Fenway Renovations

[GordonGecko]

It wasn't originally part of Fenway Park, it was a separate building next door.

The 1925 picture shows that it was added to fenway park at a later date

[efin98]

The 1925 picture shows that it was added to fenway park at a later date

The shot from "1925" was based on an eight year old photograph from 1917 before the property had been built on.

This is a shot from 1933, clearly a building there on the left http://sportstemples.bpl.org/detail.asp?imageID=757

Another, this one from 1914 showing them putting up the building during the World Series: http://sportstemples.bpl.org/detail.asp?imageID=907

It's a different look from the rest of Fenway because it is a different building entirely that originally had no connection to Fenway Park other than its location...that's also why it took decades to be incorporated into the park and only recently been all but taken over by the needs of the fans.

Here's a before map with the year the park opened, the property is shown as being owned by someone else but not having been built on yet: http://sportstemples.bpl.org/detail.asp?imageID=975

There's several property maps online that still show it owned by the Smith family, they owned the property before it was sold to the Red Sox for use by the team.

[efin98]

More information about the disputed building: it's the "Jeano Building" built in 1914 and only actually connected to Fenway Park in 1949 when a radio station(WHDH/WEEI probably) had the walls between the two torn down to "bridge" the gap an allow access to the park.

The connection between the two buildings other than being from the same era and in the same neighborhood is only about 60 years old, the two have been separate beings until this past few years. It took the recent renovations to fully integrate into the park itself.

[Sean O]

More information about the disputed building: it's the "Jeano Building" built in 1914 and only actually connected to Fenway Park in 1949 when a radio station(WHDH/WEEI probably) had the walls between the two torn down to "bridge" the gap an allow access to the park.

The connection between the two buildings other than being from the same era and in the same neighborhood is only about 60 years old, the two have been separate beings until this past few years. It took the recent renovations to fully integrate into the park itself.

It's remarkable how different the LF area looks ever since they opened everything up. Instead of that creaky old gate and the disgusting rest rooms below section 30, everything down there is open and new.

BTW, you going to any of the Blazers games? We've gone 3 weeks in a row, and always have a ball. LAX isn't a major sport, but being able to attend a pro team without buying 6 months in advance or paying a ton is a dream.

[efin98]

It's remarkable how different the LF area looks ever since they opened everything up. Instead of that creaky old gate and the disgusting rest rooms below section 30, everything down there is open and new.

They integrated it well. There is a clear change from the Fenway structure to the Jeano structure but it's a good change- more light, more space, much cleaner...a heck of an improvement over the cramped quarters I saw in 2000.

BTW, you going to any of the Blazers games? We've gone 3 weeks in a row, and always have a ball. LAX isn't a major sport, but being able to attend a pro team without buying 6 months in advance or paying a ton is a dream.

I want to go but I gotta remember to check the schedule, I am concerned over the amount they will lose due to high rents- the Jacobs are tough landlords, almost drove out the Celtics a couple of years ago!

[Sean O]

They integrated it well. There is a clear change from the Fenway structure to the Jeano structure but it's a good change- more light, more space, much cleaner...a heck of an improvement over the cramped quarters I saw in 2000.

Indeed, it's a definite change from the rest of the park, but that's why I love the LF line area. Apart from actually having functional restrooms, the light is a major plus in an otherwise enclosed park.

I want to go but I gotta remember to check the schedule, I am concerned over the amount they will lose due to high rents- the Jacobs are tough landlords, almost drove out the Celtics a couple of years ago!

I'm almost certain they're going to the Agganis next year, but while they're at the Fleet, I'm loving it. They were down by 1 with 22 seconds to go, scored with 9.5 left to tie it, then amazingly won the game with .5 seconds to go. Even if it's the 6th biggest pro sport in the Boston area, one of the greatest games I've ever seen live in any sport.

[efin98]

Indeed, it's a definite change from the rest of the park, but that's why I love the LF line area. Apart from actually having functional restrooms, the light is a major plus in an otherwise enclosed park.

This will sound crazy but they could probably do something similar with the right field corner...they could probably put a roof over the big concourse and use that as a floor for an expanded area for the right field/third base area to alleviate the crowding down below and to allow for more sunlight into that corner.

Wild idea that probably wouldn't work but anything to improve conditions down that end is better than nothing.

[Sean O]

This will sound crazy but they could probably do something similar with the right field corner...they could probably put a roof over the big concourse and use that as a floor for an expanded area for the right field/third base area to alleviate the crowding down below and to allow for more sunlight into that corner.

Wild idea that probably wouldn't work but anything to improve conditions down that end is better than nothing.

My suggestion is: close off the street perpendicular to Yawkey before the game as well. The worst chokepoint at Fenway is between HP and canvass alley, because it gets awkwardly narrow and hard to deal with. If you open up the street, it clears everything up by effectively doubling the amount of concourse space.

[NYBase]

Dunno if someone already found this:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...rovements2008/

A neat graphic showing the changes through the years.

[efin98]

My suggestion is: close off the street perpendicular to Yawkey before the game as well. The worst chokepoint at Fenway is between HP and canvass alley, because it gets awkwardly narrow and hard to deal with. If you open up the street, it clears everything up by effectively doubling the amount of concourse space.

They do that already with closing of Yawkey Way. They need to keep Brookline Ave. open because it is a major street and buses, fire, and EMS need to get by and they can't really close down Landsdowne because it doesn't help alleviate the problem much.

[Sean O]

They do that already with closing of Yawkey Way. They need to keep Brookline Ave. open because it is a major street and buses, fire, and EMS need to get by and they can't really close down Landsdowne because it doesn't help alleviate the problem much.

Right, should've actually just looked to confirm the street name, I meant Van Ness. While it is used for emergency equipment, and there is an underground parking garage for the residents, it is far far smaller than Brookline, and is exactly next to the biggest traffic jams inside the park. In some of the higher traffic areas you can see the street through chain link fence.

[efin98]

Right, should've actually just looked to confirm the street name, I meant Van Ness. While it is used for emergency equipment, and there is an underground parking garage for the residents, it is far far smaller than Brookline, and is exactly next to the biggest traffic jams inside the park. In some of the higher traffic areas you can see the street through chain link fence.

By emergency vehicles I meant their access going down the street and that only applies to Brookline Ave. Van Ness, Ipswich, and Landsdowne don't have that problem as they don't normally travel down those streets unless the emergency is on those streets.

There are also things like rerouting the 55 bus and putting more traffic onto Boylston St. and Brookline Ave. which will cost them with the need for more cops and traffic officials- I don't think it is really worth the extra closure especially since they don't control the buildings on Van Ness like the control them on Yawkey Way.

Van Ness also appears to be a major entrance/exit for vendors and concessions in the park as well as where the contract ambulance provider stations their ambulances- they would need to have that street open to provide access for park needs which would be a pain in the neck to work around with the street closure. I don't see them closing down any more streets, just not in their best interest to do so.

[Tino24]

picture from OLD Fenway Park thread. you can see the building there in 1940

[DMR67442]

There was a bowling alley in that building. It was a candlepin lane. I bowled on it once. Infact the new resturant or bar counters are made from the alleys lanes.
I am not sure when the redsox aquirred the building but it is now part of the park

[Chevy114]

Dunno if someone already found this:

http://www.boston.com/sports/basebal...rovements2008/

A neat graphic showing the changes through the years.

This was pretty cool!

[seg555]

I took some pics from a fenway tour.