At the recent Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) meeting, developers Bulfinch Congress Holdings, received more feedback from citizens and Impact Advisory members (IAG) on their proposed project on the Government Center Garage site that encompasses almost four acres, starting at the Haymarket MBTA stop and proceeding up the Hill toward Cambridge Street. The project calls for the demolition of the garage in a 10-year construction process and replacing it with a series of low buildings of under 125 to 175 feet high, along with three towers that are 704 feet, 550 feet and 250 feet tall. The height and mass of these towers was of concern to many IAG members.
“I don’t want Boston to become New York City,” IAG member Francine Gannon of the North End told the development team.
“Old Boston scale is 155 feet,” said Tad Stahl, another IAG member from Beacon Hill. “One concept is to move the mass around and put more bulk on Parcel 1 [current site of the Haymarket MBTA stop].”
Not only is the height of these buildings an issue, but their possible shadow effect has caused concern.
“Shadow is an issue,” said Mark Hall, another IAG member from the North End. In slides, developers showed new shadows may reach far into the West End and also into the North End, by Endicott and Prince streets.
BRA spokesperson Jessica Shumaker commented on the potential shadow effect saying, “The shadow impacts will be studied by our own environmental review specialist as well as the City of Boston’s Environment Department. They will submit comments to us and we will include them in our scoping document.”
Parking was another hot button issue for the IAG members. Currently, the garage has a total of 1,700 spaces the public can use. However, the development team proposes a total of 2,000 spaces. Members are worried that this isn’t enough, given current and potential future demand from tenants who may occupy the more than 2 million square feet of new office, retail, hotel and residential space outlined in the project’s plans.
Project developers are hoping many people would use the MBTA to get to the project, instead of driving their cars there. “The subway cannot grow,” said IAG member Dave Roderick. “People are standing in crowded conditions now. I would like to have a spokesperson from the MBTA find out what they can do about the future growth.”
The developers are estimating a 30 percent increase in MBTA ridership. IAG members also feared that if the developer underestimates the parking need, then new commuters could take spaces that residents in the North End are currently using, or they could drive up parking costs patrons are currently paying for these spaces.
“You stated that we need more parking, we say less; the truth is somewhere in between,”
said Tom Sieniewicz who presented the slide show for the developers.
In other matters, Victor Brogna from the North End questioned the impact for the next 10 years on the various abutting neighborhoods.
Two wild cards for this project are the possibility of obtaining another adjoining acre of city/BRA land that would help diffuse the mass of the project. Currently, the District A-1 Police Station and the women’s homeless shelter occupy the municipally owned site. The BRA hasn’t determined yet whether selling the land for this project would be its best use. Shumaker said, “We will determine through development review and community process whether or not the project should include the city land and the buildings, as well as the BRA-owned parcels and NSTAR air rights. The developer has included both scenarios in their filing, so we can study and evaluate both options. It is too early in the process to determine which scenario would be best.”
At a meeting last week at the West End Civic Association, mayoral candidate-Councilor Michael Flaherty criticized the BRA for allowing the developer to present two options with one using city owned land. He noted the process of disposing city-owned land hasn’t been adhered to by seeking the “highest bid” for this parcel.
The other wild card is the bill that Rep. Marty Walz has filed in the House of Representatives regarding new shadows being cast on open areas, such as the Rose Kennedy Greenway. If the bill doesn’t become law before this project begins, then it won’t affect the project. But if the bill passes before this project is approved, then it could affect the height of these towers.
Developers took copious notes on IAG members’ concerns. “We are still in the planning stages,” said Rebecca Mattson of the development team. She added all concerns will be addressed and hopefully resolved to the satisfaction of the IAG members. “We want it to be malleable work for the IAG members,” she said.
The developers also noted that sidewalks around the area would be enlarged and that open space would increase from the current 1,800 square feet to more than 25,000 square feet.
“There is potential for this project to greatly benefit the surrounding neighborhoods and the city as a whole, as it would provide more active and welcoming pedestrian environment,” Shumaker said.
The next IAG working session is scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at the BRA Board Room in City Hall.

As part of the Senate's proposed transportation reform, jurisdiction of historic parkways and bridges would be transferred from the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) to the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD).
The Senate approved the bill three weeks ago, while the House of Representatives passed a similar proposal last week, which didn’t include the transfer of bridges and parkways. A conference committee will be established in the next few weeks, composed of three members from each chamber. The committee is then expected to strike a compromise before it presents a revised bill to Gov. Deval Patrick.
The Esplanade Association, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Charles River Esplanade, has advised against the transfer as a cost-cutting measure, stating that “[the] state and federal design regulations that would apply under MHD could widen parkways, straighten curves and cut down trees, thereby narrowing the greenways the DCR has worked so hard to protect.”
Meanwhile, State Rep. Marty Walz said she would work with the conference committee to advocate for the protection of state parks, parkways and bridges, including Storrow Drive.
"The House of Representatives has spoken clearly and strongly about protecting historic parkways and bridges," Walz said. "For Back Bay and Beacon Hill residents, it's of paramount importance because the Highway Department could be in charge of Storrow Drive. We don't want Storrow Drive to look like Route 93."

Officers Ludwig and Gillis of the Boston Police Department Mounted Division are seen outside of CVS Pharmacy on Charles Street last Thursday.

CAPTION: Sarni Cleaners CEO Ken Sarni and Amelia DeMobilia, manager of the Charles River Park store.

While Sarni Cleaners now operates 10 stores in Boston, Everett, Lynnfield and Marblehead and has spanned three generations, it began as a modest home business 80 years ago.
James Sarni Sr. was delivering milk for HP Hood in 1929 when he conceived the then-novel idea of offering laundry pickup and delivery via horse and buggy. He would transport the dirty clothing and linens to his home in the North End, where his wife, Mary, would clean them in the basement, using gasoline.
As the business grew, the Sarnis were able to open a dry cleaning and tailoring shop, with a cleaning plant in the basement, next to the famed Locke-Ober Restaurant at 2 Winter Place. Soon afterwards, they were approached by Dupont Chemical, which had invented perchloroethylene, an odorless cleaning solvent that greatly reduced the processing time for dry cleaning. The Sarnis agreed to test the new agent for the chemical company, which proved to be highly effective and gave them a distinct edge in the marketplace.
By the 1950s, the Sarnis’ three sons, Ralph, Jack and James Jr., had returned from serving their country in World War II and joined the family business, ushering in a time when Sarni Cleaners grew to its height of 24 retail stores in Boston and the suburbs. The company also opened several cleaning plants to handle the increased demand.
In 1990, Ken Sarni, James Jr.’s son, graduated from Merrimack College in North Andover, and became the third generation to work for the company. Ralph and Jack both retired within five years, and Ken was soon named CEO of the company.
As for Sarni’s longevity, Ken Sarni said, “A lot of dry cleaners cut corners. I think we’ve survived 80 years in the business because we put our customers first and deliver a quality product.”
Today, Sarni processes the dry cleaning for all of its stores at a modern production facility in Everett and has expanded its pick-up and delivery service to the North Shore. Ken Sarni also tries to offer service with a personal touch by taking customer calls on his private cell phone.
“Customers appreciate being able to get hold of the owner,” Ken Sarni said. “This business is all about customer service.”
Ken Sarni also credits the strong customer service skills of his employees, including Amelia DeMobilia, manager of the Charles River Park store for the past four years. “A lot of our customers are now also friends of Amelia,” he said.
To commemorate the 80th anniversary of Sarni Cleaners, all 10 stores are offering a new program that offers customers a coupon good for 10 percent back if they spend $100 or more.
“It’s our way of showing our appreciation and our gratitude,” Ken Sarni said.
For Sarni Cleaners locations, visit www.sarnidrycleaners.com or call 800-SARNI-75.