Agassiz Road Duck House, Back Bay Fens Erica Mattison & Marco Baldassarre, Fenway Civic Association An opportunity for… •historic preservation •community revitalization •enhanced public safety “The building needs to be occupied in order to restore and maintain its historic character.” Source: McGinley Kalsow and Associates LLP survey, April, 2008
Location Agassiz Road is a DCR parkway that connects Park Drive and The Fenway, thereby linking the West and East Fenway neighborhoods. The Back Bay Fens are part of the Emerald Necklace park system, designed in the late 1800s by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The Parks & Recreation Department is responsible for the management of the Duck House.
History • “The building exterior and interior have not substantially changed since the structure was built in 1897.” • “The building has been boarded up and vacant” since a 1986 fire. Source: McGinley Kalsow and Associates LLP survey, April, 2008
Press The Boston Courant The Boston Courant January, 2008 May, 2008
Architect: Alexander Longfellow, nephew of famous poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow In the past, the building Wood beams show current condition housed a public (post-1986 fire work) bathroom facility. The interior of the Duck House is approximately 665 net square feet.
Emerald Necklace Master Plan “Historic buildings are to be restored: the Olmsted-planned Agassiz Road Shelter (Duck House) will be reused as a Ranger Station.” “Important historic structures (bridges, gatehouses, and Duck House) are in need of restoration.” “This historic building (from an original sketch by Olmsted, Olmsted and Eliot, 1897) has become seriously deteriorated due to vandalism and neglect. As a historic structure, it will enhance the Olmstedian character of the park, and could house an integral park function as well, the Boston Park Rangers, as part of the Emerald Necklace management and maintenance reorganization.”
Steps for Improvements to Duck House •In-depth assessment of building condition and needs •Fundraising •Planning •Construction •Maintenance Ideas for Uses • Ranger Station • Bike Sharing Pick-Up/Drop Off Location • Public Bathroom • Café (bottled beverages, snacks, ice cream) • Some combination? Other ideas? Opportunities for Improvements Around Duck House • Historic “Acorn” Lights • Attractive seating
Agassiz Road and Its Many Shades of Gray • Sidewalks • Unpaved section several feet wide next to both sidewalks • Street Opportunity to: • widen sidewalks, • build bike lanes, • build curbs to prevent vehicles from driving/parking on park land
(Potential) Involved Parties Citizens Fenway Civic Association Elected and Appointed Officials: City Councilor Mike Ross Parks and Recreation Department (City) Department of Conservation and Recreation (State) Area Businesses and Institutions: The Copley Group Area Organizations: Historic Boston Inc., Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Fenway Alliance, Muddy River Restoration Project Oversight Committee, Mass Bike, etc. Consultants Other?
Key Questions • What ideas does the community have for use of this building? • What ideas does the community have for improvements to the parkway? • What steps would need to be taken to make the building usable and who/what entity would handle each aspect? • What are some potential funding sources? • How would these improvements fit in with the pending dredging and restoration of the Muddy River? • Other?
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