Monday, December 19, 2016

Electric Vehicle Parking Lot Ribbon Cutting

Eversource and Madison Properties partner on ‘Green Block’ amid historic buildings on Congress Street in Fort Point. 

WHAT:  Ribbon-cutting and grand opening of “green” parking facility where electric vehicles of all makes can park by the hour or by the day, while recharging their batteries for a clean ride home.

WHEN:  11 a.m., Monday, Dec. 19, 2016

WHERE:  363 Congress St., in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood of South Boston, location of Eversource substation

WHO:  Austin Blackmon, City of Boston Chief of Environment and Energy;  Jim Hunt, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs and Chief Communications Officer, Eversource Energy; and Denis Dowdle, President of Madison Properties.

FORECAST:  Sunny but temperature in the 20s. Coffee at the event.

BACKGROUND
Madison Properties, a Massachusetts real estate development company, and Eversource Energy have collaborated to create an electric-vehicle charging station and parking facility in South Boston’s Seaport District, known as the Innovation District because of its cutting-edge business tenants and environmentally aware workforce, at 363 Congress St.
The mostly vacant rectangular block, about 90 feet by 78 feet on the south side of the street between two historic Boston Wharf Co. commercial buildings, is currently and will continue to be the location of an Eversource substation.

Madison Properties and Eversource have designed spaces for 13 vehicles, with seven spaces equipped with chargers for electric vehicles. Vehicles may be rotated as they become fully charged, and power is configured to the lot so that as demand grows more of the remaining parking slots can be served by chargers.

The EV parking location has been paved with porous asphalt, which returns rainwater to the ground. The lot, about 7,000 square feet, has been beautified with lighting, safety bollards, and decorative fencing. The substation portion of the lot is separated by a fence from the angled parking spaces. Cars will enter from Congress Street and exit onto the alley behind the Congress Street buildings on the south side of Congress, turning onto either Boston Wharf Road or A Street.

For more information, please contact:
Tom Palmer, Tom Palmer Communication
m 617.755.7250, tompalmer@rcn.com

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Holiday Shopping Fort Point Style

What is holiday shopping Fort Point style? It is social, unique and avoids mall traffic. It is one-of-kind gifts for everyone on your list. It is tasty treats and refreshments from fine restaurants. It is live entertainment by local performers. It is free and open to all.

It starts Wednesday, December 14, 2016 from 6 pm - 8 pm with the opening reception of Paper Chase 2016 at the FPAC Gallery at 300 Summer Street. On sale are over 50 works on paper, including prints, drawings, watercolors, photographs, and handmade paper. All priced at $100. The exhibition benefits the Fort Point Arts Community. Works will be on sale through December 23d.

Dorothy Hebden Heath
On Thursday, December 15th from 6 pm to 8 pm, visit the Gallery At 249 A for the opening reception of The Colors of Nature: Dorothy Hebden Heath & Caroline Muir. The gallery will also be open during the Fort Point Stroll on Friday and the 249 A Holiday Sale on Saturday 12 pm - 5 pm.  The Gallery at 249 A is located within the 249 A Street Artists Cooperative.
Caroline Muir












Not to be missed is the  Friends of Fort Point Channel Fort Point Holiday Stroll this Friday, December 16th from 4 pm - 8 pm.

Shop, Sip and Stroll through our historic neighborhood, nibble sweet & savory treats from restaurants and bars, explore galleries & artist studios, and shop at boutiques & pop-up shops. Don't forget to grab your map at any of the participating locations, explore the neighborhood, and collect stamps for a chance to win amazing prizes from local boutiques and restaurants! View list of Stroll participants and plan your shopping stroll experience.


in conjunction with the 
Fort Point Holiday Stroll


Fort Poinsettias featuring Larry Platt, Mo Thorkelson and Curly Cremona will be performing a holiday season sing-along Friday from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm at the Gallery At 249 A. This performance is sponsored by the Friends of Fort Point Channel.


249 A Holiday Sale: December 16th from 4 pm - 8 pm and Saturday, December 17th from 12 pm - 5 pm. Fort Point’s original artists' building will hold a mini-open studios for holiday shopping. More than twenty artists, both cooperative members and invited guests, will be opening their doors in the building. Visitors can find handmade gifts of art, craft, and design made by local artists in one building in the historic Fort Point neighborhood of South Boston. Shop in a relaxed studio setting, meet the artists, and enjoy complimentary refreshments.

Rooster Tails and the Fort Point Theatre Channel present A Surreal Soiree: An Evening of Beatniks, Clowns and Cleopatra Friday at 8 pm at Art Under The Stairs, Midway Artist Studios, 15 Channel Center Street. It will be a Cacophonous Cabaret of sound and light. movies, music, and performance by Mick Cusimano and friends. More details.

243d Boston Tea Party Re-enactment: Presented by Old South Meeting House and the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, the Annual Boston Tea Party Reenactment is a chance for the public to join in on one of Boston’s most iconic protests. Re-enactors from across New England come together to tell the story of the Boston Tea Party and dramatize the evening of December 16, 1773. Head to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum by 8 pm and watch as the Sons of Liberty storm aboard the Brig Beaver to destroy chest after chest of East India Company Tea. More details.

Fort Point Arts Holiday Sale at 315 on A (315 A St.) 
Join the Fort Point Arts Community for festive shopping showcasing arts, crafts, jewelry and designs by local Fort Point artists.
Friday, December 16th 4 pm - 8 pm
Saturday, December 17th, 12 pm - 6 pm
Sunday, December 18th, 12 pm - 6 pm

Holiday Gems at Made In Fort Point store offers a wide range of fine art, jewelry, prints, clothing and cards where you are sure to find a gem for even the hardest person to buy for on your list. Made in Fort Point received Best of Boston neighborhood shopping for 2016. Open Thursday - Saturday 12 pm - 6 pm. 

Thank you for visiting Fort Point and supporting our local artists, restaurants, museums and retail shops. 

Thursday, December 08, 2016

Boston City Council Looks At Walkability, Residential Displacement, Jobs, Boston Unplugged & More

City Council President Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered these items and more at their November 30th and December 7, 2016 meetings:

Appointments: Mayor Walsh made the following appointments
  • Beacon Hill Architectural Commission: Miguel Rosales as chair
  • Boston Cultural Council: Priscilla Rojas and Abigail Norman as members until October 2019
Roxbury Cultural District: The Council voted 12-0 (Councilor Campbell absent) to support advancing the Roxbury Cultural District’s application to the Massachusetts Cultural Council. The district would include Dudley Square and John Elliot Square and highlight the many arts and cultural assets in the neighborhood, as well as Roxbury’s significance as the heart of black culture for the region. At the hearing last month, the Council heard overwhelming support from neighbors and other stakeholders as well as ideas about the boundaries of the district. This would be Boston’s third cultural district, after the Fenway Cultural District and the Boston Literary Cultural District.

Boston Residents Jobs Policy: Mayor Walsh filed an ordinance amending the Boston Residents Jobs Policy employment standards, from the current standards of requiring at least 50% Boston residents, 25% people of color, and 10% women on covered projects to 51%, 40%, and 12% respectively. The order also extends covered projects to include not just City-funded projects but also major development projects that require Zoning Board of Appeals approval and are at least 50,000 square feet. Finally, the ordinance amends the scope of the Boston Employment Commission to handle all compliance related issues and report to the City Council twice a year. The matter was sent to the Government Operations Committee for a hearing.

University Accountability: The 2016-2017 University Accountability Report was filed, showing 148,148 college students enrolled in Boston. Of those, 37,324 live on campus and 42,498 live off campus. Combined, the 29 institutions own 379 properties in the city.

Plastic Bag Ban: Following recommendations from the 90-day plastic bag working group, Councilors O’Malley and Wu filed an ordinance to reduce plastic bag waste in Boston. Many of the flimsy, single-use plastic bags end up tearing and littered on our streets or in our trees. The recycling company Casella also noted that thin plastic bags get twisted around their machinery and are not in condition to be recyclable after being mixed in with food products or other waste, so they spend hours every week untangling plastic bags from the gears. The ordinance would require retail establishments to offer plastic bags of at least 3 mils in thickness (think bookstore bags) that are more reusable and charge a 5-cent fee on these thicker plastic bags, recyclable paper bags, and compostable bags. That fee would go back to the retail establishment to cover the increased cost of thicker bags. City Council President Wu emphasized that any conversation about increasing costs for families is difficult when so many are struggling to make ends meet in our city – the goal of the ordinance is to encourage residents to use reusable bags when shopping and reduce plastic bag waste in a way that is fair for small businesses and not prohibitive for residents. The urgency of climate change as a social and economic threat to our future grows more visible every day, and we need to take every step we can to move toward a greener economy. The matter was sent to the Government Operations Committee for a hearing.

Transportation Policy Briefing—Pedestrian Service & Safety: Councilor LaMattina reported back on the second of our monthly transportation policy briefings, which took place yesterday. The Council heard from WalkBoston’s Wendy Landman on pedestrian-friendly street design, Madison Park Development Corporation’s Marah Holland on the public health impacts of walkable neighborhoods, and Northeastern University’s Professor Peter Furth on recommendations for the City’s transportation department. Watch the video here.

Public Safety Grant: The Council voted to follow the recommendation of Councilor Campbell as Chair of the Committee on Public Safety & Criminal Justice to authorize the Office of Emergency Management to accept a grant from the Department of Homeland Security passed through the State Executive Office of Public Safety totaling $14.2 million for counterterrorism response and preparedness. The grant goes toward funding a number of specific goals and programs, including: bolstering regional communication, planning and response capabilities, first responders’ equipment, special operations training, and the Boston Regional Intelligence Center (BRIC). $300K of this grant could be put toward technology to monitor social media, and that was the subject of most of the discussion at the grant hearing, with many Councilors concerned about civil liberties and potential for racial profiling. Councilor Campbell stated that she did not want to hold up the entirety of the grant for these concerns, because the Police Department committed to coming back to the Council before moving further in the process for this technology. She also mentioned that the body camera conversation had followed a similar timeline, with BPD releasing a Request for Proposals first, then working with the Council’s Public Safety & Criminal Justice Committee to host a public process and develop policy. Councilor Pressley noted that she would look to file a hearing order on this policy in the new year.

Acoustic Live Entertainment / Boston Unplugged: City President Wu filed an ordinance to eliminate the permit requirement, hearing, and fees for small businesses in business districts to host acoustic live entertainment acts of up to five performers between the hours of 10AM-10PM. This follows three successful time-limited pilots in Main Streets districts in May, August, and December 2015 that Mayor Walsh and the Council collaborated on. The goal is to formally extend a tool to small business owners throughout the city to increase foot traffic and create more opportunities for artists in Boston. The ordinance has a one-year sunset provision so that the Council and City can reevaluate the results at the end of 2017. The matter was assigned to the Government Operations Committee for a hearing.

Residential Displacement: Councilor Jackson filed a hearing order to discuss resident displacement in rapidly developing neighborhoods. The order particularly notes approximately $152 million worth of development is planned for Roxbury, but the projects and affordability requirements may not match the income levels of residents. Several Councilors spoke about similar pressures throughout their districts and the entire city. The matter was sent to the Housing and Community Development Committee for a hearing.

Upcoming Hearings/Working Sessions (Watch at www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/live.asp)
  • Thursday, 12/8 at 2:00PM, Boston Residents Jobs Policy (Government Operations)
  • Monday, 12/12 at 11:00AM, Co-Ops, Single Room Occupancy & Micro units (Housing & Community Development)
  • Monday, 12/12 at 2:00PM, Tentative: Boston Unplugged Ordinance (Government Operations)
  • Monday, 12/12 at 4:00PM, For-Profit Lodging in Personal Residences (Housing & Community Development)
  • Tuesday, 12/13 at 11:00AM, Tools to Help Small Businesses (Jobs, Wages & Workforce Development)
  • Tuesday, 12/13 at 1:00PM, Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance (Government Operations)
For complete notes on Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email. 

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

Be Part of Boston Tea Party Reenactment

Be part of a time honored Boston tradition and a part of American history by volunteering at the 243rd Anniversary Reenactment of the Boston Tea Party! Helping out gives you a front row seat to all the action on the Fort Point Channel this December 16, 2016.



According to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum who organizes the event, local residents and businesses make the best volunteers. The museum is seeking costumed and non-customed volunteers to participate. Dress up and be part of the historic atmosphere or be comfortable in 21st century attire and assist in ensuring public safety of Patriots lining the waterfront to bear witness to the destruction of the Crown's tea. Volunteers may also help with general information and seating. 
Sign up to volunteer. For more details, contact Dan O'Neill.


originally published 11.11.16

Thursday, December 01, 2016

Fort Point Year End Gathering Tuesday

The Fort Point Neighborhood Association

invites you to
celebrate Fort Point at


FPNA Year End Gathering
Tuesday, December 6th

6 pm - 8 pm
Sky Lounge
315 on A
 

with special thanks to

Barlow's Restaurant

Bastille Kitchen
Craft Beer Cellar
Committee

Empire
Envoy
Fort Point Market

Fromage Wine & Cheese Bar
Peter Gori
Oak + Rowan
Pastoral
Row 34
Sagarino's Market
Trade
Urban Cupcake Company
Yo! Sushi

and
315 on A & Equity Residential
 
R.S.V.P.  (required) as space is limited
Join or Renew Your Membership Today
By becoming an FPNA member, you help support FPNA's continued advocacy for Fort Point, which in 2016 involved: Boston Grand Prix, Northern Avenue Bridge, Fort Point Park, Necco Green Bridge and Boston Helipad to name a few; monthly neighborhood gatherings; and signature projects including our flowers and vines along A Street. Join or renew your membership by December 5th and be entered in a drawing to win gift cards courtesy of our neighborhood dining partners.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Get In The Holiday Spirit

Medicine Wheel VigilMedicine Wheel Vigil – Day With(Out) Art -World AIDS Day
Join over 250 visual artists and 100 performing artists who will mark the Day Without Art/World AIDS Day and the 25th Incarnation of the Medicine Wheel Vigil. The event starts the evening of Wednesday, November 30 through Thursday December 1, 2016 with a 24-hour vigil for the full 24 hours of Thursday, December 1, 2016.  This year Medicine Wheel will begin at City Hall Plaza at 10:45 pm on November 30, 2016 and process to the BCA Cyclorama. View participating visual artists and schedule of performers.

Julie's Annual Event will be held on December 1, 2016 at Venezia Restaurant from 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  This year's guest of honor is State Representative Nick Collins, a long time champion and advocate of Julie's, who will receive this year's Angel Award. Purchase tickets for this festive evening complete with a buffet dinner, silent auction and plenty of raffle baskets.

On Thursday evening, December 1, 2016 Sip, Shop and Dine your way from East to West Broadway discovering special offers from local retailers, restaurants, and pop-ups. The East Broadway tree lighting is at 4 pm and Santa arrives around 5 pm. 

Light Up Seaport
Celebrate the most magical season of the year at the Seaport's first annual tree (and surrounding tree garden) lighting event on December 2nd from 6 pm to 8 pm. Enjoy live music from Andrew Smith, holiday treats, and giveaways! Light Up Seaport will take place on Seaport Common (85 Northern Avenue).

Mayor Walsh Tree Lighting

Mayor's Tree Lighting 
Mayor Walsh's annual tree lighting is Sunday, December 4th at the municipal lot located at 450 West Broadway. The fun starts at noon with ponies, balloon animals, Simon Says, refreshments, music, and more! 

Need holiday decorating tips? Look no further than the 26th annual Laboure Center Christmas House Tours on Saturday, December 3 and Sunday, December 4, 2016.  Five homes are selected and decorated by a team of Boston professional design firms, and opened to the public by generous homeowners to raise money for the social services provided by Catholic Charities Labouré Center. 


The Fort Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA) invites neighbors to join them in celebration of Fort Point and in membership on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 from 6 pm - 8 pm in the Sky Lounge atop 315 on A. R.S.V.P. (required).  

Friday, November 18, 2016

Boston City Council Looks At Speed Limits, Transportation, Liquor Licenses, CPA & More

City Council President Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered these items and more at their November  2 and November 16, 2016 meetings:

Appointments:
  • Boston Conservation Commission: Mayor Walsh reappointed Michael Wilson, Joseph Orphant, and John P. Sullivan until November 2019
  • Boston Groundwater Trust: Mayor Walsh reappointed Daniel Manning until November 2018
  • City Council Central Staff: we voted to accept the hiring of Michelle Goldberg as new Senior Legislative Assistant, starting December 5, 2016
Speed Limits: Council voted to pass an amended version of Mayor Walsh’s order accepting the new local option for reduced default speed limits recently made available through the Municipal Modernization Bill. The Mayor’s language adopts Section 17C of the law, which gives the Transportation Commissioner the authority to reduce the new default speed limit when no signs are posted in thickly settled areas from 30 mph to 25mph. Councilor Zakim proposed an amendment, which the Council voted to include, that would also adopt Section 18B of the legislation, which gives the Commissioner the additional authority to establish special safety zones with a posted speed limit of 20 mph.

Contractor Safety: Mayor Walsh filed an ordinance to require applicants for building permits from the Inspectional Services Department, Fire Department, and Public Works Department to list their work safety histories and allow commissioners to deny or revoke permits due to safety concerns or OSHA violations. The matter was sent to the Government Operations Committee for a hearing.

Transportation Policy Briefing: Councilor LaMattina reported back that the first of our monthly transportation policy briefings was a success yesterday, starting with the topic of building a low-stress bicycle network in Boston. The goal of the series is to bring in policy experts to share thoughts and policy recommendations separate from any specific votes. Future sessions will focus on pedestrian safety, parking management, and more. You can watch the full presentation and panel discussion here

Liquor Licenses: Following this week's hearing, Council voted to pass an amended home rule petition requesting new liquor licenses for the South Bay development. Initially, Councilors Baker and Linehan sponsored the petition for both the South Bay development in Dorchester and the WS development in the Seaport, noting the need for licenses to attract anchor tenants to the developments. Government Operations Committee Chairman Councilor Flaherty recommended moving forward with South Bay’s licenses first and then consider WS at a later date, which Councilor Linehan agreed to. Councilor Pressley pointed out the overall goal is for Boston to have local control over its licenses, but that it was important not to hold up economic development in the meantime.

Community Preservation Committee: Councilors Flaherty and Campbell filed an ordinance to create the Community Preservation Committee, following the successful Community Preservation Act ballot referendum on Election Day. The Committee will consist of 5 members appointed by the Mayor and 4 appointed by the City Council, serving 3 year terms. The group would be responsible for recommending allocations of expenditures from the Community Preservation Fund. Projects must be related to the acquisition, creation, and preservation of open space, historic preservation, and affordable housing. The matter was sent to the Government Operations Committee for a hearing.

MBTA Privatization: Council voted unanimously to adopt Councilor Campbell’s resolution requesting a transparent briefing from the Baker Administration on plans regarding privatization of the MBTA and Keolis’ decision to redeploy trains away from Boston residents. As highlighted by the Boston Globe, Keolis regularly cancels service on the Fairmount Line to substitute for lines in suburban communities without adequate notification to Fairmount riders, leaving residents without access to public transit. The resolution further notes that privatized transit is profit-oriented and would put service second.

Bonus: City Council President Wu wrote an op-ed for the Boston Globe this week reacting to the recent election and urging more participation in local government. The work that we do (including the above) becomes more important now than ever, and we need your partnership and engagement! Read it here.

For complete notes on Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email. 

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Lighting To Transform Fort Point Channel & Congress St. Bridge


The Boston Society of Architects (BSA) Placemaking Series presents Lighting To Transform The Fort Point Channel Into A Dynamic Destination on November 7, 2016 at 6 pm. Please visit the BSA for details and to register for this free event. 

It Takes A Village To Light A City: Illumnination as Public Policy will be presented at the ABX conference November 17, 2016 at 8 am. 

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (fka BRA) announced that the Congress Street Bridge Lighting RFP will be reissued on November 2nd at 9 am. The BDPA is in conjunction with the Fort Point Channel Operations Board are seeking services of a consultant or consultant team with demonstrated excellence in integrating lighting design in urban environments to design the lighting plan.  The budget for the design and implementation of a lighting plan is $470,000. A site visit is planned for Wednesday, November 9 at 10:30 am at Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. 
Responses to the RFP must be returned, no later than 12:00 PM on Thursday, December 1, 2016, to the BPDA offices:
Attn: Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
One City Hall Square, Room 910,
Boston, MA 02201-1007
Questions regarding the RFP can be directed to Erikk Hokenson, Project Manager, at 617.918.4267 or via email.

originally posted 11.1.16

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

City Council Calls For Helipad Hearing

State and local officials have been actively identifying locations to place a helipad in the City of Boston. Recent media reports indicate potential helipad locations in South Boston with two locations in Fort Point: close to General Electric's new headquarters or on a barge in the Channel.

Councillor Michael Flaherty has called for a public hearing to discuss building a commercial helipad in Boston. The creation of a helipad or heliport would increase air traffic in our neighborhood, and impact noise and vibrations, air pollution, public safety concerns, future residential housing opportunities, and activation of the watersheet and HarborWalk. Fort Point residents and neighbors are strongly encouraged to attend:

Boston Helipad Hearing

Wednesday, November 16, 2016
6 pm
BCEC (415 Summer St)
Room 204 A & B

Corporate helicopter usage ended in the City of Boston in 1999 with the construction of the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center (BCEC). Plans to build a helipad at the Marine Industrial Park were halted in 2008 after strong neighborhood opposition. 

Written comments may be submitted in advance by email to the Committee of Parks, Recreation and Transportation liaison Juan Aurelio Lopez (juan.lopez@boston.gov) and will be made available to all City Councillors. Written comments may be part of public record. If you have never given public comment at a City Council hearing, please arrive five minutes early to sign up to speak. 

Representatives from the Department of Economic Development, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Boston Planning & Development Agency and other interested parties will be invited to participate. City Council President Michelle Wu will chair the hearing. 


originally posted 11.3.16

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Impromptu Community Potluck

Gather with your neighbors this Friday, November 11, 2016 at 6 pm at Wormwood Park (Wormwood & A Streets) for an Impromptu Community Potluck. Bring food and refreshments to share, chairs and whatever possible. Dress warmly for a brisk 45 degrees. This is a free event open to the public. All are welcome.


Thursday, November 03, 2016

Fort Point Channel Landmarks November 2016 Meeting

The FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION will hold a public hearing:

Thursday, 10 November 2016
6:15 PM (new time)
Boston City Hall – Piemonte Room (5th Floor)


After 5:30 pm, enter and exit City Hall at the Dock Square entrance on Congress Street
(across from Faneuil Hall).

Subject of the hearing will be applications for Certificates of Design Approval on the agenda below, review of architectural violations and such business as may come before the commission, in accordance with Ch. 772 of the Acts of 1975, as amended.

I. REVIEW and RATIFICATION OF OCTOBER 13, 2016 MINUTES

II. DESIGN REVIEW

6:30 PM
17.389 FPC 35 Channel Center Street, Apt. 501
Applicant: Kyle Sheffield, LDa Architecture & Interiors (Architect)
Proposed Work: Replace a roof deck, replace the wrought iron railing with a glass railing, and install a wood privacy screen.

6:45 PM
17.389 FPC 9 Channel Center Street
Applicant: Dan McGrath, Berkeley Investments, Inc. (Applicant)
Proposed Work: Install two light fixtures adjacent to the entryway, install tenant signage on the left side and building signage on the right side of the entryway.

7:00 PM Continuance from 10/2016
17.382 FPC 5 & 6 Necco Court
Applicant: Todd Dundon, Gensler (Architect)
Proposed Work: Response to Commission’s request on new window opening details on the south and west façades; modifications to the opacity of the glass enclosure; and interior renderings of the glass enclosure.


FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION
David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, John Karoff, Lynn Smiledge, Michele Yeeles
Alternates: Thomas Rodde, Vacancy

Monday, October 31, 2016

Fort Point November Gathering: The Sea, Fort Point & Massport

updated 10.31.16 with inclusion of Helipad/Heliport discussion in preparation of upcoming City Council Hearing. .

Fort Point Neighborhood Association
November Gathering for the Neighborhood

All Welcome

Tuesday, November 1, 2016
please note new date
6 pm
Factory 63
63 Melcher St.

featuring

Julie Wormser
The Old City & The Sea
Boston Harbor Now 

with a special update on

Massport South Boston Waterfront Transportation Center
adjacent to Waterside Place bordering Haul Rd, D St & WTC Ave.
Anthony Guerriero, Nhuy Hoag & Michael Vatalaro

and introducing


YO! Sushi

79 Seaport Blvd
seeking wine & malt liquor license
 &
Shake Shack
77 Seaport Blvd
seeking wine & malt liquor license

including
 a discussion in preparation of  
City Council Helipad/Heliport Hearing
November 16, 2016 at 6 pm, location tbd


***featured restaurant: Better Bagels***


originally published 10.20.16

Boston City Council Looks At Questions 2 & 4, Parking, Housing, Airbnb & More

City Council President Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered these items and more at their October 19 and October 26, 2016 meetings:

Confirmations: Boston Landmarks Commission: City Council voted to confirm Richard Henderson until June 2019.

Charter Cap Fiscal Impacts: Councilors Ciommo, Essaibi George, and Jackson reported back on Monday’s hearing exploring the fiscal impacts for the BPS and City of Boston budget should the ballot initiative to lift the charter cap (Question 2) pass. The City’s Chief Financial Officer and budget analysts testified about the challenges BPS faces to fill budget gaps caused by resources leaving the district and following students to charters. The matter will remain jointly in the Committees on Ways & Means and Education.

Equity in Marijuana Licensing: Councilors Baker and Pressley reported back about Monday’s hearing on ensuring equity in the marijuana licensing process should the ballot initiative to legalize adult use of marijuana (Question 4) pass. Councilor Pressley noted that of the 108 medical marijuana licenses awarded in Massachusetts so far, none have gone to a business owned by a person of color. Among the 25 states that have legalized medical marijuana, less than 1% of operators are businesses owned by people of color. She mentioned that if marijuana is legalized in Massachusetts, communities most impacted by high rates of incarceration from marijuana-related crimes should have equitable opportunities to participate in the business. The matter will remain in the Committee on Jobs, Wages & Workforce Development.

Recruiting Educators of Color: Councilor Jackson refiled his hearing order to continue the conversation on strategies for recruiting and retaining educators of color in Boston Public Schools. The hearing order notes that as of 2015, BPS students of color represented 86% of the total student population while only 37% of BPS teachers were people of color. The matter was sent to the the Education Committee.

Housing Innovations: Councilors Baker and Zakim filed a hearing order to discuss cooperative owned housing, especially single room occupancy and micro units as a way to create more affordable housing options in Boston. Both emphasized the need to relieve the housing crunch in Boston, which is making our city unaffordable to too many families. The matter was sent to the Housing and Community Development Committee for a hearing.

Parking: Councilor LaMattina as chair of the Committee on Parks, Recreation and Transportation and Councilor Baker as sponsor reported back on yesterday’s hearing about parking policies. At the hearing, Boston’s Chief of Streets Chris Osgood and Commissioner of Transportation Gina Fiandaca testified about the programs in place to achieve their three goals of making parking more convenient, better-managed, and less-needed. Several Councilors expressed concerns at the hearing about the number of unfilled and recently reduced parking enforcement positions, which bring in more revenue for the City. Members of the public testified about the need to use street space to better accommodate all roadway users, including demand-responsive pricing at meters, more transit/walking/cycling infrastructure, charging a fee for residential parking permits (which are currently free and not limited to a certain number per household). The matter will remain in committee for a working session.

Airbnb: Councilors LaMattina and Baker called for a hearing to discuss for-profit lodging at personal residences through companies such as Airbnb and whether Boston should issue regulations at the city level. The co-sponsors and several colleagues called for regulations to address quality of life and safety issues in neighborhoods when certain housing units turn into permanent hotels through Airbnb. Councilor Jackson urged caution about stopping innovation, and Councilor Linehan pointed out that some of his constituents, particularly seniors who are struggling to make their property tax payments, need this as a revenue source to stay in their homes. The matter was sent to the Committee on Housing and Community Development for a hearing.

Upcoming Hearings/Working Sessions (Watch Live)
• Monday, 10/31 at 10:00AM, Working Session: Street Occupancy Permits (Government Operations)
• Tuesday, 11/1 at 11:00AM, Climate Ready Boston Grants (Environment and Sustainability)
• Tuesday, 11/1 at 2:30PM, BPS Student Residency Policy (Education)
• Thursday, 11/3 at 10:00AM, Building Permit Applications (Government Operations) Thursday, 11/3 at 12:30PM, Various Grants (Public Safety and Criminal Justice)
• Thursday, 11/3 at 4:00PM, Water Transportation (Parks, Recreation & Transportation)
• Friday, 11/4 at 3:30PM, Working Session: BPS High School Start Times (Education)
• Wednesday, 11/9 at 11:30AM, Speed Limits (City, Neighborhood Services & Veterans Affairs)
• Wednesday, 11/9 at 6:00PM, BPS Bus Passes (Education) [Off-Site at Reggie Lewis Center, Roxbury]
• Tuesday, 11/15 at 5:00PM, BPS Master Facilities Plan (Education)

For complete notes on this meeting and prior Boston City Council meeting notes, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email. 

Friday, October 28, 2016

South Boston Open Studios Next Weekend

Visit fellow South Boston artists and craftspeople November 4th and November 5th from 12 pm to 6 pm at South Boston Open Studios.

South Boston artists will open their doors to share their work and their studios with the public. Discover what’s new on the Southie art scene. South Boston Open Studios is free and open to the public, rain or shine. 

Places to go: 
555 Gallery at 555 East 2nd St.
The Distillery at 516 East 2nd St. 
King Terminal at 110 K St. 
South Boston Art Association's "Around the Corner" Gallery at 317 E Street (behind Neatly Nested)*

*Also open on Friday 4 pm - 7 pm, Saturday 10 am - 6 pm & Sunday 12 pm-4 pm. 

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Voting: The Who, What, Where & When

The first opportunity to vote in South Boston for the Presidential Election is this Saturday, October 29, 2016 from 12 pm - 6 pm at the Condon School (200 D Street). 

Weekday voting is available through November 4th at Boston City Hall from 9 am - 5 pm with extended evening hours until 8 pm on: 


Friday, October 28th
Monday, October 31st
Wednesday, November 2nd

For  a complete list of voting locations throughout the City visit Boston.gov.

In preparation of early voting in Massachusetts, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, has prepared a sample ballot. If you live outside of Ward 6, please click here to view your sample ballot. 

Election day is Tuesday, November 8, 2016. The polls will be open from 7 am - 8 pm. 

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