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City Should Restore the Luster of once-shining
link in Necklace (Boston Globe) (.pdf)
Jamaica Plain Gazette
Reader forum - Letter of the week
June 9, 2006
Pinebank could be saved
I am struck by the similarity between the debate over demolition of
the historic columns at the Franklin Park Zoo ("Feathers ruffled over zoo
columns," JP Gazette, May 26), and the historic mansion, Pinebank, at
Jamaica Pond. Mayor Thomas Menino is described as "lamenting the neglect of
other historic structures in the park" and urges zoo management to
"forge a preservation solution."
I have attended a presentation by Friends of Pinebank, and believe that they
have done just that—developed a preservation solution. Their plan would create
a "Tanglewood in Boston" in a reconstructed Pinebank which would host
concerts and rehearsals for a variety of groups. As a walking destination within
a 1-mile distance of 170,000, a cultural center based on music could invigorate
a little-used section of Jamaica Park and possibly distribute some of the heavy
usage at the pond's edge.
Many other cities have been creative at solving this type of problem. I urge the
Jamaica Plain community and city officials to work with Friends of Pinebank in
refining and implementing this vision.
E. Mundel
Jamaica Plain
June 10, 2005
Losing Pinebank is unnecessary
We read in the JP Gazette ["Plan Calls for Historic Ruin," May 27] that the Boston Parks Department has quietly decided to turn Pinebank, a significant Emerald Necklace park feature, into an historic ruin. Let's recall the history: In 1890, the City of Boston purchased Pinebank, a Victorian home overlooking Jamaica Pond, and put the building to constructive public use as part of the Emerald Necklace parkland for 90 years. However, after a fire damaged the historic building, the City of Boston and its Parks Department abandoned the property, a gesture of disrespect not only for historic preservation but for the immediate neighborhood and all park users.
But in the 1980s Boston came back and confirmed a plan to rescue and restore the building as part of a major park restoration. In the 1990s, $750,000 was allocated for stabilization of the property but, oddly, no public use could be agreed upon among the powers and thus the money was never spent.
Pinebank continued to deteriorate. In 1997, the chief Boston Parks Planner toured the interior of the building with camera crews and concluded that the building could be accurately restored with modern restoration techniques. Now, according to the Parks Department, the building is so unsound engineers are not allowed inside to survey it.
We have been told the situation is "sad." What is the sad part? It's not a natural ruin or an act of nature over which no one had control. Rather it is an unnecessary loss caused by the City of Boston's lack of vision and disregard for its civic responsibility. Other cities have understood the value of historic buildings within their parks, being creative enough to find relevant uses for them and, to find the necessary funding for restoration and means for upkeep. Where there's a will there's a way.
We can only hope that it is actually not too late for the city to rethink its plans to create a ruin as a solution to so many years of neglect. When a beloved and historic city-owned property falls into ruin, someone is responsible and a trust has been broken. This is not the same thing as "sad." The City of Boston should be held to standards and accountability. What's sad is that Boston, a city famous for its respect for history, has allowed this Historic Landmark to decay.
Katherine Mathew
Mission Hill
The writer is a member of the Emerald Necklace Citizens Advisory Committee and the Muddy River Management & Maintenance Committee.
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