Charles River Reservation (Speedway)-Upper Basin Headquarters facts for kids
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Charles River Reservation – Upper Basin Headquarters
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View of the headquarters, c. 1900
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 Location in Greater Boston area
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1420–40 Soldiers Field Road, Boston, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1899-1940 |
| Architect | William D. Austin |
| Architectural style | Shingle and Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000506 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 19, 2010 |
The Charles River Speedway Headquarters is a group of old buildings in Brighton, Massachusetts. These seven buildings were designed by architect William D. Austin. They were built between 1899 and 1940.
This place used to be the main office for the Charles River Reservation. It also had stables for horses that raced at the Charles River Speedway. The Speedway was a track for horse and bicycle races. Today, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) takes care of the Speedway Headquarters.
The buildings have been empty since 2005. Now, they are being fixed up as part of the DCR's Historic Curatorship Program. A group called the Architectural Heritage Foundation is turning them into a place with shops, cultural spaces, and offices.
What Does the Speedway Headquarters Look Like?
The Speedway Headquarters was designed by William D. Austin. He was a local architect known for designing public buildings. The complex has seven buildings connected together. They form a triangle shape around a central yard.
The buildings show a mix of two styles:
- Shingle style: This means they have wooden shingles on the outside. They also have uneven rooflines, turrets (small towers), and wide eaves (roof edges).
- Colonial Revival style: This style adds features like special windows, shutters, and a portico (a porch with columns).
What is the History of the Speedway Headquarters?
The Charles River Speedway and the area around it were planned by Charles Eliot. He was a landscape architect who passed away in 1897. The Olmsted Brothers group then managed the building of the Speedway.
The Speedway was used for races until at least the 1950s. Later, it became part of Soldiers Field Road, which is a major parkway today. The Speedway Headquarters buildings were then used by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority for their offices until about 2001.
These buildings are important historically. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010. In 2014, they were also named a Boston Landmark. At that time, the buildings were empty.
In 2013, the Boston Landmarks Commission officially made the main building a Boston Landmark. This decision was approved by the Mayor and the City Council.
How is the Speedway Headquarters Being Rebuilt?
In 2013, the DCR asked groups to propose ideas for fixing up the Speedway Headquarters. This project was part of the Historic Curatorship Program. This program helps restore old buildings.
In 2014, the DCR chose a plan from the Architectural Heritage Foundation. They signed a forty-year lease for the property. The plan is to change the old buildings into a new space. This will include a brewery and taproom, a restaurant, and shops for local artists. There will also be office space for a local non-profit group.
Originally, the plan also included building apartments nearby. However, that part of the plan was canceled. The old building there was taken down. It will become a parking lot for cars and bikes for people visiting the Speedway Headquarters.
The work to fix up the complex was expected to start in the summer of 2019. The new Speedway Headquarters was planned to open in May 2020.
