Gas main for luxe tower OK’d
Prompts outrage from neighbors
City officials approved the construction of a 4,100-foot long natural gas main yesterday in preparation for the Back Bay’s new behemoth luxury skyscraper, prompting outrage from residents who say National Grid skirted public process.
The Public Improvement Commission’s stamp of approval came despite pleas from a small crowd of residents and city councilors who asked for more time so that the City Council could conduct a full review of the proposal.
“This is not a small matter and the decision should not be a rushed one,” said 86-year-old Back Bay resident Lee Humphrey. “So far, no compelling justification for the additional pipeline has been given.”
About 40 residents turned out to protest and speak during yesterday’s hearing at City Hall.
Heshan Berents-Weeramuni, a spokesman for City Councilor Tito Jackson, said the councilor “continues to believe that it is absolute folly that we as a city continue to use fracking-based fossil fuels to build luxury housing, while ignoring the voices of ordinary Bostonians.”
Mayor Martin J. Walsh’s support of the project was also blasted by residents who say the gas main is at odds with his own carbonneutral action plan.
But National Grid expects to break ground on the main early next year. The gas main will snake through Back Bay’s main thoroughfares and benefit One Dalton, the 61-story tower of highpriced condos that is being erected next to the Prudential Center.
The building is expected to rise to 742 feet, making it New England’s tallest residential tower.
When asked why the project could not be delayed, National Grid Director Joseph Carroll said, “the building in question now is already up, and will continue to go up.” He said the gas main project will take about 15 months.
Meg Mainzer-Cohen, president of the Back Bay Association, agreed the main is a necessity.
“One of the realities of life is that in an old city like Boston, we must keep up with the underlying infrastructure that supports the development that we are currently undergoing,” she said.
The Public Improvement Commission said the city will co-sponsor at least two more public hearings about the project in January.
National Grid spokesman Bob Kievra said, “We’ve had very up-front communications with residents in that area and I expect that to continue.”