Wollaston

Wollaston Station Renovation

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Wollaston Station MBTA train tracks, with a brick wall on left, and the bright yellow line on the subway platform on the right.

Over the years, I’ve often written about my commute. Subway Stories grew out of the weirdness of riding the T.

So. My commute is about to get a bit more involved. I go to Wollaston Station and it’s about to undergo a significant renovation. The construction will make it accessible, according to NBC Boston.

The article says that there will also be new elevators, bathrooms, additional lighting and better stairways. Security will improve and the flooding problem will hopefully be eliminated. The renovations may start next month and could continue through June 2020.

The changes are long overdue and I’m glad they’re happening. But the timing has been a bit up in the air and still seems subject to change. Oh and the main issue, at least for me, is that the station is going to close for several years. Yup. Years.

While I was in the CVS near the station, people were talking about how they wondered if the closure would impact the number of people visiting the store.

Shuttle buses will replace the train between Wollaston and North Quincy stations. It probably won’t be that big of a deal, but will add some time to my commute in to Boston.

The third public meeting  [PDF] will take place Wednesday, June 21st, 6:30pm at the Central Middle School Auditorium. I’m not sure if I’ll be going yet, but I’m considering it. What about you?

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*Updated 9/17/2017*

Just read a Boston.com article stating that the closure will be in late December.

History Demolished & Disrespected: Wollaston Theatre

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Wollaston Theatre

Back in 2007, I started writing about the Wollaston Theatre. Since Quincy is the City of Presidents, I wrongly thought that there would be a special appreciation and unique effort to restore this once lovely old movie house. I wrote about Wollaston Theatre again in 2008, 2009 and 2010. I hoped that things would end differently.

Silly me. What was I thinking? Of course money trumps everything else. The beloved Wolly was smashed to bits. The Change.org petition was a nice idea, but it was all to no avail.

No doubt owner Michael Fang, owner of the C-Mart supermarket chain, will be able to sell the land for a pretty penny. Probably another luxury apartment building will be built. Maybe condos.

Something most likely beyond the reach of most people instead of what could have been a wonderful community space. That seems to be the direction of things in Quincy. Many will soon be priced out.

Wollaston_Theatre_Demolished

I just took these pictures today, so my feelings are fresh. It was shocking to see nothing left. I am so disappointed. Wollaston Theatre is really gone.

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Park(ing) Day 2014 ~ Wollaston Theatre

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parking day 2014

Have you heard of Park(ing) Day? It’s an annual event that takes place all over the world, where “citizens, artists and activists collaborate to temporarily transform metered parking spaces into “PARK(ing)” spaces: temporary public places.”

The mission of PARK(ing) Day is to call attention to the need for more urban open space, to generate critical debate around how public space is created and allocated, and to improve the quality of urban human habitat … at least until the meter runs out!

I think it’s the coolest thing and have seen pictures from events in different cities. Yesterday on Twitter, I saw that there was going to be an event in my neighborhood. So today, I took a break and walked down to the Wollaston Theatre.

On my old blog, I’ve written about how it’s such a shame that the Wollaston Theatre has not been open for many years. When I first moved to Quincy in the early 90s, it was open and I saw a movie there.

While I was at the Wolly Park-(In), I spoke to Kara from the Quincy Planning Department. She said that the event was a way for them to get into the community and talk to people about what they would like to see in Quincy. She gave me a slip of paper to write my wish for Quincy and to hang it on the Wishing Tree, which she said was a Chinese tradition.

I’m not sure if I’m supposed to share my wish, but it did have to do with the Wollaston Theatre opening up again. The current owner is Michael Fang. I hope that he considers it, because it’s a beautiful place and they don’t make theaters like that anymore.

Above are scenes from Park(ing) Day 2014 here in Quincy. Enjoy the pictures!