statler
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2006
- Messages
- 7,924
- Reaction score
- 519
I was looking at the Alliance of Boston Neighborhoods website.
Some of their Transportation writings are good and deserve our support.
However, when you get into the rest of the stuff, it is a horror show.
I swear these people are reverse vampires. They must just shrivel up and die if they are not in constant sunlight.
The thing is, they are a large, active and obviously powerful organization. They attend meetings, they write letters. They are listened too.
I'd love to create a similar organization, except without all the hysteria about shadows, open space and big scary buildings. A group that would push for ground floor retail, quality materials, narrow streets and pedestrian oriented development. A group that would champion ablarc's 22 Theses.
We would even share some common goals with our friends at ABN. Mostly transportation and environmental issues. They could even help us with issues like the SC&L buildings.
Unfortunately, I just don't have the time nor resources to start something like this.
The bigger problem is, even if I could do it would it matter?
Are there really enough people in this city that care enough good urban design to fight for it? Are there enough people who agree about what good urban design is to work together?
As far as I know this board is the go-to place for these issues in Boston. And we have what? As of right now, 400 members on this board. And maybe 2 dozen of them are active.
So, can it done?
For now, I would encourage all Boston based members to join their local chapter of the ABN. Speak up. Let them know we are out there and we care. Assure them these issues are important and need to addressed by their organization. Don't antagonize, work with them. Explain your point of view and why you think it is important to take up these causes. You'll lose a lot more battles than you will win, but if you get them to champion even one thing on ablarc's list of 22 you've made a difference.
Personally I'm stuck outside the city so I'm no help. Hopefully that will change sooner than later.
I'll never say "I give up" because I care too much about this city for that.
But for now I'm stuck being a keyboard warrior who watches in frustration as the city he loves gets more and more suburbanized.
Some of their Transportation writings are good and deserve our support.
However, when you get into the rest of the stuff, it is a horror show.
The predicted shadows on spring afternoons falling across the Shapiro Center plaza and across the fa?ade of the National Register listed former Massachusetts College of Art at 364 Brookline Avenue will obviously affect the use of the plaza space provided for the public as a benefit when Beth Israel Hospital obtained the building from the state.
I swear these people are reverse vampires. They must just shrivel up and die if they are not in constant sunlight.
The thing is, they are a large, active and obviously powerful organization. They attend meetings, they write letters. They are listened too.
I'd love to create a similar organization, except without all the hysteria about shadows, open space and big scary buildings. A group that would push for ground floor retail, quality materials, narrow streets and pedestrian oriented development. A group that would champion ablarc's 22 Theses.
We would even share some common goals with our friends at ABN. Mostly transportation and environmental issues. They could even help us with issues like the SC&L buildings.
Unfortunately, I just don't have the time nor resources to start something like this.
The bigger problem is, even if I could do it would it matter?
Are there really enough people in this city that care enough good urban design to fight for it? Are there enough people who agree about what good urban design is to work together?
As far as I know this board is the go-to place for these issues in Boston. And we have what? As of right now, 400 members on this board. And maybe 2 dozen of them are active.
So, can it done?
For now, I would encourage all Boston based members to join their local chapter of the ABN. Speak up. Let them know we are out there and we care. Assure them these issues are important and need to addressed by their organization. Don't antagonize, work with them. Explain your point of view and why you think it is important to take up these causes. You'll lose a lot more battles than you will win, but if you get them to champion even one thing on ablarc's list of 22 you've made a difference.
Personally I'm stuck outside the city so I'm no help. Hopefully that will change sooner than later.
I'll never say "I give up" because I care too much about this city for that.
But for now I'm stuck being a keyboard warrior who watches in frustration as the city he loves gets more and more suburbanized.