The Revitalist

Left, Domino Sugar Factory. Right, Tate Modern.

With pre-development planning well under way for the Domino Sugar Factory on the Williamsburg waterfront in Brooklyn, a group of artists has begun advocating for a Tate Modern-like redevelopment (via Curbed). The developers of the project, Community Preservation Corporation Resources, has planned a residential conversion. They will keep the main refinery building but clear the rest of the site to make way for 2,200 apartments built over 6-8 years. The plan also includes four acres of open space, 120,000 sq ft of retail, 100,000 sq ft of community space, and the preservation of the iconic, multi-story Domino Sugar sign. The artists group, however, believes that the site has many similarities with the Bankside Power Station that became the Tate Modern. They argue that the economic benefits of a major destination museum/arts center would outweigh the benefits of condos. The developer is unmoved, saying that housing is the most feasible option. The first community meeting on the project is tonight – interesting to see what develops.

The blogger at onetenchelsea has been dismayed to see one too many Modernist buildings come down. So, he's decided to do something about it and is creating Preserve Boston Modern to advocate for the preservation of Modernist structures. He's looking to take up Boston City Hall as a first, cut-your-teeth project and hopefully move on from there. Inspired to help? He's looking for a team...

A 3'x5' American flag is one of the artifacts left on the moon.

An archaeologist from New Mexico State University, space heritage archaeologist Beth O'Leary, is advocating for the US and the UN landmark the Tranquility Bay moon landing site as a historic site (via Planetizen). The concern is that additional lunar exploration and space tourism will lead to increased traffic on the moon and potentially to the destruction of the site. Dr. O'Leary is part of the NASA-funded Lunar Legacy Project, which is documenting the artifacts known to have been left on the moon and advocating nationally and internationally for protection. She has succeeded in having the State of New Mexico recognize the site, which, I suppose, is a useful precedent. Apparently, the US doesn't want to be seen as laying claim to the moon by landmarking the site. This is clearly something to be dealt with by the UN's World Heritage Site program.

The Boston Landmarks Commission has approved a plan for the Pinebank site in the Jamaica Pond Park. The derelict mansion was demolished in January (photos at the Friends of Pinebank, along with angry commentary). The new park area will feature a granite outline of the mansion's foundations, flush with the grass, a low brick wall that mimics the profile of the mansion's front windows to be used as a bench, and restoration of a historic stair from the pond up to the site. The site will be mostly grass lawn and is meant to be a quiet, contemplative area set apart from the park's usual hustle and bustle. 

The city obviously feels a obligation to do something to commemorate the historic site, whether it comes from a sense of responsibility neglected or a need to appease angry voters. They have been open about sharing designs and process with the community, who certainly aren't giving them a free pass. One of the more contentious issues at the recent community meeting was the restoration of historic views of the pond and boathouse from the site, which will involve selective pruning and removal of trees. One member of Friends of Jamaica Pond suggested that a new tree be planted in the park for each one removed.

Previous post on the effort to save Pinebank.

Phoenix house scheduled to be relocated and the man who saved it.

Phoenix is one of the fastest growing cities in the country, which has put enormous pressure on its historic structures to either "move it or lose it". Over the past few years the number of historic buildings being moved to a new location to prevent demolition has risen dramatically. In the photo above, Dan Klocke stands in front a house that he just couldn't watch being torn down. The owner, sitting square in the path of condo expansion related to Arizona State University growing campus, wanted to demo and sell. Klocke stepped in to buy the structure and relocate it to an empty lot in downtown: "It's definitely a decision of the heart rather than the wallet." The article notes that the costs of such a move "can be staggering," but the all-in estimate for acquisition, moving, and rehab are estimated at $500,000, and the city is stepping in with $250,000 in preservation funds to defray the expense. From here, that seems like a good investment. It encouraging to see that the City of Phoenix realizes that its historic structures are an asset to the city and are willing to utilize their resources to encourage positive action.

With all the chatter about congestion pricing in New York, San Francisco and other major cities, the Wall Street Journal takes a look at how the granddaddy pricing scheme is working in London. The crux seems to be that congestion pricing has definitely limited the number of cars in Central London on a daily basis, resulting in less smog, noise and congestion. But it has also had a number of unanticipated effects, such as a later rush on hospital emergency rooms after the charge period is over for the day, people driving to the edge of the zone and waiting for the period to end to enter the city, or people living within the charge zone actually driving more in Central London since it doesn't cost them any more than going around the block. It is interesting to watch the Law of Unintended Consequences play out from across the pond.

Some of the tenants at the Bernat Mill.

Over the weekend an 8-alarm fire destroyed the Bernat Mill in Uxbridge in the Blackstone River Valley. The rehabbed mill had been home to 65 small businesses, who are now facing loss of materials, data and community. We have been looking at several mills like Bernat that are commercial hubs for their small town, housing antiques shops, yoga and dance studios, photography and artist studios, professional offices, and wide variety of other small businesses. So often, they are labors of love for the people who own and redevelop them. But as the assistant fire chief of Grafton, who responded to the fire, said, "Once one of these old mills goes up, you can pretty much forget it." It is sad to see a mill that was so obviously thriving suffer such a dramatic loss.

In the wake of yesterday's fatal explosion of a steam pipe underneath Grand Central Terminal in New York City, Mayor Menino is urging for city oversight of Boston's steam transmission lines. The images of a dark cloud looming over NYC streets and scared New Yorkers running, covered in mud and debris, are eerie and something that Boston would do almost anything to avoid. The current steam transmission system in Boston, which can carry 1.7M pounds of up to 350 degree steam per hour, is not regulated or inspected by the city, like power lines and other utilities are. The graphic above from The Boston Globe illustrates the network of steam pipes running beneath the city.

Old City Hall, like Government Center, the Aquarium and other major downtown buildings, uses steam heat as part of its system. There are almost always wisps of steam rising out of a Trigen manhole cover in the School Street sidewalk next to King's Chapel. I've always thought of it as one of those quaint, atmospheric features of an older city. I think I'll be keeping a more wary eye on it from now on.  

Brookline's Washington Square neighborhood is Very Walkable.

With a Walk Score of 89, my Brookline neighborhood Washington Square is almost a Walkers' Paradise (I think I already knew that). The Walk Score site is up and running today, so go check out your neighborhood or scope the  possibilities at your next travel destination. For good entertainment value, they have also posted Walk Scores for several celebrity locations: the White House scores an 85, Fenway Park scores a 90, and poor Bill Gates only scores a 5 out of 100 for his house on the shore of Lake Washington – no stroll down to the local coffee shop for him, I guess.

Sample walkability map.I wanted to post on my neighborhood's Walk Score, but the site has received so much traffic today that it has maxed out its usage of Google Maps' API (via Urban Planning Blog). Walk Score is yet another cool Google Maps mashup that plots neighborhood amenities within walking distance of your house (or work or whatever address you put in). It then calculates a Walk Score for your address – a Walkers' Paradise or just Not Walkable. The site is also evangelical about why walking is good for you and your neighbors (health, environment, local businesses, etc.). It could also be a great tool if you are moving to a new neighborhood or traveling (you could map your hotel address and see what your strollable options are). Hopefully, I'll be able to update you on Brookline's undoubtedly high walkability quotient tomorrow.