By Michael Coughlin Jr.
At its meeting last week, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board approved a project that would renovate White Stadium through a partnership between Boston Unity Soccer Partners (BUSP) and the City of Boston. As part of this project, BUSP was designated to renovate White Stadium through a request for proposals process that began in April of last year. BUSP was the sole respondent.
With the designation, BUSP will not only renovate the west grandstand, erect a new building south of the existing track to house aspects such as food and beverage service, and create an open space area for community activities called the Grove and more, but it will also bring a professional National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) team to the stadium. In tandem with the abovementioned improvements from BUSP, the city will conduct its own renovations. Specifically, the city will construct a new east grandstand, extend buildings to accommodate offices and a strength and conditioning center, and install a new field surface and track, among other improvements. According to the city’s Chief of Operations, Dion Irish, the professional NWSL team would play up to 20 games per season, including championship games, as part of the partnership. Moreover, he stated that even in weeks when an NWSL game is scheduled, 90% of the facility’s programmable hours would be for community and Boston Public Schools (BPS) programming. “White Stadium is more than just a facility; it’s a hub for athletic excellence, community gatherings, and cultural events. Our improvements will enhance visitor experience and preserve the stadium’s legacy for future generations,” said Irish.
“The concept of having a professional sports team share a home field with high school student-athletes and community members is an unprecedented one that excites us, especially because of how this partnership will dramatically increase stadium usage by Boston Public School student-athletes and members of the public,” said BUSP’s Controlling Manager Jennifer Epstein. Not only was the abovementioned information shared with the BPDA Board, but also the design process. During the project presentation, architects reviewed the design for the renovations of the entire stadium. In speaking about design philosophy, Tamara Roy of Stantec Architecture said,
“As designers, our mission is to respect all the eras that exist in the physical, historical, and social context here while using forms and materials that complement and blend them seamlessly together and being responsive to all of the comments that we’ve heard in the public process.” Moreover, Roy discussed the evolution of the design concept, which was previously asymmetrical due to differing program goals in the East and West. After discussions with entities like the BPDA and architects who crafted the Franklin Park Action Plan, the design is more unified in that BPS programs are distributed more evenly, massing has been consolidated, and more. Roy detailed design refinements as the presentation progressed and discussed some design nods to Frederick Law Olmsted — the man who designed Franklin Park — such as the facility canopies being inspired by his overlook building. Later, Chris Bridle of Stantec Architecture highlighted the project’s landscaping elements. He discussed trees at the site and plans for new plantings, removal of trees in poor health, stormwater management, grading, and more. Bridle also provided transportation information on typical days and days when the NWSL team has a game. “On a typical day, a new hierarchy of paths as recommended in the action plan [Franklin Park Action Plan] will promote pedestrians, bikes, and public transportation,” said Bridle.
“This will be achieved in coordination with Boston Parks and BPS by reintroducing improved primary pedestrian [and] bike routes… a secondary path system… and a tertiary path system.” During game days, the stadium will be accessible through public transportation, shuttle service, ride-sharing, biking, and walking. Bridle also noted that the transportation plan will continue to be refined. Also, the Boston Transportation Department will create a neighborhood-specific game day parking program for residents and visitors. Essentially, residents in the “White Stadium walk area” and their guests can park in areas where parking is not allowed on game day. However, it should be noted that last week’s presentation stated that people can get one resident sticker per vehicle registered to an address in the walk area and one visitor pass per residential unit. Other aspects of the project to note are the creation of a BUSP annual $500,000 community fund that could go toward investments in Franklin Park, local youth sports, and more; also, the new and improved White Stadium will be one of the first net-zero carbon stadiums in the country.
After the presentation, the floor was given to elected officials who commented on the project. State Representative Samantha Montaño voiced her support for the project and called it transformative, praising city staff for working with the community to make the revitalization of White Stadium a reality. At-Large City Councilor Henry Santana also supported the project, calling it a transformative investment in youth. However, he stressed the need for a “comprehensive” and “proactive” community process, citing letters of opposition and concerns from constituents.
“It is crucial that we ensure all voices are heard and that we work together to address any issues or questions that arise,” he said. “This project has the potential to positively impact our youth and our community, but it is essential that we proceed with transparency and active engagement from all stakeholders.” City Councilor Ben Weber urged the BPDA Board to approve the project in a statement detailing his pride in supporting the investment and addressing constituent concerns. Weber spoke about a lack of trust in the fact that some folks do not believe the field will be as accessible for the community and BPS as proponents say and concerns that a public asset was being turned over to a private entity. “There is nothing I have seen or heard, however, that supports these claims. Indeed, Superior Court Judge Sarah Ellis found that this claim in particular or claims like this were not substantiated when she denied a request for a temporary restraining order,” said Weber.
“In rejecting the claim that the terms of the project would hand over exclusive full- time use of the west grandstand to the soccer team, Judge Ellis wrote that this claim was refuted by the terms of the proposed lease agreement between the city and Boston Unity. I find the judges weighing of the facts and the law to be persuasive.” While the abovementioned elected officials expressed support, At-Large City Councilor Erin Murphy opposed the project, citing hearing “a lot of opposition.”
Murphy indicated that she has heard from constituents who feel their voices are not being heard and that the process has been rushed. She thought that public funding could be found and used instead of including a private entity in BUSP. Before the project went to a vote, BPDA Board Members made several comments. For example, BPDA Board Member Kate Bennett echoed Santana’s remarks and stressed the need for continued community engagement. In response, Diana Fernandez Bibeau, Deputy Chief of Urban Design at the BPDA, indicated that there is a commitment to ongoing dialogue. Epstein mentioned that a Neighborhood Advisory Council will be created comprised of elected officials and residents to keep lines of communication open. Further, the Board’s Chair, Priscilla Rojas, reviewed several concerns she had heard from residents and asked the project team for answers. For example, a comment alluded to the idea that White Stadium, a public asset, is being transferred to a private company that would control it. However, Fernandez Bibeau noted that the city would retain ownership. Sammy Nabulsi, the city’s legal counsel for the project, confirmed that the city would own the parcel and stadium and indicated that the NWSL team would use amenities such as the field through a licensing arrangement rather than a lease. Another concern was that this process should not proceed with ongoing litigation, referring to a lawsuit filed by the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and other individuals to challenge the project. However, Nabulsi indicated that in response to a request for a preliminary injunction, the Superior Court issued a decision in March that the plaintiffs “Were unlikely to succeed on the merits of any of their claims in this litigation.” He also stated, “In denying that preliminary injunction, the judge essentially carved out a path for the city to continue permitting, to continue entering into any contracts that it needs to pursue the project, and to move forward with the very public process that both the city and the soccer team have been on,” before mentioning the hope is for the case to be done with no later than the Spring.
Other concerns addressed during the meeting included BPS’ future use of the field, trust, plans if the project exceeds budget, and more. After the project team addressed the abovementioned concerns, the proposal was put to a vote and unanimously approved by the BPDA Board. To view a recording of the White Stadium presentation and the decision, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8klv5uLxFiQ and skip to 38:36. It should also be noted that Weber and Murphy’s testimony were taken out of order before the abovementioned discussion. To view their testimony, skip to 18:38.