Question:
From today's Globe:
>http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/051/metro/Chinatown_Y_s_future_in_d...
Chinatown Y's future in doubt
By Scott S. Greenberger, Globe Staff, 2/20/2003
For three decades, Chinatown made do with a YMCA housed in a
makeshift, inflatable bubble. Now, only three years after the
neighborhood finally got a gleaming new facility, the $9 million
fitness center may fall victim to the planned expansion of the MBTA's
Silver Line.
Answer:
I don't see the need to take it.
The facility is actually the former gym and pool built by the Don Bosco
Tech High School.
I attended the school during the construction of the NE Med center stop
and the new tunnel which runs partially under this section of the former
school. The station and tunnel were built several years BEFORE the
Orange line was relocated to the Railroad ROW.
In fact there was at one time a pedestrian tunnell that opens at Oak
near Tremont to one end of the station. I believe that may be closed
now. In fact when the gym and station were built there was a planned
direct entrance to the school for students to use but when the station
opened they elected to not use it. Its there but either doored off or
walled off now.
Just under Tremont at this location is the former portal for the trolley
to access Boylston Station. Its been covered over since the 70s but was
there most of the time I was in school there and still a major stop for
busses coming in from So. Boston which served the downtown area.
There is more than enough room under there for a station without
bothering the Y.
Indeed if they take the Y they will be demolishing construction that
took years to generate funds and donations to build by the private
catholic school, and which is less than 25 years old.
