November 22, 2002
John O'Brien, Project Manager
Boston Redevelopment Authority
Via e-mail
Re: Small Project Review /Demonstration Project
Proposed 2002 Interim Ballpark Improvements
The Alliance of Boston Neighborhoods is a federation of neighborhood associations, concerned with proper public process. We are writing to comment on the Boston Red Sox proposal, in particular on the Demonstration Project.
This Demonstration Project under MGL c. 121B Section 46(f) is, according to staff statements at the November 7 public meeting, an exercise of the BRA's urban renewal power to seize land, a portion of Yawkey Way," by eminent domain. The 121B language states:
Section 46: An urban renewal agency shall have... the
power...
(f) to develop, test and report methods and techniques and
carry out demonstrations for the prevention and elimination
of slums and urban blight."
The public has no information on the actual intent of the Demonstration Project. The BRA has described neither the actions planned, nor the slums and blight to be remedied. We see no justification for this seizure of a public street, a taking which would:
- eliminate City Council's control over disposition of this City-owned (i.e., taxpayer-owned) land;
- take by eminent domain public land, which is already available for public purpose (urban redevelopment authorities are authorized to take private land for public purpose) and turn it into a redevelopment parcel for private use
- eliminate a public circulation route
- take City property without just compensation as normally required for eminent domain taking, (land that the required appraisals might show to be worth several million dollars);
- divert any revenues from sale or rent of the space from the City treasury to the BRA; and
- establish a precedent for further takings of public ways for the benefit of private corporations.
If the BRA intends to continue its effort to take this public way, we request full disclosure of the intended actions, and evidentiary showings of "slums and urban blight" and the "methods and techniques" for remedy of such slums and blight that the intended actions would provide.
At this time, without valid evidence as described above, the taking cannot be considered legal.
Sincerely,
Daniel Cushing, President
Shirley Kressel, Vice President