Boston skyline
As a neighborhood activist all my life, now in East Boston, I’ve been following this ongoing story in regards to the creation of latest districts inside Downtown Boston (“Zoning chair to recuse on key vote,” Boston Herald, Oct. 21). The true story right here isn’t the recusing of the Zoning Board chair however of the push to rezone the world in query to maintain constructing extra high-end housing downtown.
I learn of the assist of this plan by the Downtown Boston Alliance which represents business property house owners. I’m against the creation of latest skyline districts the place buildings could be zoned for 500-700 foot towers.
In keeping with supporters of PLAN: Downtown, passage of the proposal “is important for finishing the neighborhood’s wanted transformation such that it could align with a brand new regular.”
NEW NORMAL. I’m not certain a brand new regular and new zoning codes together with a housing-first agenda bringing a brand new era of residents is the reply to saving the sagging Downtown Boston enterprise district or the housing disaster throughout our neighborhoods the place fewer and fewer of us can afford to maintain dwelling right here.
It certainly will solely create extra un-affordable housing selections. Excessive-rise towers with high-rent housing will solely improve the housing disaster for working households to stay right here.
The reply to creating extra reasonably priced housing choices for unusual working people won’t be created by turning Downtown Crossing, the Monetary District and the world across the Boston Frequent or Public Gardens into new residential neighborhoods.
We wish to save our total metropolis from the fixed growth of housing that solely provides to the reducing reasonably priced inventory. I don’t see the Boston Planning & Improvement Company or the Boston Zoning Board or for that matter Metropolis Corridor itself as a good friend to these turning into increasingly unable (to afford lease) because the housing market continues to go high-end solely.
Not solely will the housing disaster proceed unabated, however as Tony Ursillo who lives downtown, is quoted as saying, permitting the event of “luxurious towers” would additionally “squeeze out alternatives for small companies to get created and thrive.”
I’m uninterested in all these PLANS throughout town, I would like to have the ability to afford to remain within the metropolis the place I used to be born, have lived and thrived for therefore lengthy. Phrases like “transformation” all the time scare me due to all of the unintended penalties that all the time appear to comply with behind all of the hype.
What good is there being the “Most secure Metropolis in America” if it turns into too un-affordable for many of us to dwell in?
Sal Giarratani
East Boston
