Harbor Park Pier 5

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PETITION

LET’S KEEP PIER 5 PUBLIC

Two proposals to privately develop Pier 5 in the Charlestown Navy Yard are currently under review. Pier 5 belongs to the public.

ASM Global Real Estate mega conglomerate, in partnership with Courageous Sailing School and the Boston Redevelopment Authority are actively pursuing commercialization of Pier 5 in a Public Private Partnership with no oversight with BPDA.

Beneath Courageous’ language of equity and access lies a commercial land grab of six acres of prime harbor front land and water sheet.

A Trojan Horse using a non-profit cover to conceal a for-profit takeover. 

Courageous Sailing School has long been revered a an iconic part of the Boston community. Unfortunately, they have been forced into this position without recourse. The landlord is the developer. A captive community tenant.

Ocean Havens Holdings Mega Yacht Marina Development company, in partnership with the Charlestown Marina conglomerate and the BPDA would commercialize the public water.

PIER 5 – A FOR PROFIT TROJAN HORSE

  • What’s proposed: Turn Pier 5 over to a for-profit operator of ticketed events, 400-seat weddings, corporate venues, and dock leases.
  • The reality: Over half the revenue comes from renting a 44,000 sq. ft commercial building. Less than 25% from actual community sailing. This is not public access — it’s pay-to-play.
  • The deal: All capital costs primarily paid by tax payers; net profits go to Courageous and its for-profit partner, ASM Global. This is not a public-private partnership — it’s public risk for private gain in perpetuity.

PIER 4 – A STEALTH TAKEOVER

  • What’s proposed: Bundle Pier 4 into the same plan as Pier 5, avoiding a separate review.
  • The reality: Pier 4 has already been upgraded with $10M in public funds to support a two-story building; plans for an 11,000 sq. ft modern facility are in place; and a long-term lease is reportedly within reach. Courageous does not need Pier 5 to support an expanded program.
  • The concern: By withholding these facts, Courageous’ proposal attempts a two-for-one, back-door takeover of both piers.

TAKE ACTION!

Reject this
Public Property Giveaway

  • REJECT both current proposals for Pier 5.
  • LAUNCH A NEW RFP for a non-commercial Pier 5 that delivers maximum public benefit and is financially self-sustaining.
  • BPDA SHOULD NOT AWARD A LONG-TERM LEASE FOR PIER 4 without a transparent RFP process.
Participate

Share your thoughts, questions or concerns about the privatization of Pier 5 and local parks with community members, stakeholders and municipal authorities.

Take Action!

We urge you to get involved. Boston deserves a healthier, more equitable, and more sustainable future. It is on our watch.

Developers Propose Private Profit from Public Property

At the RFP proponents meeting the Charlestown Marina expansion proposal was neatly folded into 11 pages of the BPDA prepared for the meeting overview. The ASM Global/Legends/Courageous proponents proposal is 181 PAGES LONG. Stakeholders must have significant interest and resources.

25.07.24_Pier-5-CNY_Proponent-Presentations_ENG_FINAL-2 (2)
25.07.24_Pier-5-CNY_Proponent-Charlestown Marina, LLC (Prepared with the BPDA)
2025.02.24_Pier-5-RFP_Courageous-Sailing-Center-for-Youth-Inc._PUBLIC (Prepared with the BPDA)
_Pier 5 Charlestown Marina Expansion Submission 2-24-25 FINAL 3

About the Developers

Missions, Markets, Motivations

ASM Global

ASM GLOBAL – The ASM Global slogan is “We Are Real Estate“.
This massive development company with in house entertainment and ticketing is involved in 40 state ANTI-TRUST and 2 federal court cases filed March 2025 along with Ticketmaster.

Partnering with with Courageous Sailing School would commercialize the land in a private-private-private partnership with ASM Global Mega Real estate conglomerate and the BPDA.

ASM Global specializes in owning and managing over 400 major stadiums, arenas, convention centers, and theaters worldwide.

Ocean Havens Holdings

Ocean Havens Holdings in partnership with the Charlestown Marina (aka Pier 6 Restaurant) would commercialize the public water sheet. Ocean Havens is a global private interest conglomerate coastal luxury real estate developer specializing in Mega Yacht marinas.

About ASM Global Real Estate

ASM GLOBAL is a massive entertainment real estate company specializing in ticketed access venues such as Arenas, Convention Centers, Stadiums in partnership Ticketmaster which is currently involved in Federal Anti-Trust Lawsuit and in 40 states for inflating public ticket values for access to the venues for events.

Private Equity LAND GRAB of public property Pier 5 by ASM GLOBAL, Inc.

This proposal lacks transparency and fails to acknowledge the significant negative impacts typically associated with for-profit venues: restricted access, increased traffic, noise, trash, parking demand, rodents, and post-event disruptions. ASM Global offers the only fully integrated, live events marketing platform that leverages guest actions, predictive analytics, and multi-touchpoint engagement to continuously enhance the guest experience and maximize profitability. About ASM…

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About Ocean Havens

The Charlestown Marina partner OCEAN HAVENS’ slogan “History Meets Modern”, does not convey a Private Yacht Club with a Super Yacht Marina. Their marketing videos speak for themselves below. Ocean Havens directed their marketer to convey their brand as “Exuding Luxury”.

Ocean Havens Holdings, LLC

Ocean Havens Holdings, LLC is a Boston and New England-based real estate property developer with multiple marinas in Boston Harbor. A customer base and target market for Ocean Havens, LLC is expressed by it’s and web design brand to be…

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All August 2025 Tenant $70 Million dollar Super Yacht (larger than Mega)

About Reality

Generations of Constituents
OPPOSE Private Development

Aerial map of the Charlestown Navy Yard, showing various parcels and designations for development, open space, and community gardens.

A Misguided Proposal – With Critical Omission and Misinformation

Courageous Sailing once enjoyed widespread support for its youth and adult sailing programs. Many in the community were proud to contribute. While expanding access to youth sailing is a worthy goal, Pier 5 is not the right location for a massive, Harbor-blocking building supported by a private equity partnership. The Courageous Sailing proposal ignores and dismisses valid community concerns: snarled…

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A sign at a marina stating 'PLEASE KEEP OFF NO PARKING OR STOPPING - SHARED PEDESTRIAN ZONE' with boats moored in the background.
“Privatization is just another knife in our backs.”

A Flawed Process

Although the BPDA claims to have extensively publicized the meeting, only about 200 people attended—a strikingly low turnout in a neighborhood of more than 15,000 adults. Despite repeated requests from the community for a hybrid or in-person meeting, the BPDA proceeded with Zoom-only access, excluding many residents who need or prefer other formats. Even the Zoom format was compromised: in…

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What’s at Stake, Why it Matters

The community of Charlestown is advocating for a public park at Pier 5, emphasizing equitable access to open spaces, health benefits, and historical significance, amid concerns over development and environmental impacts on local health.

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Crowd of people on a pier with a historical ship in the background, accompanied by a bold red banner stating 'PIER 5 BELONGS TO THE PUBLIC - LET'S KEEP IT THAT WAY' and a call to action to sign a petition.

Private Developers Considerations

A Retrospective and Prospective Look at Pier 5

The History and Mission of the Pier 5 Association The Pier 5 Association, founded in 2021, evolved from earlier community groups formed as early as 2002 in response to various private development proposals advanced by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA), now the…

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Investigate RFP last minute changes.

  • Heat Study Pier 5 Boston
  • “Privatization is just another knife in our backs.”
  • “Pier 5 should continue provide shelter and food for birds, fish and seals.”
  • “This space should be public access for families to enjoy instead of an elite Yacht Club”
  • “The BRA has forgotten how little people feel trampled.”

ALL HANDS ON DECK

Public Demands!

Four years of Earth Day Pier 5 Rallies – over 1,200 participants

A comparison chart illustrating the environmental impact of a proposed $84 million franchise events venue versus a nature-based park, highlighting energy use, carbon emissions, water consumption, access, and land use.
Infographic comparing environmental impacts of a mega yacht marina and a nature-based park.
Map depicting the Parcel Priority Plan for Charlestown, highlighting areas of varying equity scores and protected versus unprotected open spaces.

Nature Based Public Places ROI, Calculating Equity

A group of people sitting on the waterfront near Pier 5, with a small boat docked nearby.

Environmental Justice Disparities

Diversity, Segregation and Integration

  • “Pier 5 should continue provide shelter and food for birds, fish and seals.”
  • “This space should be public access for families to enjoy instead of an elite Yacht Club”
  • “Privatization is just another knife in our backs.”
  • “The BRA has forgotten how little people feel trampled.”
  • “Pier 5 Park benefits the public, children, sailing education and so much more.”
  • “Pier 5 should not be privatized, it should remain a public green space for all to enjoy.”
  • “Do not allow developers to run the city!”
  • “The waterfront belongs to the public! Preserve this unique historic site.”
  • “Charlestown overdevelopment is staggering. A park is great idea for the community.”
  • “The Courageous Sailing community is invaluable asset to Boston.”

Mega Developers Hostile Land Grab of Historic Public Property

SIGN THE PETITION
IF THE CITY GIVES AWAY YOUR PIERS 4 & 5 they are GONE FOREVER
Recreational Equity Preliminary Notes Charlestown, MA

Latest Letters for a Harbor Park

Over 7,016 Letters of Support

Over 2,696 Online Petition Advocates

A young girl and an adult woman are engaging in conversation on a wooden deck. The image promotes a petition for a Pier 5 Park in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Over 2,240 Signed Advocates

Context

A detailed site analysis map of Boston's Pier 5, showing existing conditions, views, and structural information, with color-coded sections indicating various use potentials.
PIER 5 SITE ANALYSIS 2020 – ECODESIGN, Inc.
Map showing survey results for new parks in Charlestown, highlighting preferred locations such as Bunker Hill Community College parking lots and areas along the Mystic River, with associated comments on prioritizing sports fields and dog-friendly spaces.
PRO PIER 5 PARK BRA Survey 2022
2014-2023 Pier 6 Redevelopment, Beginning of Courageous Pier 4 Emergency Pilings Rebuild
Renderings: Top. vector to scale. Below. Ocean Havens proposal pitch.
Mass. Environmental Justice Populations with significant Fishing for Sustenance – largely represented by language isolated. Note Proximity to Pier 5.
A large crowd of people on a pier waving American flags, with a tall ship approaching and smaller boats nearby.
“The waterfront belongs to the public! Preserve this unique historic site.”
A group of children and adults gathered at a pier, looking over the edge towards the water. The adults are interacting with the children, who appear curious and engaged.
Preserve this Harbor view

Earth Day Celebrations

The Pier 5 Association has hosted Boston’s largest outdoors Earth Day.

Earth Day Celebrations at Pier 5

Earth Celebrations Rallying for Pier 5 Park 2023