[MassHistPres] ArtDecoBoston Alert

[Ttorwig at aol.com]

Tony Fusco has forwarded this email to you with the  following message: If 
any of you can support me at the BLC meeting this Tuesday  at 5:30 it would 
be very much appreciated! Please pass the word. Thanks, Tony  Fusco   
____________________________________
Please Note: You have  NOT been added to any email lists. If you no longer 
wish to receive these  messages, please contact _artdecoboston at aol.com_ 
(mailto:artdecoboston at aol.com) .


 
                          
    
 

- PRESERVATION ALERT -
New  England Telephone  Headquarters

Boston Landmarks Commission  Meeting
Tuesday, November 10 - 5:30pm  



What: 
The Boston  Redevelopment Authority (BRA) is reviewing a  proposal from the 
developer Commonwealth  Ventures to make design modifications to the  1947 
Art Deco  skyscraper at 185 Franklin Street,  originally he headquarters of 
the New England  Telephone & Telegraph Company, and more  recently owned by 
the Verizon Corporation.  

If you have seen the news coverage in  the _Boston  Globe_ 
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=oe75fcdab.0.ixt9gcdab.wy5478bab.0&ts=S0421&p=http://http://bostonart
deco.org/_Media/bostonglobe.pdf)  (click to read) and Boston Herald, you  
are aware that Verizon removed the historic,  WPA-style mural "New England 
Telephone  Men and Women at Work" from the lobby,  and announced that it was 
considering donating  the mural to a museum in Rhode Island.  

The Art Deco Society of Boston launched  a public awareness campaign to 
protest the  mural's removal. Along with the Boston  Preservation Alliance, 
ADSB is in discussion  with the new owners of the building to restore  the 
mural to the building.

While the developer has proposed some  acceptable and interesting design 
changes in  keeping with the original Art Deco building, the  Boston 
Preservation Alliance with the support of  ADSB has filed a petition with the Boston  
Landmarks Commission to protect this magnificent  Art Deco skyscraper by 
giving it landmark  status.  Landmarking will not protect the  mural or 
require the developer to reinstall the  mural, but it will provide for a measure 
of  protection for any alterations to the building's  exteriors.


When - Where:  
Boston  Landmarks Commission  Meeting

Tuesday, November  10 -  5:30pm 
Boston City  Hall, Room 900 (9th Floor)
_Click  here for a map_ 
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=oe75fcdab.0.kxt9gcdab.wy5478bab.0&ts=S0421&p=http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&q=Boston+
City+Hall+Plaza,+Boston,+Suffolk,+Massachusetts+02203&sll=42.343574,-71.0719
3&sspn=0.124594,0.211487&ie=UTF8&cd=4&geocode=FcNchgIdQ7rD-w&split=0&hq=&hne
ar=Boston+City+Hall+Plaza,+Boston,+Suffolk,+Massachusetts+02203&z=14) 
Note: At this hour,  the public must enter Boston City Hall from the  rear 
entrance, across from the Faneuil Hall  Marketplace.


How to  help:
Attend the public meeting of the  Boston Landmarks Commission and voice 
your  comments about the significance of the building  as well as the mural.

Please call Tony at  617-363-0405 if you can be  there.


Information:
For more  information, please contact the Art Deco Society  of Boston at 
617-363-0405 or email _artdecoboston at aol.com_ (mailto:artdecoboston at aol.com) .





   





The Shreve Crump & Low Building to Be  Demolished
After a lengthy  fight, we must announce that it appears that the Shreve  
building's days are numbered.


 
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=oe75fcdab.0.oxt9gcdab.wy5478bab.0&ts=S0421&p=http://www.bostonartdeco.org) The Boston Redevelopment Authority  approved 
demolition of the former Shreve, Crump and Low  building, located at the 
intersection of Boylston and  Arlington Streets in Boston.  The building combines 
the  original 1904 Beaux Arts structure with a striking Art Deco  facade, 
built specifically for jewelers Shreve, Crump and  Low in 1929-1930.  On 
November 10, by a vote of 5-2,  the Boston Landmark Commission (BLC) denied 
landmark status  on what the citizens' petitioners group argues is an  
architecturally, historically and socially significant  building.  The Art Deco Society 
of Boston, working with  community volunteers, filed a lawsuit against the 
BLC's  decision, which the court denied.  The developer has  refused to 
consider incorporating the facade into his new  design, and instead plans to 
erect a new high-end luxury  office tower.  


We deplore this  series of bad decisions which will destroy a unique part 
of  Boston's architectural heritage to make way for yet another  nondescript 
tall office building on an already beleaguered  Boylston Street.

NEWS COVERAGE:


_"Rally Held to Save  Building"_ 
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=oe75fcdab.0.qxt9gcdab.wy5478bab.0&ts=S0421&p=http://www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2008/12
/11/03/4031-72/index.xml)  - Boston Metro
_"Shreve building a  'jewel,' say Back Bay protesters"_ 
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=oe75fcdab.0.txt9gcdab.wy5478bab.0&ts=S0421&p=http://www.bostonherald.co
m/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1138304&srvc=business&position=2)  - 
Boston  Herald








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