On the first sunny afternoon in a long time, a crowd of nearly 100 well-wishers gathered in Fields Corner for the ceremonial ribbon cutting at the newly-renovated Golden Building. Co-hosted by Historic Boston and Fields Corner Main Street, Mayor Thomas Menino served as the keynote speaker and presented Stephen Golden?s family and the tenants of the building with giant checks reflecting the City?s $75,000 grant funding that the project received.
HBI?s Executive Director Kathy Kottaridis, the City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development?s chief Evelyn Friedman and Fields Corner Main Street, Inc.?s Evelyn Darling addressed the crowd, thanking the many people and organizations who played a key role in the project.
In particular, project architects David Amory and TJ Hrabota of Amory Architects as well as contractor Kevin Piccinin of K&B Contracting were applauded for their outstanding design and construction services. HBI?s Senior Program Manager Jeff Gonyeau was recognized for his careful and hands-on oversight of both the predevelopment planning and construction phases of the project.
The theme of the day was how this project positively touched many people in the community.
Mayor Menino put it well when he said that well designed and carefully executed projects like this ?prove that historic preservation can enhance not only the physical and economic health of a neighborhood but also uplift the spirit of the people who live, work, and shop in Boston?s historic neighborhood commercial districts.?
All in all, this project represents a total investment of over $320,000 in this highly visible, and now very eye-catching, historic Fields Corner structure. Building owner Stephen Golden and his family should be congratulated for taking a leap of faith and working with Historic Boston to make this transformation happen.
As the first to be completed bricks and mortar project of Historic Boston?s Historic Neighborhood Centers program, HBI is also pleased to note that it has already helped catalyze another project down the block at the Lenox Building, which is well underway. We hope that this is the first of many such unveilings in Fields Corner!
