Saturday, October 27, 2007

Graffiti Removal

As you've probably seen, there was a lot of graffiti added to the neighborhood recently. If you see any that hasn't been cleaned up, report it to the City's "Graffiti Busters" and they'll remove it for free, as long as the building owner agrees to let them. Their website is:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/propertymanagement/graffitibusters.asp

It has the form the building owner or condo association needs to fill out. You can report graffiti by either faxing that form to 617-635-3284 or reporting it via the Mayor's 24-hour Constituent Service form:

http://www.cityofboston.gov/mayor/24/


Select "South Boston" and "Graffiti", and enter the details of where it's located.

Appeals Board Mtg Tues for P&G/Gillette Renovations

P&G/Gillette is going before the Board of Appeals on Tuesday to try to get approval for their renovations to their plant on A Street. Details:

10:30 A.M.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Room 801
City Hall

A public hearing will be held by the Board of Appeal of the City of Boston in Room 801, City Hall, upon the appeal of The Gillette Company seeking with reference to the premises at 1 Gillette Park, Ward 6 from the terms of the Boston Zoning Code (see Acts of 1956, c, 665) in the following respect:

IPOD Permit Article(s): 27P (27P-9) 27P (27P-11) 27P (27P-12)
Construct a new main entrance/lobby addition, renovate interior.

If you wish to express an opinion in regards to the above proposal either in favor or in opposition, please detach the lower portion of this announcement or mail to:
Board of Appeal
1010 Massachusetts Avenue, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02118

Please feel free to call the Board of Appeal at 617-635-4775 if there is a
question or concern you might have regarding this matter.

Developers Flipping Buildings and Ignoring BRA's 100 Acres Plan

As reported in the Globe, Tony Goldman and Archon have put 316 Summer St. and 322 Summer St. up for sale and are claiming the new owners would turn the buildings into office space. This is in conflict with the BRA's 100 Acres Master Plan (Final100AcresPlan.pdf). The plan, which went through a l-o-n-g community process and was approved by the BRA this past year, strives to turn Fort Point into a mixed-use, 24/7 neighborhood. Without sufficient residential buildings, this obviously can't happen.

Steve Hollinger, of SAND, has a good commentary on the issue:
http://www.bostonseaport.com/SAND/Archive/071023comment.html

FPNA Charter Ratified

The FPNA Charter has been completed and ratified by the Interim Board. The final version is available on our website:

http://www.fortpointneighborhood.org/aboutus/charter.asp

Friday, October 12, 2007

WBNA Letter on Gillette Renovation

Our friends at the West Broadway Neighborhood Association (www.wbroadway.org) have written a letter with their concerns about the Gillette project. It's available on their site:

http://www.wbroadway.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=1

Thursday, October 11, 2007

P&G / Gillette Renovation

P&G / Gillette are in the process of trying to renovate their facilities to bring office workers to it from downtown. Even though it's in our neighborhood, no one we can find in the neighborhood was notified or given any information about the project, and the neighborhood organizations such as ourselves, FPAC, and SAND were not given notice about the proposal.

This issue was brought up with Councilor Linehan at the 'Conversations with the Councilor’ at Midway Studios. Linehan fielded questions that evening and his office responded the next day to FPNA's email to him:

Our office had met with Gillette and we apologize for not ensuring they reached out to every neighborhood association affected. While Gillette has met with the Lower End Political Action Committee and the West Broadway Neighborhood Association, we heard it loud and clear last night that no one in Fort Point received the same consideration. In response, our office will facilitate a meeting with Gillette to be held in Fort Point to present the proposed renovation. I will be in touch shortly with more information.

We will keep you posted when we hear about the meeting date.

Among the concerns raised were:
-Increased noise from moving the loading dock from Dot Ave to A Street.
-The increase in traffic caused by 300-400 additional car commuters
-Inadequate greenery and greenspace

Channel Center Development meeting 10/24

The new owners of Channel Center are holding a public meeting to give an update on that project:

Community Meeting: Channel Center Update

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Location: Midway Studios, 15 Channel Center Street, South Boston

Agenda: Channel Center Holdings VAF, LLC will give an update on the next phases of the Channel Center Project, which is located in the Fort Point Channel District of South Boston

Sunday, October 07, 2007

Councilor Bill Linehan in Fort Point, Tuesday Night

Come meet Councilor Bill Linehan this Tuesday night:

Conversations with the Councilor
Tuesday, October 9th
6:30 - 7:30 PM
Midway Studios
15 Channel Center St


Come discuss the issues most affecting your neighborhood, your street, your quality of life in District 2. Whether it is public safety, parking, clean streets or other city services, Councilor Linehan would like to hear how he can help you in your neighborhood.

Volunteers needed for Open Studios

Open Studios is in two weeks and FPAC is looking for volunteers to help out. Contact Steph and Kelly if you're able to lend a hand: volunteer.fpos@gmail.com.

--
The 28th Annual Fort Point Open Studios is fast approaching…
Can you help us staff Open Studios information booths?

Info booth volunteers play a vital role in the success of FPAC Open Studios- they help visitors find their way around Fort Point by giving out maps, brochures, and directions to parking and studios. Volunteers are welcome to work with a friend, and will receive a free Open Studios 2007 tee-shirt for their efforts.

Since 1978, Fort Point artists have opened their studios to the public during the third weekend in October. This event offers the public a rare glimpse into the living and working spaces of artists, while providing a valuable opportunity for artists to show their work. Open studios is a festive occasion for artists and visitors alike- it is a unique, exciting, and vibrant event filled with creative energy.

Come join us and help show off what an amazing community we have!

Volunteer shifts are:
Saturday, October 20th; 10:45am – 2:30pm or 2:30pm – 6:15pm
Sunday, October 21st; 10:45am – 2:30pm or 2:30pm – 6:15pm

If you would like to donate your time, or if you know someone who would, email volunteer.fpos@gmail.com to get started.

Please do your best to make yourself available, and help make this another successful year.

Thank You!
Steph and Kelly- OS Info Booth Volunteer Coordinators