Shining Roslindale’s Gem in the Rough
By RVMS Board Member Adam Rogoff, Attorney at Law, Roslindale
Roslindale’s architectural gem in the rough – the MBTA Substation building at the corner of Washington Street and Cummins Highway -- is about to be shined.
The Roslindale substation is a unique historic building. When it was built in 1911 for the Boston Elevated Railway Company it showcased advanced electricity conversion technology, supplying power to the local trolleys which then ran down Washington Street to Forest Hills . Inside is a stunning two-story interior space which still houses a ceiling-suspended industrial crane. It is easy to imagine how opening up the large bricked-in windows will reveal a magnificent space.
From Neglect to Architectural Treasure
In the 1970’s the MBTA stopped operating the substation and it has remained unused since. For Roslindale, the long boarded-up windows have sent a signal of abandonment and dereliction. Given its unique character and its prominent location across from Adams Park , the substation remains the keystone to Roslindale Village ’s full revitalization.
Roslindale Village Main Street, the community-based organization, has spearheaded the efforts to get this important mothballed building out of the MBTA’s hands and into redevelopment, a process that has included working with the Mayor and with several city councilors including Rob Consalvo, partnering with Historic Boston Incorporated (HBI) in 2002 to conduct a feasibility study of redevelopment options, facilitating a community visioning process and lobbying for a disposition (public bidding) process that effectively ensures the community goals are met.
The community visioning conducted by RVMS and HBI included a public meeting attended by over 150 residents and a survey canvassing an even broader population. Through this process the community identified four baseline criteria of any development scenario:
Including the community-developed criteria in the disposition process is critical. Analysts engaged for the 2002 RVMS/HBI feasibility study, for instance, determined that a financial gap is likely to exist between the development costs and the value of useable floor space. Yet, if a project cannot bridge this gap and be economically feasible a developer might scrap the project mid-way and leave it abandoned again, or worse still, raze the building and put in a parking lot.
In 2003 the MBTA conducted a disposition process that ended in litigation because the highest bidder refused to commit to these basic criteria and subsequently challenged the MBTA’s authority to require them. The litigation ultimately favored the MBTA, but sadly tied up the building for over two years.
Since then RVMS has worked to transfer the property from the MBTA to the Boston Redevelopment Authority so that a new, effective disposition process can occur with the advantage of BRA’s other redevelopment tools. As reported recently the transfer of the substation is expected to happen in February.
New Opportunity for Redevelopment
Now the important work begins. The BRA must soon commence a disposition process that incorporates the four important criteria already established by the community and must stick to a reasonable schedule. Roslindale has suffered from the longstanding lack of action on this building and it would be a travesty for that to continue now under the tutelage of the BRA.
The disposition process for the substation must also be mindful of the potential redevelopment of the entire block. In particular the long-abandoned gas station next to the public library and potentially even improvements to the library itself should be considered in a development scenario.
After years of delays it is good news indeed that the redevelopment of one of Roslindale’s most important properties may be moving forward. Much gratitude is due City Mayor Menino, Councillor Rob Consalvo, and Tom Miller, the BRA’s Director of Economic Development, for their efforts in making this important step possible.