Tuesday Is Election Day: MA Senate

Yes, Tuesday, May 1, 2018 is election day. What? It is the special election for our district's Massachusetts Senate seat. Polls will be open 7 am - 8 pm at: 

Condon School Cafeteria

200 D Street

(off West Broadway behind Laboure Center)

VOTE FOR

 1^st Suffolk District Senate seat

vacated by Linda Dorena Forry
View the candidates

Why vote? The community counts on our elected officials for their support of local issues and initiatives. Elected officials look at voter turnout by neighborhood. In particular, why do State Elections matter in Fort Point and the Seaport? The State (MCCA/BCEC, MBTA and Massport) is a property owner, developer and public transit provider in the neighborhood.

Fan Pier Civic/Cultural Space Open For Bid

Come hear finalists Boston Center of the Arts, Cross Cultural Collective, Grubstrret, and Medicine Wheel 4/30/18 5:30 pm - 7 pm at District Hall. 

Updated 2/9/18: Last week's proposal submissions for the civic/cultural space at 50 Liberty on Fan Pier came in heavily in favor of the arts. The eight organizations who submitted are: Boston Center for the Arts, Cross Cultural Collective (C3), GrubStreet, HUBWeek, Kadence Arts, Massachusetts Fallen Heroes, Medicine Wheel Productions and the South Boston Arts Association.  Source: Boston Herald's Donna Goodison 8 Groups vie for prime space in the Seaport.  

Updated 1/10/18: Site visit pre- RFI meeting is scheduled for Jan. 18th from 3pm to 4pm at 50 Liberty Dr. The site is under construction and attendees are advised to dress accordingly. Visitors will be asked to sign waivers prior to entry.  

On January 2, 2018 Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) released a Request For Interest (RFI) in the lease of civic/cultural space at 50 Liberty on the Fan Pier.

The RFI is part of the City of Boston’s long-standing planning objectives for the South Boston Waterfront District, which include a broad mix of uses tied together with an inviting pedestrian scale with continuous public access along the waterfront on the Harborwalk. The mix of uses necessary for a vibrant district include residential, commercial, hotel, retail, open space, and civic and cultural uses. The need for a strong civic and cultural presence in the district was underscored through the approval of the South Boston Waterfront District Municipal Harbor Plan, which calls for 127,000 SF of new civic/cultural uses to balance the scale of new private development on the filled tidelands of the neighborhood. Existing civic and cultural destinations in the area include Boston Children’s Museum, Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, the Institute of Contemporary Art (“ICA”) Boston Community Boating (“BCB”), Midway Studios, Fort Point Artists Community, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center (BCEC); and the Society of Arts & Crafts.

50 Liberty is the seventh building to be constructed by the Fallon Company as part of the Fan Pier project, an approximately three million square foot mixed-use development on the South Boston Waterfront.

The 50 Liberty Civic/Cultural Space consists of 5,000 square feet of gross floor area on the southeast corner of the first floor of 50 Liberty, and the balance of 8,166 square feet of gross floor area is on the second floor of 50 Liberty.

The Developer/Landlord, in conjunction with the BPDA, is seeking letters of interest from Boston-based qualified civic and cultural operators to lease the 50 Liberty Civic/Cultural Space. The Landlord will lease the 50 Liberty Civic/Cultural Space to the selected user for an annual triple net rent of $1.00. The selected user will be responsible for the maintenance of the space, all of their insurance, and a pro rata share of operating expenses for 50 Liberty allocated to the space. It is currently estimated that such monthly operating expenses will be less than $0.40 per square foot in the first year of operation of the Condominium. The selected user will receive a $25 PSF-construction allowance (totaling $329,150) toward improvements to the warm, white space necessary or desirable for occupancy. Completion of 50 Liberty is expected in the first quarter of 2018 and occupancy expected upon execution of lease.

To download a copy of the request for information, please visit Boston Plans. According to the website there will be a pre-RFI meeting on January 18, 2018. The submission deadline is February 2nd at 5 pm to:

Developer:	BPDA:
50 Liberty LLC c/o The Fallon Company LLC One Marina Park Drive, Suite 1400 Boston, Massachusetts 02210 Attention:  Myrna Putziger	Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Plaza, 9th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02201 Attention:  Richard McGuinness

originally published 1.3.18

Community Preservation: Using Funds to Support Historic Preservation, Affordable Housing & Open Space

What does the neighborhood need in terms of historic preservation, affordable housing and open space?

Bring your ideas and needs to the Fort Point Neighborhood Association's Tuesday, April 24, 2018 Neighborhood Gathering from 6 pm to 8 pm at Capital One Cafe located at 57 Seaport Blvd.

Our special guest is Christine Poff, Community Preservation Director, who will be speaking about the Community Preservation Fund and leading a discussion on what the Fund can do to support historic preservation, affordable housing and open space. View meeting announcement. 

A Community Preservation spring pilot funding program is active. Organizations with “shovel-ready” affordable housing, historic preservation, and parks and open space proposals may apply for spring funding. To apply, first review the pilot program application guide. Then, complete the online application. The deadline for applications is Friday, April 27, at 5 p.m.

Background:

In November of 2016, Boston residents voted to adapt the Community Preservation Act (CPA). The Conservation Preservation Act places a 1% surcharge on residential and commercial property taxes to fund affordable housing, parks and open space improvements (including outdoor recreation facilities) and historic preservation.

The City projected that CPA would bring in $16 million to $20 million annually to the Community Preservation Fund.

The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is responsible for recommending allocations of expenditures from the Community Preservation Fund. 


Related Posts

Renewal, Possibilities & Preservation Headline April Neighborhood Gathering

Join the Fort Point Neighborhood Association

for 

A Neighborhood Gathering

Tuesday, April 24

6 pm - 8 pm

Capital One Café

57 Seaport Blvd

featuring

Christine Poff, Community Preservation Director
Boston's Community Preservation Act Plan for
Open Space _* Historic Preservation _* Affordable Housing
 A Discussion of Neighborhood Needs

and

Nicholas Armata
 Fort Point Channel Landmark District Commission
Fort Point's Historic District, The Commission &
The Role of Commissioners

with the latest on

Love Your Block 2018
Sweeping, Planting & Raking Our Way Into Spring

Gardeners, Sweepers & Outdoor Adventurers


*** Special thanks to Capital One Café  for hosting. ***

Mayor Walsh Announces Investments In South Boston

This week Mayor Walsh presented his Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposal. On April 24, 2018 the Mayor will present his proposed 2019 - 2023 Capital Plan alongside city officials in Franklin Park at 10:00 a.m. The Capital Plan makes critical investments in the City's infrastructure in every Boston neighborhood, and is guided by Boston's citywide plan, Imagine Boston 2030. Learn more about the budget. 

The proposed investments in South Boston focus on open spaces and parks, community spaces, and city street improvements.  #YourCityYourBudget

In Fort Point, the proposed capital budget allocates funds toward Martin's Park, Summer Street improvements, Congress Street improvements and the refurbishment and restoration of the Northern Avenue Bridge. 

Save The Harbor Save The Bay Honors South Bay Harbor Trail Coalition

Save the Harbor / Save the Bay bestowed its annual Boston Harbor Heroes awards at a gala evening held in the grand ballroom of the Seaport Hotel on March 29, 2018. Among others, the South Bay Harbor Trail Coalition was honored for its "vision, tenacity and commitment to connecting Boston's neighborhoods to Boston Harbor and each other." 

Under the leadership of coalition founder, Michael Tyrrell, the team of David Giangrande, Christina Lanzl, Ann McQueen, Tom Parks, the late Bill Pressley and his wife Marion, Candelaria Silva and Bob Wells envisioned the South Bay Harbor Trail (SBHT) ​as part of a larger trail network that connects the Southwest Corridor Park from Jamaica Plain to the Boston Harborwalk downtown and in South Boston. 

Buoys salvaged and reconditioned by the US Coast Guard serve as markers and a playful reminder of Boston's rich maritime history. The main goal is to reconnect communities divided by major traffic arteries via an easily accessible, multi-use bicycle and pedestrian path. The first of a series of SBHT Buoys was dedicated along the Harborwalk in Fort Point in November 2008. Funding for public art planning along the trail was provided by the Edward Ingersoll Browne Trust Fund of the City of Boston. Other funders include the ISTEA program, MassDOT, the New England Foundation for the Arts as well as private donors. 

Overall construction of the South Boston Harbor Trail is underway as of spring 2018.

Related Posts

Boston City Council Looks At Seaport Police Jurisdiction, Parking Fines, Budget & More

City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered the following items and more at their April 11, 2018 meeting:

City of Boston FY19 Budget: Mayor Walsh submitted his recommended Fiscal Year 2019 City of Boston operating budget, totaling $3.29 billion, an increase of $137 million or 4.3% over FY2018. That includes a recommended Boston Public Schools FY19 budget of $1.109 billion, a $48 million increase over FY18 to expand programs like Excellence For All and Becoming a Man to new schools and grades. BPS will also add new nurses, psychologists and social workers across the district. Read the full report. In addition, the general operating budget includes adding new public safety personnel, implementing police body-worn body cameras, programming for affordable housing, transportation investments, resources for the engagement center at Newmarket Square which serves many individuals struggling with substance use and addiction, and funding to rebuild the Long Island bridge. 70% of the overall operating budget is funded by property taxes, and state aid makes up 14%, having gone down each year. The current state budget’s Charter School Reimbursement line means that Boston would receive $27M less than owed under state law. See details on Boston’s full budget.

Appropriation Orders: Mayor Walsh filed several authorization orders for Council approval. All were was assigned to the Ways & Means Committee for a hearing:

• $40M to the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Liability Trust Fund. This is an annual payment to address our unfunded post-employment benefits liability. The City is currently ahead of schedule in meeting this liability, which was initially scheduled to be current in 2040.
• $53,802,817 from the Parking Meter Fund for various transportation and public realm improvements aligned with the goals of Go Boston 2030. The funds would come from the Parking Meter Fund.
• $1.6M from the Surplus Property Disposition Fund to the Capital Fund for the development of master plans, architectural and engineering plans and designs, and for the implementation of such plans and designs for Boston Common, Franklin Park, and the completion of the Emerald Necklace.
• $759,663 for the administrative and operating expenses of the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee, and a further appropriation of $21.2M from the Community Preservation Fund to be appropriated and reserved for future appropriation. The Fund was created upon the adoption of the Community Preservation Act in November 2016 and is funded by the 1% property tax surcharge on residential and business property tax bills that took effect in July 2017 and an annual state distribution from the MA community preservation trust fund.
• $4.4M from the 21st Century Fund to the Public, Educational, or Governmental Access and Cable Related Grant for cable related purposes consistent with the franchise agreement between the cable operator and the city.

Parking Fines: The Mayor filed an order to amend the City’s Schedule of Parking Fines, increasing the amounts fined for specific categories of parking violations, and creating a new category of violation for overnight street sweeping, which will be designated as a no-tow violation. Residential parking violations would increase from $40 to $60, and all parking meter tickets would rise from $25 to $40. The City would also stop towing for overnight street cleaning, but increase that ticket from $40 to $90. This would improve safety, reduce congestion, ease resident parking burdens, help business districts, and increase cleanliness in Boston streets. The matter was assigned to the Government Operations Committee for a hearing.

Seaport Police Jurisdiction: The Council voted to adopt the resolution sponsored by Councilors Flaherty and Flynn supporting the House Budget Amendment to create concurrent police jurisdiction for Boston Police in the South Boston Waterfront, also known as the Seaport. Currently, that is the only area within city limits where Boston Police have no jurisdiction at all; it is exclusively the realm of State Police because this is MassPort land. Every other parcel of state land in Boston is subject to concurrent jurisdiction between State and local police. With all the development in the area and greater risks of flooding with more frequent storms, and with a growing residential population, public safety depends on first responders who are closest to the area being able to reach residents and visitors.

Speculation in the Boston Housing Market: Councilor Edwards reported back on the hearing on Tuesday regarding speculation in the Boston housing market. She described the housing crisis and wealth gap in Boston as undermining people’s ability to stay in Boston. She suggested taxing the flipping of residential properties into luxury condos or apartments, foreign investment, and condo conversion to slow the forces that continue to reduce our supply of housing for working families and generate needed revenue for affordable housing creation. Sheila Dillon, Chief and Director of the Department of Neighborhood Development spoke about the Boston Housing Plan and shared her concerns on the Boston real estate market and displacement. The Boston Plan and Development Agency (BPDA) also spoke about affordable housing and growing housing prices. Residents testified about the pressures from the housing crisis, with properties being flipped and sold for profit. The matter remains in committee.

Tree Coverage: Councilors Pressley and O’Malley offered a hearing order to discuss and assess the amount and quality of tree overage in Boston. Across the country, about 30% of trees in cities have been lost to development. Councilor Pressley spoke how Boston has contributed to the decrease in the number of mature trees and green space overall during this building boom. Climate change continues to change our seasonal and temperature norms and the focus on development needs to include the importance of our City’s trees and recognize the link between healthy mature trees and creating healthy neighborhoods. Trees are a vital natural resource offering direct ecological, economic, and health benefits to the community. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Environment, Sustainability and Parks for a hearing.

Alcohol Advertisement-Free on the MBTA: The Council voted to adopt Councilor Essaibi-George’s resolution to support an alcohol advertisement-free policy for the MBTA. Alcohol ads had been banned on the T since 2012; however, the MBTA Fiscal and Management Control Board recently voted to reverse the ban on alcohol advertising, with some restrictions on where the ads can run: not near schools or community centers or in rail stations where more than 10 percent of passengers use student passes. Councilor Essaibi-George spoke about how early exposure to alcohol ads contributes to positive attitudes and perceptions about alcohol use in youth and predicts future intention to drink and the likelihood of underage drinking. The cost of underage drinking for Massachusetts residents was approximately $1.2 billion in 2013. The MBTA’s expected $2.5 million in revenue from alcohol advertising does not compare to the risks for our youth.

Upcoming Hearings/Working Sessions (Livestream) 

• Thursday, 4/12 at 10:00AM: Hearing re: petition to establish the Greenway Business Improvement District (Planning, Development, & Transportation)
• Friday, 4/13 at 1:30 PM: Conversation on housing with local officials from Boston, Cambridge, Somerville and Chelsea (Housing & Community Development)

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

Windows and Mirrors: Transformation In The Seaport

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Fort Point photographer George Vasquez chronicles the explosion of window and mirrors transforming the Seaport in his one man show at the Gallery At 249 A. His photographs portray the Seaport as buildings of steel and glass emerging and merging with sky and water on the edge of the Boston Harbor.

Please join the Gallery At 249 A for the opening of Windows and Mirrors: Transformation In The Seaport on:

Thursday, April 12, 2018

5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

249 A Street

The exhibition runs through May 15th. The gallery is open by appointment and during 249 A Street's Spring Open Studios weekend, May 12-13th. 

Gallery At 249 A features rotating art exhibitions and special arts events. The space is an evolving project of the 249 A Street Cooperative, one of Massachusetts’s first limited-equity live/work cooperative for artists. The building, which is home to more than 45 artists and their families, has served as a model for artists’ housing nationwide and was key in the growth of the Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC). Gallery At 249 A Street was the home of the FPAC Office for its first eleven years. The 249 A Street Cooperative celebrated its 30th anniversary with the opening of this new gallery space in September 2014.

originally published 4.10.18

Fort Point Landmarks April 2018 Meeting

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

Thursday, April 12, 2018

6:00 PM

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.from Faneuil Hall).

I.  Violation 

 18.1063 FPC  315 A Street Applicant: Daniel A. Egan, EQR-315 on A Apartments LLC Proposed Work: Ratification of temporary signage violation 

II. DESIGN REVIEW 

 18.841 FPC    55 Thomson Place Applicant: Christopher Jamison, COJE Management Group Proposed Work: Repairs and replacement of a roof deck, including railings that are visible from Thompson Way.    

III. REVIEW and RATIFICATION OF March 8, 2018 HEARING MINUTES 

IV. STAFF UPDATES 

PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 6:45 PM

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

originally published 4.5.18

Vote Tuesday In MA Senate Primary Special Election

MA SENATE PRIMARY 

SPECIAL ELECTION

Tuesday, April 3

7 am – 8 pm

Condon School Cafeteria

200 D Street

(off West Broadway behind Laboure Center)

VOTE FOR

 1^st Suffolk District Senate seat

vacated by Linda Dorena Forry

Why vote? The community counts on our elected officials for their support of local issues and initiatives. Elected officials look at voter turnout by neighborhood. Why do State Elections matter? The State (MCCA/BCEC, MBTA and Massport) is a property owner,  developer and transit provider in the neighborhood.

ELECTION DAY: TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2018

Sweeping Changes to A Street

The Boston Public Works Department is implementing a new street sweeping program in the Fort Point neighborhood.  Currently, many cars do not move on the scheduled A Street  sweeping day and the mechanical sweeper cannot access the gutter area. This program will allow for more effective street sweeping, resulting in a cleaner environment in your community. 

Street cleaning for A Street will switch from Friday afternoons to Tuesdays from 9 am to 1 pm

• A Street from Binford to Congress the 1st & 3d Tuesdays
• A Street from Melcher to Congress the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays

Street cleaning for Binford Street remains Tuesdays from 9 am to 1 pm.

• The odd side of the street (closest to Gillette) the 1st and 3d Tuesdays 
• The even side will be cleaned on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

The program and enforcement (fines and towing) will begin the week of April 1 and run through November 30th.

Please note that everyday street cleaning from 12:01 am - 7 am continues on Congress Street from Dorchester Ave to E. Service Road and on Sleeper Street.

Comprehensive street sweeping information can be found at Boston.gov. You may also register for posted street sweeping electronic reminders and cancellation information by accessing the No-Tow link at that web site. If there are any discrepancies follow the street sign.  Inquiries can also be directed to the Mayor’s 24-Hour Service by dialing 311 at any time. If your car is towed, click here to get it back.