A Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR) is a comprehensive report published by the proponent (developer) describing in detail the proposed project. DPIRs are public documents and are available for download through the [1] Boston Redevelopment Authority website. Hard copies are available from the developer if you are deemed important. The BRA is hosting a public meeting on the Parcel 24 DPIR next Tuesday, Sept. 9th.

Parcel 24 is a residential development being proposed on land that was once [2] home to Hudson Street residents before the construction of the highways. The Parcel 24 DPIR is 779 pages. (The DPIR for 120 Kingston St./Dainty Dot was 849 pages.) There is a section called Public Comments, which is a collection of letters, emails, and petitions that were sent to the developers and the BRA from the community. In addition, the DPIR includes responses from the developers on questions asked by the public. Here are snippets of what people in the community are saying about Parcel 24:

Gilbert Ho, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association:
“As a long time community activist and leader in the Chinatown community, I am expressing my whole-hearted support of the proposed development of Parcel 24. My whole family remains involved in the community and my wife’s family was actually one of the many residents who were displaced from the site… I would like to emphasize my support of the design and distribution of height and density. The proposed design responds to HSC’s community vision by placing the highest element on Kneeland Street while scaling down to match the four story row-houses across Hudson Street.” (Editor’s Note: The CCBA was not stated, but the address given on the letterhead was the CCBA office.)

David Robyn Seeley, Rose Kennedy Greenway-Chinatown Park Community Co-chair, Parcel 24 Task Force Co-chair:
“There have been significant improvements made in this design, perhaps the most prominent being the much improved east elevation. I wish this project great success… I have two serious concerns. The first is that the project, because of the narrow site constraints, turns it’s back on Albany Street, where it would be best to use the Phase I South Bay community process guidelines to establish a new neighborhood street, and the second is that the project massing runs contrary to the massing diagram established in that Phase I process, and that has somewhat dire implications for future development if it becomes the obvious precedent for future area development in the South Bay and along the Greenway.” (Editor’s note: Not stated in the letter, David Seeley is a Leather District resident.)

Olivia A. Waishek, West Roxbury:
“…My involvement in the development has been ongoing for the past several years not only as an individual who was born in a house, which sat on Parcel 24, but also as a member of Hudson Street for Chinatown. The parcel, which we now know as Parcel 24 encompassed 6 city blocks not only on Hudson Street from Kneeland Street to Curve Street but Albany Street from Kneeland Street to Curve Street. This Parcel 24 was only part of the taking of land between the Mass Highway Department and the Mass Turnpike Authority in the early sixties. This part of the South Cove was once a thriving neighborhood, which was comprised of Syrian/Lebanese residents and business owners and Asian residents and business owners. Homes, businesses, two churches, a Boston Public Library and Municipal Building were part of the takings. Most important hundreds of individuals were displaced — forced to leave a community, which had been part of their entire life… On behalf of the members of the Waishek Family, we would appreciate our voice being heard and we cannot emphasize strongly enough our support of restoring a neighborhood to a community that has waited long enough…”

Reggie Wong, Chinatown Resident:
“My family and I lived on Parcel 24 before being displaced  in the 1960s. I have many fond memories of growing up on Hudson Street but also the sad memory of being forced out of our home. I am fortunate to remain a Chinatown resident and own Weggie’s Pub on Lincoln Street in the Leather District. With that said, I strongly support the proposed development on Parcel 24 that will provide much needed housing while restoring the vibrancy of the neighborhood that existed 40 years ago.”

Chris Betke, President, Leather District Neighborhood Association:
“… I am writing to express my personal opinion on the proposed parcel 24 project since the LDNA has not taken a position on this project. I am concerned about the 20-story height on Kneeland street. The massing up to Kneeland Street runs contrary to the principles set forth in the South Bay Study… That study called for height to be placed back from Kneeland Street — the opposite of what is being proposed here… In weighing the pros and cons, I come out in favor of this project but with real concerns about how/why the BRA is disregarding its own South Bay planning document regarding the massing on Kneeland. Would you be kind enough to explain why the BRA is supporting a project that is contrary to its own planning?”

To read more comments, download the [3] Draft Project Impact Report PDF. (75MB)