Agassiz Road and Duck House Restoration
On Agassiz Road, the parkway that links the East and West Fenway, sits a late 19th century building known as the Duck House. This City-owned building, which has been boarded up and out of use since the 1980s, has the potential to serve as a community asset.
Benefits of restoring the Duck House:
- Bring back to life a historic building
- Increase public safety
- Build a sense of community
- Enhance this location by the banks of the Muddy River
- Serve needs of park user
Benefits of investing in Agassiz Road:
- Maintain or increase the amount of parkland
- Discourage vehicular parking on parkland
- Increase usable sidewalk space
- Make it easier and safer for bicyclists
- Improve visibility through enhanced lighting
- Improve aesthetics
Leading Organization: Fenway Civic Association
Working Group Members:
Boston Bikes, Boston City Councilor Michael Ross, City of Boston Parks and Recreation Department, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Fenway Alliance, Fenway Civic Association, Fenway CDC, Fenway Garden Society, Historic Boston, Inc., MA Department of Conservation and Recreation, Representative Byron Rushing, Samuels & Associates, The Copley Group, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., and Wentworth Institute of Technology Center for Community & Learning Partnerships.
Timeline:
- 2008 – FCA’s annual meeting gathers support and suggestions for the renovation from residents, elected officials, and local businesses.
- 2009 – FCA partners with Wentworth Institute of Technology Center for Community & Learning Partnerships. FCA conducts online community survey and on-site data collection with the help of neighborhood volunteers. City issues Request for Expressions of Interest.
- 2010 – FCA works with local elected officials to get legislation passed which would enable the City to sign a long-term lease for the commercial use of the renovated Duck House space. Governor Patrick signs the legislation on August 3, 2010. FCA submits grant application to DCR Partnerships Matching Funds Program for feasibility study of Agassiz Road to identify improvement opportunities.
- 2011 – The Fenway Civic Association raised $13,000 from area organizations and was selected as a Matching Partnerships Grant recipient by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The $13,000 has been double matched by DCR and the funds have been used for a transportation feasibility study of Agassiz Road. The aim of the study was to identify environmentally sound opportunities that will enhance the Agassiz Road experience. The study commenced in the spring of 2011. At a community charette in fall 2011 area residents and other stakeholders had an opportunity to view and provide feedback on parkway improvement proposals. For copies of the fall community presentations, see November 2011 Presentation and December 2011 Presentation.
Click here to see a list of the contributing organizations. - 2012 - Fenway Civic Association seeks to raise thousands of dollars from the community to apply for another DCR Partnerships Matching Funds Grant, this time for the purpose of design work that will build off of 2011 work and bring closer to reality the improvements to Agassiz Road. This process will involve preliminary and final designs, as well as permitting, and public meetings. Fenway Civic Association continues to work with members and several area organizations, government entities (state and city), and businesses as we seek to improve the safety and vitality of Agassiz Road and make it a better integrated part of the Back Bay Fens and the Fenway neighborhood. Click FCA DCR Letter 3.27.12 for a March 2012 letter from DCR and FCA. To learn more about the proposal, check out the Site History and Existing Conditions Report as well as the final Conceptual Design Report 3.2012.
To get involved, email Erica at ehmattison@yahoo.com.
Additional Information: To view a PDF of a presentation given on the Duck House, click here.
