very much. I'm Tony Drifus with the Friends of Jamaica Pond, and I had a question about the process of the

109
00:30:13.520 --> 00:30:29.600
funding for the study. We saw that the city's capital budget had a $500,000 allocation for the boat house study, which seemed like an awful lot of money for a study and not for any of the work. And so we wondered whether all of that

110
00:30:29.600 --> 00:30:46.559
money is going to be expended on the study process or could some of that money be used for some of the smaller repairs and improvements that might be concluded that in the study were needed. I I can take that question. Yes, that

111
00:30:46.559 --> 00:31:03.679
that's correct. We're we're not using all of that money for the study, but like you uh likely what's left over would not be enough to both design a renovation or repairs and bid that out and pay for the the contractor. So any

112
00:31:03.679 --> 00:31:20.799
any money that's left over from the study will then uh potentially go back into the city budget and could be reallocated if there is a uh a design and construction phase that comes out of this. Uh but the um yes that's that's

113
00:31:20.799 --> 00:31:42.080
the description of the of the budget so far. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Um, Deacon Deacon Marvel, please unmute yourself. >> Hello. Hello everybody. Thank you for

114
00:31:42.080 --> 00:31:57.039
this um presentation. This looks like a great opportunity to uh to really do something great for Jamaica Plane. Um it's I haven't heard yet what the overall scope of the project is. So, I'd like some maybe that's coming, but is

115
00:31:57.039 --> 00:32:14.480
this just going to be sort of a repair and renovation or are changes or is is anything further envisioned? I mean, right. Right. We know that these spaces are very limited. There's not a lot of opportunity to and and I'm sure there'll be a there'd be a massive amount of

116
00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:30.080
opposition if there was any expansion contemplated. So, this strikes me as pretty much a repair and renovation, but I'd like to hear a little bit more about what the overall goals are just besides that that those immediate needs.

117
00:32:30.080 --> 00:32:46.799
>> Sure, I can respond to that a little further. Um as I mentioned um in the initial description of the scope we we envision it much the same you know we have the same uh awareness of the some of the limitations

118
00:32:46.799 --> 00:33:02.640
uh that exists. So we're not envisioning this as any kind of a project that would expand the size of the boat house or uh change the aesthetic drastically. Um you know just because there would be too many constraints to do that really.

119
00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:18.720
Um, but we do want to um improve it in some ways. We we know there's repairs that need to happen to preserve the the boat house and we know there's things that would be really nice to fix like some of the systems um that could make the boat house more

120
00:33:18.720 --> 00:33:37.039
comfortable, perform better. Um, so as long as we're uh engaged in this process, we also want to hear from you. What are some of the things that maybe, you know, we could make a small change that would have a big impact? Or maybe there's a program that isn't currently

121
00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:53.600
supported by the boat house that if we made a small upgrade somehow that we could bring that program in and serve the the constituents a little better. So, um, we're going into it very cleareyed. We know this is not um going

122
00:33:53.600 --> 00:34:09.040
to be a huge renovation or anything like that, but we also want to um open up this visioning process and hear from your perspective cuz maybe you know something that we don't and and you can inform us a little better and then we can incorporate

123
00:34:09.040 --> 00:34:26.800
uh those those visions or ideas into our uh planning. And um and the other thing I'll just reiterate is we're at the very start of this process. So um part of a study is further defining the scope. So we don't want to say with absolute

124
00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:42.560
certainty what the scope is cuz we don't really know. We need to we need to find out more about the existing conditions and how people are currently using it to really um define that scope better throughout this process. >> Now I'll just add to that that the

125
00:34:42.560 --> 00:35:07.599
report at the end of this process may not have one recommendation. and it may lay out a few different scenarios of scales of renovation. >> Great. Thank you all. And Alexandra, >> hi. Thanks for calling on me and for having this meeting. I'm really, really

126
00:35:07.599 --> 00:35:24.560
happy that it's happening. Um, I've been watching the both buildings sort of deteriorate over the years and I wondered uh a couple things. Well, first I wanted to say that that the community is deeply

127
00:35:24.560 --> 00:35:39.440
invested in um maintaining and improving uh the structure and infrastructure of all of this. and um a lot of interest has bubbled up since we've started

128
00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:58.560
talking about it. So there's that. Um I wondered um on the structural the the um division of repairing the structural issues with the other. And uh maybe I

129
00:35:58.560 --> 00:36:14.720
missed that comment or or explanation, but I wonder if you could tell me again why the structural part is not being addressed concurrently with the rest.

130
00:36:14.720 --> 00:36:30.720
>> Um it it's being addressed sooner than the rest of it. Oh, sooner. It needs to be stabilized. Yeah. >> Okay. Yes, it does. Okay. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you so much. Um let's

131
00:36:30.720 --> 00:36:46.720
jump back into the presentation. We'll talk about what we've heard so far and I'll go Ashley. Go ahead. >> All right. Um so I'll I'll try to go through this um portion fairly quickly so that we can um get to the uh discussion, but we wanted to share a

132
00:36:46.720 --> 00:37:03.520
little bit about what we've heard through the almost 300 survey responses um that that people have submitted. Um, so we pulled out some um, quotes we felt were significant um, from the responses. Um, these are some things that we've

133
00:37:03.520 --> 00:37:20.480
heard that people like about the existing buildings. Um, someone says, "I love that they're quaint. They fit in with the space and setting and they don't overwhelm." Um, someone else says, "The historic structures have stood the test of time. Four generations of my family and many others in the JP

134
00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:36.160
neighborhood have celebrated birthdays, graduations, friendship, and multigenerational community concerts and singalongs and dancing. It's an accessible space where people can push their wheelchair bound elders to meet neighbors and enjoy the natural beauty of our precious pond. Um and someone

135
00:37:36.160 --> 00:37:52.560
else says both the formal programming um parade to sailing, the race events, the concerts, the lantern parade, and the informal events. The Sunday music jam, watching boats and sunsets. Um so in all the survey responses, um the things that people like really kind

136
00:37:52.560 --> 00:38:07.119
of broke down into two categories. Um the first is the character and daily use. Um people really love the historic character of the buildings. um the shelter that the bandstand gives either from the sun or from the rain as well as

137
00:38:07.119 --> 00:38:24.560
the view from the elevated uh location um up up in the bandand of the pond and the surrounding park. Um people also liked that it was a local landmark and a very convenient meeting spot um to be able to arrange to meet people at the

138
00:38:24.560 --> 00:38:40.160
pond um and also appreciated being able to use the restrooms. Um the other category of what people liked was the activities and events. Um this is the uh courageous sailings programs. Um the boat rental, local events, music and

139
00:38:40.160 --> 00:38:56.240
dancing in particular. Um and the lantern parade. Um I I will say one thing that I was struck by reading through the survey responses is it wasn't just the people that were participating in these events or renting the boats um that was writing about them. But a lot of people wrote

140
00:38:56.240 --> 00:39:11.200
responses that that they just like that other people were doing these activities um and being able to walk or run by um and just see the activity happening around the pond. Um then in response to the question

141
00:39:11.200 --> 00:39:27.040
about what people would like to see, um someone says improving accessibility should be a top priority. Um someone else says keeping the traditional look but upgrade the infrastructure definitely improve the bathrooms, access to public drinking fountains, um the

142
00:39:27.040 --> 00:39:45.520
classroom space, and um helping support courageous sailing. Um someone else um had a suggestion. Um, I've long wanted there to be a food anchor here to connect folks walking from center street to the pond um to provide a destination.

143
00:39:45.520 --> 00:40:00.160
Um, so there was a wide variety um of different responses um of that people what people would like to see um for any kind of expanded um uses in this area.

144
00:40:00.160 --> 00:40:17.040
Um so uh one big category was uh food and beverage. A lot of people wanted um a cafe, cocoa cider in the winter, beer popups, food trucks, ice cream, snacks. Um and also the kind of infra other people wanted the sort of more

145
00:40:17.040 --> 00:40:33.359
infrastructure um of the picnic tables or uh tables and chairs um to support uh food and beverage in this area. Um, other people had suggestions about programs, um, including art and craft meetings, art classes, a community event

146
00:40:33.359 --> 00:40:49.680
board, and family programs. Um, then, um, other people, um, had comments about, uh, access, um, uh, saying that it would be nice if there was expanded nature center hours, um, if accessibility was improved in both

147
00:40:49.680 --> 00:41:05.520
buildings. um being able to use the restrooms year round um or having genderneutral restrooms. Um there were also a lot of responses that dealt with support for events um particularly in the band. Um suggesting

148
00:41:05.520 --> 00:41:22.079
things like free Wi-Fi, a sound system, um having electricity in the band stand um adding outdoor heaters um or bleacher seating opposite the bandstand um to make viewing performances um in in the

149
00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:39.599
bandand easier. Um then there were others um who suggested um additional rentals um that would be great to have out of here um including a fishing rod rental and bait shop um skate rental or

150
00:41:39.599 --> 00:41:58.160
sled and crosscountry ski rental. Um so I will turn it over to Jason. Thanks, Ashley. If you want to go to the the next slide. Thanks. Um, well, you

151
00:41:58.160 --> 00:42:15.760
know, it was impressive. There's almost 300 survey responses. And I think tonight what we'd like to do is continue the conversations for folks who maybe didn't have a chance to fill out the survey or folks that sort of woke up in the middle of the night after the survey and said, "Oh man, I should have said this." Um, so we have about five

152
00:42:15.760 --> 00:42:32.240
questions we'd like to go through. Um, I won't read through them right now. We'd like to spend about 10 minutes each on the slides just to make sure that we have enough time to gather your thoughts. Um, this will be done on what's called a maro board, a mirror board, which is essentially like a

153
00:42:32.240 --> 00:42:48.319
digital sticky board. So, we'll have um Ashley and Mark will be kind of like stickying the notes and um we'll go question by question and and about 10 minutes after the start of one, we will um sort of move on to the next one and try to sort of close out. Maybe I'll

154
00:42:48.319 --> 00:43:02.960
give a a one minute warning or something like that. Um, KA, I don't know if you want to be the official timekeeper and you get to say no or yes. Um, I also want to add, and Ashley didn't mention this, but both Ashley and I have at different points in our lives lived

155
00:43:02.960 --> 00:43:19.920
quite close to Jamaica Pond. Um, I lived on the corner of Lockstead and Jay Way for five years. Um, and you know, in high school would visit the space a lot, you know, with friends. Um, and Ashley lived a little down by the arburetum. So, it's something that's uh near and dear to to the design team as well. So,

156
00:43:19.920 --> 00:43:41.520
and we're um very excited when we got when we uh were asked to help the city with us. So, >> okay. All right. So, let me I'm just going to share a different window. >> Thanks Ashley. So the first question,

157
00:43:41.520 --> 00:44:00.079
what values should guide decision-making on future uses of the boat house and bandstand? And I think just in terms of um please raise your raise your hand. I didn't say this. Please raise your hand and and then we'll call upon you as we have been

158
00:44:00.079 --> 00:44:14.400
doing before. And it you know if you'd rather sort of chat it, that's totally fine too. All of this is being recorded and all these responses whether they're chat or whatever will be uh compiled and um shared as well. So um but it looks

159
00:44:14.400 --> 00:44:33.839
like Luke I think is first. >> Sure. I think one of the values um is just around uh the outdoors and facilitating like enjoyment of the outdoors for all four seasons. Um I

160
00:44:33.839 --> 00:44:49.440
think um you know currently it does a great job um maybe more in the summer than than other seasons. Um and perhaps there's more to be done in the winter time for example. Um to you know a lot of us live

161
00:44:49.440 --> 00:45:05.280
very close to the pond for a lot of us as our main source of exercise and outdoors in the neighborhood. And so, um, if it could be, yeah, used to facilitate outdoor enjoyment year round, that would be great. >> Yeah. More four season support for activities. >> Four season. Yeah, it's a good way to

162
00:45:05.280 --> 00:45:21.760
say it. Four season support. >> Yeah. Okay. >> How about Brian? >> Hi there. Um, I think a value that's important is to preserve as much natural context as possible. U it's a natural

163
00:45:21.760 --> 00:45:40.319
pond and so just for example not to totally overdo it on the infrastructure like I think bleachers would be complete overkill >> that I saw your chat that you said that's why we have the hill. >> Yeah. You said on the hill get a blanket. >> Okay. Um, but what I think is

164
00:45:40.319 --> 00:45:56.880
interesting is about about the bleacher though is is it's you know it's a response to like the popularity of a program and you know are there ways to make those even more accessible. So maybe it's not changing the landscape there but it's thinking about you know the sight lines maybe to these to the

165
00:45:56.880 --> 00:46:17.680
band stand and other things like that. Okay, Spencer. >> Hi. Um, I think uh equility would be a a great thing to, you know, maintain in

166
00:46:17.680 --> 00:46:34.560
the future. I think people from all over Boston come to see the boat house and walk around the pond um during all four seasons. And um you know, when talking about businesses going in, I I love Jamaica Plane. Um, I think keeping cost affordable for any, you know, food or

167
00:46:34.560 --> 00:46:50.079
anything going in, like there shouldn't be $6 coffees being served. Um, you know, keeping it affordable for everyone. Um, and I think carrying that through to disability access, um, I'm disabled myself and I think that

168
00:46:50.079 --> 00:47:13.599
>> with people visiting from all over Boston, like everyone should be able to enjoy it as equally as we can allow them to. Okay, thank you Alexandra. >> Hi again. Um I um I'm very interested in

169
00:47:13.599 --> 00:47:28.880
making sure that the buildings are preserved long term um and for their integrity as uh as really important components of

170
00:47:28.880 --> 00:47:45.119
our community. Um, so a a really strong effort on preserving them and I do understand that there needs to be some modernization inside but to make sure that the structure and the buildings

171
00:47:45.119 --> 00:48:03.119
themselves are preserved long term. >> Um, yeah, I couldn't agree more. And you know one thing we didn't actually uh you know the Anom team didn't actually introduce ourselves in terms of our practice and I'll just briefly say that an ANOM started in 1980 as ANBEA

172
00:48:03.119 --> 00:48:18.560
architects and we have a strong background in um sort of transforming and adapting heritage properties and historic buildings for for new uses. So it's something that um is is important to us and I think um we uh are

173
00:48:18.560 --> 00:48:35.280
specialists in this kind of problem. Um and we uh really enjoy working at uh on these types of architectural challenges. So um but yeah, I I think um we want this sort of history to be continue to be alive but then also reflect the current needs.

174
00:48:35.280 --> 00:48:50.319
>> What's the name of your organization again? >> We are now Anom Architects anum like the year in Latin and we were Ana Architects. >> And where are you based out of? Um,

175
00:48:50.319 --> 00:49:10.079
the insurance exchange building on 40 Broad Street downtown. Thank you, Mark, for just putting the the spelling because um it's a lot of a lot of words. So, um, any other questions or chats that needed to be relayed?

176
00:49:10.079 --> 00:49:28.160
>> Oh, yeah. I'll put a few things I saw um in the chat. >> Okay. I think community connection and sustainability, >> right? >> Um, one other thing just on the long-term building preservation, I think one of

177
00:49:28.160 --> 00:49:44.240
the things that's great about the city of Boston and PFD is I think they're very forward thinking in terms of um what work is being done at this time. So as part of the scope there is a full building scan of the entire building and that's documentation that will help not

178
00:49:44.240 --> 00:50:04.440
just this visioning process but will help any future repair works um in the future as well. So there's a number of things that are sort of investments for the future on this project. >> I like in the chat where Evan wrote cultivating a vibrant third space.

179
00:50:04.720 --> 00:50:25.040
Obviously a key is climate change. I'm sure you'll be dealing with that too. If I can chime in, I think an important thing is going to be to find uh the balance between its this significant place in the emerald necklace, which we

180
00:50:25.040 --> 00:50:41.920
know Jamaica pond is is, you know, one of the keystones of the emerald necklace. And I mean, in my humble opinion, it's the gem because it's it's kind of the focal point. It's in the middle of of the whole stretch. So, um, we, you know, as we know, we we lost a

181
00:50:41.920 --> 00:50:59.040
building on the Pine Bank that was that was, you know, about 20 years ago that was, that's sad. So, it's, um, uh, you know, preservation is very very important, but also m, you know, the place in in the Jamaica plane community. This is a a major, you know, big part of

182
00:50:59.040 --> 00:51:15.920
of JP and it's widely used. So we have to find a balance between it being a significant public place but also respecting its heritage and its uh importance in the in the emerald necklace as a in the park system as you

183
00:51:15.920 --> 00:51:32.319
know part of Mstead's legacy. So that that's this is an intangible value that I don't know how it you we exactly address it but it's it's a significant part of it and and as we all as you've heard from many people how it's so beloved both by you know uh

184
00:51:32.319 --> 00:51:48.800
preservationists by emerald necklace uh advocates as JP residents and so on. So, >> you know, while you were speaking, Deacon, you know, one of the chats popped up and it said like analog engagement and that's like so Mstead and I think a wonderful thing to have this

185
00:51:48.800 --> 00:52:07.680
sort of uh it's a resource really for the city of Boston and few cities have this much sort of nature woven into the city fabric. So, um agree 100%. Yeah, I could see gem of the emerald necklace kind of being one of the sticky

186
00:52:07.680 --> 00:52:24.240
notes here, too. Thanks for that comment. Um, doing a time check. About 35 minutes left. >> Okay, well, those are some great responses. Um, why don't we move on to the second page? What are the most important things for renovation of these buildings to

187
00:52:24.240 --> 00:52:49.680
achieve? We've talked of some of these things, you know, like one is just making sure it doesn't fall down. But, uh, year round bathroom access, that's a good one. And water too. I I assume that means to

188
00:52:49.680 --> 00:53:19.520
the the water is for the uh drinking water, >> the bubbler. Yeah. And we did talk on the prior slide about accessibility to these spaces. So, um I just saw a chat about

189
00:53:19.520 --> 00:53:39.000
electricity to support programming. Um, I think that's that's could well I would love to have someone if they could speak a little more about that. If not, we can, you know, we can keep going.

190
00:53:40.800 --> 00:53:57.440
Okay. Um, I'm seeing >> hands up. Yeah. >> Yep. Why don't we, From what I can tell, why don't we start with Mark Freudenberger? >> Yeah. Just a response on the electricity. It seems to me that uh in the fall there's some music concerts uh

191
00:53:57.440 --> 00:54:14.480
that occur and we all know that uh musicians nowadays need electricity to operate their instruments. So it would be low power electricity I would think. >> Okay. Uh Jeffrey, you're next in my queue.

192
00:54:14.480 --> 00:54:30.640
Jeffrey Ferris. >> Yes. Well, I will emphasize more on the bathrooms, not just year round, but more hours of the day. The runners are out there starting at like by 5 in the morning and into the evening. And uh it would be nice if the city actually had

193
00:54:30.640 --> 00:54:50.800
public restrooms available uh both for the regular park users as well as the homeless. Okay. Uh Luke Luke Tarby. >> Yeah, and this has kind of been said in the chat too around year- round use and

194
00:54:50.800 --> 00:55:06.880
multi-purposing, but I do wonder if you know, Courageous Sailing does a great job in the summertime. I wonder if other nonprofits could kind of use it in other parts of the year to like share that space. Um you know, a nonprofit in the

195
00:55:06.880 --> 00:55:23.040
fall, a nonprofit in the winter um that maybe might do something different. Um and the if the office space could be shared somehow um instead of just getting locked down >> more more continuous year-round use

196
00:55:23.040 --> 00:55:38.480
and multifunctional. >> Yeah. And it sounds like sort of broader programming as well. >> Yeah. Just building in a way so that other nonprofits could could also have a role in other parts of the year. Okay.

197
00:55:38.480 --> 00:55:57.280
Uh Spencer, >> uh yeah, I just wanted to elaborate on the electricity. I I think um I think to add on, you know, uh people need to charge their, you know, electric bikes, medical equipment. Um accessibility

198
00:55:57.280 --> 00:56:14.359
wise, uh homeless people need a place to charge devices. Um I think it is a positive for everyone. Um, and I I just want to advocate for more uses than I love the musicians, but everyone can use electricity.

199
00:56:15.280 --> 00:56:36.079
>> Um, Alexandra, >> I uh I am uh quite fervent about the fact that we need to have enough bathrooms open uh for people to use. Um, particularly the runners I think have a hard time

200
00:56:36.079 --> 00:56:51.839
with it. I'm not a runner, but um, and when they are closed in the winter, it's it's really it's really so out of character to have portaotties down there. And it just is a

201
00:56:51.839 --> 00:57:09.040
blight on our landscape to have these things sitting there. I my my road is full of portaotties right now. So, and it has been for the past three years. So, I I'm particularly sensitive to it. But uh I think that even if we have to

202
00:57:09.040 --> 00:57:24.319
somehow add uh a piece to a building or a building or whatever it is we have to do it, the public really needs to be able to have a

203
00:57:24.319 --> 00:57:42.559
restroom and um and perhaps more water than what is there. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Yep. Um there there had been a chat comment about sort of like a a bookable public space that you know for community groups because there weren't that many

204
00:57:42.559 --> 00:58:04.960
in uh Jamaica plane. >> Is that a question or an answer? >> I I think it was it was a a request in the chat. >> Oh yeah. I think it's something that is very valuable. you know, additional space, especially down there where it's such a beautiful setting.

205
00:58:04.960 --> 00:58:20.960
>> Yeah. >> Mark Freudenberger had had noted that >> year round meeting space would be so useful. >> He's a good guy. >> Uh Deacon, >> yes. I'd like to amplify on the first comment about year- round accessibility

206
00:58:20.960 --> 00:58:36.799
to bathrooms. I think there should be year round a a cafe, somewhere to go. the the pond is used heavily in the wintertime. People walk around it. A place to go get hot cocoa, warm up, you

207
00:58:36.799 --> 00:58:52.720
know, get, you know, I think it's an opportunity to have a nice social space >> as part of the pond in the winter time. So, not just summer use, but really amplify it to full season use. And, you know, it it's hard. I know that'll be a

208
00:58:52.720 --> 00:59:08.960
part of the decision-making process as to where to do that. Is it in the Is it in the living room of the Courageous Sailing Center? Is it in the other room? Uh, but I think it would be wonderful to have a place that's available for people to go in year round and warm up and

209
00:59:08.960 --> 00:59:26.400
enjoy the pond, the n the beauty of of wintertime. Um, and and so I think we should just explore that idea of a full season use of of these uh rooms, these these buildings. >> Okay. Uh Evan, Evan Barry, you had your

210
00:59:26.400 --> 00:59:41.680
hand raised. >> Yeah, I want to echo what Deacon said. So, uh, two things come to mind with that idea. So first of all, so Jane Jacobs in the death and life of great American cities, like fabulous urban studies scholar for folks who don't know

211
00:59:41.680 --> 00:59:57.280
her, writes about what makes a park successful. And she talks about the proximity of commercial locations to parks in driving driving traffic to them and inner community mingling and the creation of that vital third space. And

212
00:59:57.280 --> 01:00:13.119
while Jamaica Pond does a decent job of doing that now and his proximity to Center Street supports that, I do think that adding even if it's just the smallest form of some available vendor, I think would create more of those cross

213
01:00:13.119 --> 01:00:28.000
community relationships and staying a little bit longer in the p in the in the around the band stand or, you know, waiting a little bit longer on the bench and bumping into neighbors. I think that would really bring a really beautiful pulse to the area. The other thing I

214
01:00:28.000 --> 01:00:45.680
want to echo is we live in New England and Boston is so bad at doing winter. I lived in Montreal for four years and even in the dead of winter, there would be people out in the streets. There would be festivals that would bring people um to like celebrate what the

215
01:00:45.680 --> 01:01:02.720
city has to offer. And Boston really doesn't do a good job of that. And being a neighbor of Jamaica Pond, I have loved what wintertime around the pond has to offer. And I do think, yeah, if you could grab a cup cup of co hot cocoa or a cup of coffee, um, even in the winter,

216
01:01:02.720 --> 01:01:20.079
I do think it would let us embrace our our thick winter skin that is really vital to who we are as New Englanders. And I think even a small installation like that um, could pay huge dividends for keeping life around the pond year round. Right.

217
01:01:20.079 --> 01:01:39.520
And I think maybe the last one before we turn on to uh Jeffrey Ferris. >> How about that fireplace? Does it work? >> Um we we don't know. We did hear from um one of the park rangers that we spoke to that's been in the area for a long time

218
01:01:39.520 --> 01:01:55.839
that said that room used to be open in the winter and have fires uh 30 years ago. um and as a warm-up space in the winter time. >> That's my recollection. And hot chocolate with >> Christian

219
01:01:55.839 --> 01:02:12.480
and and just one last comment from the chat. Um just noting that, you know, profit from the boat house going back to the boat house would be great, too. Okay. All right. Move on to the next one, Ashley.

220
01:02:12.480 --> 01:02:33.760
>> Okay. um how can a renovation improve the functionality of the buildings? And you know, again, we've touched on some of these in the past, but um chance to sort of uh to to to hammer it home. >> Obviously, handicap access is important, >> especially for the room upstairs above

221
01:02:33.760 --> 01:02:52.240
the boat house. >> Yeah, the room above the boat house is a challenge. I I think >> they're both they're both same same with the gazebo. Um access is very important. How do you where do you put it? >> That's that's we'll leave that up to you guys.

222
01:02:52.240 --> 01:03:08.240
>> Uh comment bathrooms from Mark Ferdenberger. Uh Spencer, you have your hand raised. >> Yeah, I just wanted to second that point. Um, I just think a uh ADA accessible even if it's a lift for wheelchair users to access the

223
01:03:08.240 --> 01:03:25.280
gazebo would be so huge. We have like such a wide range of ages in Jamaica plane and um also like that adds for people that are wheelchair bound just to be able to access. I think that's even though it's really expensive, I think it's so worth it.

224
01:03:25.280 --> 01:03:43.119
Um Melissa Beltran, uh you say you have a suggestion, but you can't raise your hand or you you're not you're not working with that. So Melissa, what are your thoughts? >> Hi. >> Or I think it was for the um the slide before I was just a little slow. I one

225
01:03:43.119 --> 01:04:00.400
of the suggestions I had it was a general I would love to see maybe some youth job opportunities at the boat house. I don't know if it's already there. uh maintenance programs. Um making sure that we have information that's in Spanish, that's bilingual. Um

226
01:04:00.400 --> 01:04:15.200
I went to the ABCD next to stop and shop in JP and we would do a lot of field trips there. Um I would love to be a bridge um for organizations or after school programs. You know, we just opened up the Boys and Girls Club over in Mildred Haley, but yeah, I would love

227
01:04:15.200 --> 01:04:35.599
to to see young people um just all over that space. So yes, thank you. Mhm. Uh, Alexandra, >> there are some really modest things that you can do to the buildings and the um

228
01:04:35.599 --> 01:04:51.680
stairs and stuff. just put some ramps in. Um or lower the the threshold so that um people who are using walkers or uh canes or

229
01:04:51.680 --> 01:05:07.599
um or even um uh motorized, you know, scooters can get over them and building and Yeah. just little little stuff. It doesn't

230
01:05:07.599 --> 01:05:23.839
have to be a monstrosity, but >> little stuff that doesn't really change the character of the the building. It just allows for modern use. >> Um there was one in the chat that I I liked. Soccer ball and football rentals.

231
01:05:23.839 --> 01:05:38.880
That's something that you know like concessionires. That that's a that's an interesting idea. Um and then Mark Freenberger noted about um an improved and updated nature center. Um, we should put a pin in that. And actually, I can't remember. Well, we we should continue

232
01:05:38.880 --> 01:05:55.680
the discussion of that um in a moment, but uh uh Don Haber, you have your hand raised and then Jeffrey, you'd be next. >> Um hello. Um I'm Don Haber. I wanted just to impart a little bit of knowledge that I learned. I part of being the

233
01:05:55.680 --> 01:06:11.359
renovation involved heavily in the renovation of the Jamaica Plane Branch Library. Um we um discovered just in the last year and the branch was renovated a few years ago, but we discovered just in the last uh year that we had uh people

234
01:06:11.359 --> 01:06:27.039
attending programs in wheelchairs that were unable to access the bathroom because there's no push button and no way for them to get in without some assistance. We raised this issue a few months ago

235
01:06:27.039 --> 01:06:45.119
with the city and the BPL and were told that is not an ADA requirement. Um, evidently you have to have a door that can only need so many pounds of pressure to be opened and that's considered accessible.

236
01:06:45.119 --> 01:07:02.079
>> Um, >> I will tell you from our experience, we haven't found that to be reality. Um, people in wheelchairs are not finding the bathroom doors accessible. And if you need to have it so well regulated

237
01:07:02.079 --> 01:07:17.839
that it's certain number of pounds of pressure, the question then is whose responsibility is that? And how often are they stopping at every bathroom door in the city to make sure it's really able to be opened? So, I'm just pointing that out. There's been a lot of talk

238
01:07:17.839 --> 01:07:33.839
about accessibility. That was something that we didn't realize and was not incorporated, but we wish it would have been. >> Okay. You know, I I think, you know, Don, which that sounds very frustrating. I think you're right. I mean, the

239
01:07:33.839 --> 01:07:50.319
regulations, you know, have the sort of pounds um uh regulate, you know, pound guidelines. Um and, you know, perhap you know, it seems sounds like for some folks in the community it's not working. So, um I think that's part of why we'll sort of hear from folks during these

240
01:07:50.319 --> 01:08:05.839
visioning sessions to make sure that sort of going forward, you know, we can kind of go beyond those um requirements. So, um couple other chat items. Um sled rentals, some more concessions. Um

241
01:08:05.839 --> 01:08:22.159
attractive trash cans, that sounds like great, too. Um a f so lactation space. So, we have we haven't talked about family bathrooms. That's that's a different thing. Um, and I think, you know, that could be something that we could look at as well. They, you know,

242
01:08:22.159 --> 01:08:41.199
you need a little bit more space. Um, but they certainly are uh um something that can be considered as well. >> Is Jeffy's hand Jeffrey is your hand up for this? >> Yeah, Jeffrey, sorry. >> Yes. Well, two things. Uh, I didn't see

243
01:08:41.199 --> 01:08:56.719
the fireplaces put up in the previous post-it notes. So, we could put it fireplaces on one of these post-it notes. That's one. Two, just what is the contract with Courageous Ceiling? At the moment, it looks like they have control of pretty much the whole building, which

244
01:08:56.719 --> 01:09:14.640
would preempt a lot of these other suggestions for different kinds of of programming. >> Yes. Um, Courageous Sailing um has rented the space. I think their contract right now goes through the rest of this year and all of next

245
01:09:14.640 --> 01:09:30.400
year. Um, and uh, so that, you know, they operate the building during their lease, which means they're opening and closing the bathrooms, they're cleaning the spaces. Um, they're they're really taking care

246
01:09:30.400 --> 01:09:59.040
of it as any renter would. Um, and so we will, you know, as part of the study, we'll look at how how they might lease the space in the future, whether that changes in any sort of way or whether it um stays the same. Someone had a very garbled connection or

247
01:09:59.040 --> 01:10:15.600
they're calling from the future or something. So, I'm not quite sure what that was. I I apologize. You know, maybe wait a moment for for your connection. Um, Stephen, oh, Spencer, sorry. >> Hey, sorry. I know I'm hogging the mic

248
01:10:15.600 --> 01:10:32.159
here a lot, but um yeah, I I guess this counts as functionality in my mind. Uh, and someone mentioned this in the chat, but I think um having space for local artists to have like rotating murals or visual art would be just like a big a a

249
01:10:32.159 --> 01:10:49.440
draw for people. Uh, an opportunity for like even young artists. Um, I work in a furniture shop. I'm a furniture maker. Um, I think like having city sponsored art is awesome. >> Um, we also have the gorilla art of um, Matthew Hintman there um, for Mass Art

250
01:10:49.440 --> 01:11:06.760
right up the road. though I think it just celebrates Jamaica Plains kind of um you know awesome artistic scene that is still happening um and would be an awesome like beautifification thing.

251
01:11:07.360 --> 01:11:25.679
>> Great. All right, time check. >> Can we keep moving? >> Okay. Yeah, I think we're already sort of talked some of some of those on the um last question. I think we're also answering this question about how can these spaces better serve the surrounding neighborhood.

252
01:11:25.679 --> 01:11:40.159
Well, or I mean one thing I would like to say is we somebody just briefly talked about the nature center and I'm wondering if folks could it doesn't really fall under any of these um questions per se, but um we'd like I think we'd like to hear about that. We've heard about sort of the the

253
01:11:40.159 --> 01:11:56.560
vendors for the courageous curious about the interaction with the parks and and some of their summer programs and things like that. Uh Mark, >> yeah, I think the issue with the nature center is that the hours are not fixed.

254
01:11:56.560 --> 01:12:13.120
Uh it depends upon the rangers presence. >> Uh the rangers are very knowledgeable. They're very friendly. They're very outgoing. But it's a it's a nature center that is kind of the 1940s. A couple, you know,

255
01:12:13.120 --> 01:12:29.840
some stuffed animals and a few handouts and that's it. So, in today's age, you would think that a nature center could be more dynamic. Um, but just to put a lot more thought into whether we want a nature center. But if indeed that's the

256
01:12:29.840 --> 01:12:46.159
case, then the hours need to be fixed and known by the public. And right now they're not. >> Okay. >> Someone noted, I didn't even know there was a nature center under there. Um, >> Deacon,

257
01:12:46.159 --> 01:13:01.520
>> okay, thank you again. And and I'm going to tie my comment to the two previous comments. I tr truly truly did not know what happened in the first floor. I've been going to this these buildings for 30 years. had no idea what was in that

258
01:13:01.520 --> 01:13:17.280
ground floor under under the band stand. So, I think that's actually an a great opportunity to expand the use of these buildings and open them up to the uh to the public in in some way. You know, tying back to the question of how do we

259
01:13:17.280 --> 01:13:33.840
improve the functionality of these buildings? Well, that's a space that seems to me that's underutilized and um should be thought out a little bit more thoroughly. Should it be dedicated specifically to a nature center or does it tie into a more public use that's

260
01:13:33.840 --> 01:13:48.800
open, you know, to for other opportunities? So, um I I think that's a big question mark that should be explored further in the study. >> Um I will I will note there was a a

261
01:13:48.800 --> 01:14:06.480
comment about swimming in Jamaica. Sadly, that's not really part of the scope, something that I've wanted to do. Um, but uh I don't think that's something that's really part of of what we're discussing right now. So, same thing with skating, I think.

262
01:14:06.480 --> 01:14:23.199
So, uh, Anya, >> I put this in the chat a little bit earlier, but, um, I have just maybe some safety concerns about expanding the use of the boat house, just when

263
01:14:23.199 --> 01:14:39.360
there are vehicles that have to drop things off or, you know, drop materials off or pick things up. Um it just it's so uncontrolled, you know, and the rangers are very careful about it and the vendors tend to be very careful about it, but

264
01:14:39.360 --> 01:14:55.440
>> um it feels like the access to the boat house >> is just complicated and and there's nowhere, you know, on Pond Street, there's nowhere to stop. And when there's Ubers pulling over for people to

265
01:14:55.440 --> 01:15:13.000
>> access the pond, it's always blocking traffic. And so that is just um like a functionality question I guess that I have for the space in general which may not be within >> the purview of the buildings. Exactly. But um >> no but I mean

266
01:15:13.360 --> 01:15:29.920
>> I think it it points out an issue you know if if it becomes even more successful and you have people taking Ubers there then there's there's a challenge there. So okay uh Luke. >> Yeah. Just to echo some of what's in the chat, uh I guess to make sure it gets on

267
01:15:29.920 --> 01:15:46.239
the sticky note. Um the way the nature center is currently set up, I'm not sure if it's really the right use of space there. It's rarely open. Um it's I've actually never seen it open. I'm at the pond almost every day. Um and so I wonder if there's a different

268
01:15:46.239 --> 01:16:03.760
use case for that section of the uh pond. there's been a lot of other ideas around um food or um artwork or even dining and tables. Um so yeah, I just wonder if there's a better use of that

269
01:16:03.760 --> 01:16:23.920
space that's more inclusive and accessible and and not just this kind of ever closed nature center. >> I mean I can't remember with with with kids programming. I know that there's um summer camp programs with the courageous

270
01:16:23.920 --> 01:16:39.040
um uh with the sailing program, but is there is there a summer program with the park rangers? I I can't remember. >> Um I don't think I don't think there's like a continuous like a summer camp. I

271
01:16:39.040 --> 01:16:55.920
think there's like um sporadic events. And um the there was also a question in the chat about the role of the rangers and how they use the space. Um they do actually I mean they they do use it um as a warming center in the winter. Um they also they have a little office

272
01:16:55.920 --> 01:17:13.679
setup in there. Um so they use it for um uh communication responding to certain calls. Um I know that the park rangers respond to like misuse of parks. For example, if someone was walking out on the ice, they would um come out and call

273
01:17:13.679 --> 01:17:29.840
them back to the to the shore, you know. So, they respond to safety issues. Um, uh, and yeah, my understanding is that they're they're active there. I don't know that they would ever not be present at this site. Um, but it's great to

274
01:17:29.840 --> 01:17:46.320
think about these kind of multifunctional uses. U Mary in the chat said um you know offered I think the trailside museum uh at Blue Hills or the Museum of Sciences potential ways that you know maybe there could be shared programming or something

275
01:17:46.320 --> 01:18:04.000
like that with the science center. >> Uh Daniel, you had your hand raised. >> Thank you. Um the the agreement that was reached with the park rangers for the nature center was to be open whenever they happened to

276
01:18:04.000 --> 01:18:19.520
be there or when they were assigned to be there without any scheduling. So it's almost I mean I I've actually seen it under the circumstances that we're in now when they're down there, but it's very sporadic. You have no idea when it's going to be as somebody else

277
01:18:19.520 --> 01:18:35.440
mentioned. Um, so I I I we need to move it in a direction of having if we continue with the rangers. I've I've never seen them as a communication center, at least not with not being accessed or valuable to the public. If somebody's out on the

278
01:18:35.440 --> 01:18:52.920
ice, the chances of the ranger seeing them is really small because they're never there or they're not there very frequently. Let me rephrase that. So it need the the whole arrangement needs to be looked at seriously if we continue having a nature center there.

279
01:18:53.760 --> 01:19:09.280
>> Anya noted uh thanks J. Anya noted collaboration with JP Historic Society um because they have programming sometimes in the summer um and some historic objects as well. >> Uh Spencer >> um this is the last thing I'll add just

280
01:19:09.280 --> 01:19:26.080
in the nature of Anya's comment. Um, I think better signage explaining the history of the the pond and the park, uh, Frederick Law Olmstead and also the forget I'm forgetting his name, but the the gentleman that designed the boat

281
01:19:26.080 --> 01:19:42.400
house. Um, I think right now there's just one placard that has a little illustration of people skating on it. Um, and otherwise there's not much signage explaining kind of what's going on history-wise. Um, and maybe that ties into kind of the re-evaluation of this

282
01:19:42.400 --> 01:19:58.239
nature center space. Maybe it's turned into more of a historical space. I don't know. Um, but maybe there's an opportunity there for education. >> Okay. Um, Evan. >> Okay. Pivoting a little bit from the

283
01:19:58.239 --> 01:20:13.280
nature center conversation, but and spitballing a little bit here. I think it's really cool that the Pineake Mansion back when it was a thing had um some sort of home for arts and culture programming in the city of Boston. Even if it was just for a brief

284
01:20:13.280 --> 01:20:29.360
ston I think it was just five years. Um I really get a lot of joy from seeing the like group of banjo players that assembled on the weekends. Uh you know the random busker who who whips out his

285
01:20:29.360 --> 01:20:45.040
his saxophone. um whenever there are concerts there. I I I think like Jamaica plane compared to the rest of Boston has is home to a lot of artists, a lot of musicians and being

286
01:20:45.040 --> 01:21:03.440
able to use this space for the occasional cultural convening. I want to make sure that's prioritized in the way um that this design is rolled out. And something that just as sensitivity here, I do find that there isn't I'm not sure if the scope of this redesign has to do

287
01:21:03.440 --> 01:21:21.280
with the width of the paved area around the buildings themselves. I do find sometimes when there are convenings around the boat house, uh, it affects with the flow of pedestrian traffic and it is difficult for folks to gather

288
01:21:21.280 --> 01:21:36.960
without cutting off people with strollers or people in wheelchairs or people who are running through who could, you know, plow down a spectator. So, I I would just love to see uh the cultivation of community arts and music

289
01:21:36.960 --> 01:21:53.760
um prioritized in this build. >> Okay. >> Thanks, Evan. Um I saw a couple chats about um improved signage um you know, whether it's about the history of Jamaica plane or um the bikes uh where

290
01:21:53.760 --> 01:22:11.920
the bikes can go, etc. Great. >> You want to move on to the last question? >> Yeah, let's spend a couple minutes on the last question and then we can kind of take any last comments and close out.

291
01:22:11.920 --> 01:22:31.920
>> All right. What new uses would you like to see in this location? And again, some of this we've said, but feel free to reiterate. Uh Luke. All right, last last one out of me. Um, so I used to live in Washington DC. Um,

292
01:22:31.920 --> 01:22:48.560
and one of the fun things that they did there, maybe some people remember, was screen on the green on the National Mall where um, in the summertime they would set up um, like a big screen and AV and people would kind of have picnics and

293
01:22:48.560 --> 01:23:06.000
um, there'd be different sponsors and they'd show historic movies. Um, and it's a really great community event. Um, I don't think they do it anymore. So, anyways, what we might be mi missing here is um just some sort of screen or

294
01:23:06.000 --> 01:23:22.000
um speaker setup. Um, and it could be kind of a community uh gathering event. Screen on the pond. Yeah, exactly. Um, I just think it' be really people would really get into it. I think actually I think like hundreds of people would go. Um but we're probably just missing a few

295
01:23:22.000 --> 01:23:39.320
pieces of equipment to make that happen. >> Infrastructure for it. >> Yeah. Um in the chat, you know, reiterating a cafe would be great there. You're I assume a year- round cafe. Uh, Alexandra,

296
01:23:40.400 --> 01:23:57.920
>> I'd love to see a sort of community bulleten board, which we kind of have, but um something on one of those buildings that says the water is unsafe today. Don't let your dog drink it. Or

297
01:23:57.920 --> 01:24:14.639
>> you know, there's going to be a yada yada run at x hour. just something simple. >> But but uh that would let people know. I go into the boat house all the time and

298
01:24:14.639 --> 01:24:30.719
say, "How's the water quality today?" And they they look at me like I'm just crazy. But in the summer, the dogs drink from that pond. And if it's polluted, they get sick. >> Mhm.

299
01:24:30.719 --> 01:24:48.480
Yeah. Interesting. Like Yeah. the communication board, whether it's sort of analog, maybe a digital could be updated. Okay. Um, smoothie bar. We heard saw that pollution meter. And Jamie said, "All I

300
01:24:48.480 --> 01:25:05.800
can think of is food and drinks, but then there's more but then there's more trash." So that's so that's a good point is you know how do you manage the success of the um sort of rejuvenated um uh Jamaica pond boat house and band stand.

301
01:25:07.520 --> 01:25:23.280
Uh Tony >> yeah I just wanted to to support the idea of more information about environmental conditions. Alexander raised the idea of water conditions. But in fact, the whole purpose of the boat house and bandstand are to bring people to this environment which has a

302
01:25:23.280 --> 01:25:39.040
significant uh challenges in terms of water quality uh tree loss and invasive species. So having a a a serious environmental education program to replace the nature center that also included Alexander's idea of daily

303
01:25:39.040 --> 01:25:55.360
available information about issues like water quality I think would really in some ways fulfill the mission of the boat house and band which is to bring people to this beautiful environment but to bring them to it with some more knowledge about the challenges of the

304
01:25:55.360 --> 01:26:11.920
environment in both water quality trees and invasives. And so I think that really endorses the idea of creating a real educational program and facility in the nature center space or in the boat house space as you judged um to really help people understand the environmental

305
01:26:11.920 --> 01:26:28.239
challenges that the pond and its area face. >> Thank you. >> Thanks Tony. >> Jason I think we should probably switch over to talk about next steps. >> Great. Thank thank you all so much. It's been a pleasure talking with you all.

306
01:26:28.239 --> 01:26:48.080
Um, and I'll see you at the pond sometime soon. >> Thank you. Um, Ashley, will you pull up that slide just so that we can share? Um, so again, we are going to be saving um, you know, the chat from this meeting and the design team will pick up any of

307
01:26:48.080 --> 01:27:03.679
your feedback that we didn't capture in the mural board and add that in so that you know, everything that you guys said gets captured. Um um so yes, thank you for all of your great feedback. It'll be really vital in

308
01:27:03.679 --> 01:27:18.639
developing the building programming concepts going forward. Um please stay tuned with the project. Check the project web page for updates. Feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. Um I will share anything I learned from you with the rest of the

309
01:27:18.639 --> 01:27:36.320
team. Um if you didn't get a chance to share your thoughts this evening or you have more that you want to say, we have set up another online survey um you can use this um bit.ly link shown here or just um take a picture of the QR code um to

310
01:27:36.320 --> 01:27:52.800
access this new survey. It'll stay open till May 15th and it has all those discussion questions added into it. Um, our next meeting will be in June, uh, date and time and exact location, TBD, and we're aiming to have it in person in the nice weather. Um, so stay tuned for

311
01:27:52.800 --> 01:28:07.679
more. And then I'm just going to add my contact information and these links to the chat right here. >> Kathia, is that your email, your uh, cell phone, telephone number, or your office? >> That's my work cell phone.

312
01:28:07.679 --> 01:28:26.480
>> Your work cell phone. 3393. Yes, I was double. Yeah, you had me second guessing myself. Yes, that's it. >> Okay, thank you. >> Yeah. >> Okay, so thank you all. I hope you all have a wonderful evening. >> Thank you everyone. Thanks all.

313
01:28:26.480 --> 01:28:31.880
>> Nice job. Thank you. >> Thank you.