Monday, February 24, 2020

2020 Census Could Mean Money In Your Pocket

Updated 02/24/20: Incorrectly reported this event as Feb 29. It occurred last Saturday. Our apologies for the error. You may still get information by calling the number below and applying online. 

Work for the U.S. Census Bureau.  Census jobs pay $25 to $30.50 an hour with paid training, flexible hours and weekly pay.  The Job Fair sponsored by Senator Nick Collins, Representative David Biele and City Councilors Ed Flynn and Frank Baker will be held:


Saturday, February 22, 2020
10 am to 12 pm 
Jospeh M. Tierney Learning Center
125 Mercer Street
South Boston



For more information or help applying, please call 855-JOB-2020 (855-562-2020)

Friday, February 21, 2020

Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grants Now Available

Bolstering the Walsh Administration's ongoing work to create a waterfront that is accessible to all, the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) and the Fort Point Channel Operations Board are accepting applications for the 2020 Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Grant Program. Click here for an application.

Now in its ninth year, the program provides financial resources for capital improvements and public programming within and along the Fort Point Channel, as envisioned in the Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan. The plan was established in 2002 through a collaborative effort between the BPDA, City of Boston, landowners, nonprofit and cultural leaders, and residents to encourage new cultural activities and year-round programming in Fort Point.

Fort Point Channel Watersheet Activation Plan
Approximately $50,000 is available to organizations for the 2020 grant cycle. The competitive grant seeks creative proposals for water-based programming in and around Fort Point that will benefit the general public, including such things as new water-based infrastructure, public events, art installations, and educational opportunities.
To be eligible, an organization must be tax-exempt or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a tax-exempt nonprofit. For-profit organizations may be eligible for funding at the discretion of the Fort Point Channel Operations Board if the project constitutes a not-for-profit, public project.
Applications are due on Monday, March 9, 2020 at 5 p.m. Funding for the grants stems from the Chapter 91 Waterways Regulations License for Atlantic Wharf, a project developed by Boston Properties.

Thursday, February 20, 2020

New Changes To 15 Necco:What Do You Think?

The Final BPDA  Public Community Meeting for 15 Necco (former GE Headquarters site) will be held Thursday, February 27 at 6 pm at the 300 A Street (Red Hat building). 
updated 02.20.20:View revised design presented this week at Boston Civic Design Commission Committee.

In response to community comments and letters, the developers of 15 Necco, National Development and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, submitted revisions to the project on February 11, 2020 via a supplemental filing to the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA).

SUMMARIZED CHANGES (read supplemental filing here)

Changes to Civic & Cultural Uses

The community requested previously approved cultural and community space be retained. Original commitments included over 25,000 square feet of collaboration space, community work lounge and museum in addition to café and restaurant space. The new supplemental filing proposes 1,500 square feet for non-profit use and 2,700 square feet of “touch-down” space in the lobby.
Revisions to the Design


The community requested that the architectural design fit within the neighborhood, especially with respect to existing architecture.

The community requested that the mechanical penthouse of 35 feet be significantly reduced. There has been no reduction yet in height of the mechanical penthouse.

15 Necco Revised Design as of  February 11 Supplemental Filing

15 Necco Design as of January 6 Public Meeting


originally published 02.17.20

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Fort Point Landmarks February 2020 Meeting Tonight

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

Thursday, February 13, 2020
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.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING


APP # 20.796 FPC       34 Farnsworth Street
Applicant: Erik Lania, Watermark Donut Company 
Proposed Work: Modify the Farnsworth Street ground level façade, add new storefront system and window, and install signage.

II  Ratification of 1/9/2020 & 1/24/2020 Public Hearing Minutes

III. Staff Updates

IV. Projected Adjournment: 7:00 PM

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

Tuesday, February 11, 2020

105 West First Informational Update Meeting

Tishman Speyer cordially invites the neighborhood to attend their second Informational Update Meeting regarding the planned redevelopment of 105 West First Street to Life Sciences. The meeting will take place on:

Wednesday, February 12, 2020
 6:00 PM
3rd floor Conference Room
Artists for Humanity
100 West Second Street
View Presentation

In 2019 Breakthrough Properties, Life Sciences arm of Tishman Speyer, acquired the former RCN building from Commonwealth Ventures.  On the West First side, the building faces the A Street Park and is nestled between the Channel Center garage and Artists For Humanity.  In December of 2019, the BPDA hosted an informal meet and greet for neighbors and the new owners. Tishman Speyer also owns One Channel Center (State Street) building and the Channel Center Garage. 

Key meeting topics will be updates on the project schedule and public realm improvements, as well as information about the design and construction plan, and introduction to the construction team members from Consigli Construction Company. The demolition and construction timeline will be covered, including points of contact for the team on site, and sharing updates on plans for the new park east of the site between West First and West Second Streets.

You may also notice in the days leading up to the February 12th meeting that there will be additional construction vehicles and equipment added to the site. Please be assured that it is staging equipment and minor interior preparations ahead of the actual construction start, and that demolition will not commence until after the informational session on the 12th.

New Design as of December 2019
2017 Approved Design


originally published 2.3.20

Monday, February 03, 2020

Boston City Council Looks At Committees, South Boston Traffic, Census, Parking, Recycling & More

City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Here are some highlights from Wednesday, January 29, 2020:

VOTES

Rules: The Council voted 11-2 (Councilors Baker & Essaibi-George opposed) to approve the City Council rules for the 2020-2021 term that Council President Janey introduced, including the new committee structure. Councilor Essaibi-George stood to oppose the dissolution of the committee that she had previously chaired, on Homelessness, Mental Health & Recovery. Council President Janey stated that the new Committee on Public Health would include responsibility for issues related to Mental Health and Recovery, and the Committee on Housing & Community Development would include oversight over issues related to Homelessness. 
See the full committee assignments here, and a summary listed below as Committee Name (Chair, Vice Chair):

  • Arts, Culture & Tourism (Baker, Breadon)
  • Census & Redistricting (Arroyo, Wu)
  • City & Neighborhood Services (Flynn, O’Malley)
  • Civil Rights (Mejia, Flynn)
  • Community Preservation Act (Flaherty, Bok)
  • Education (Essaibi-George, Campbell)
  • Environment, Resiliency & Parks (O’Malley, Wu)
  • Government Operations (Edwards, Flaherty)
  • Housing & Community Development (Edwards, Bok)
  • PILOT Reform (Bok, Flaherty)
  • Planning, Development & Transportation (Wu, Baker)
  • Post Audit (Wu, Baker)
  • Public Health (Arroyo, Essaibi-George)
  • Public Safety & Criminal Justice (Campbell, Flaherty)
  • Rules & Administration (Janey, Flaherty)
  • Small Business & Workforce Development (Mejia, Baker)
  • Strong Women, Families & Communities (Breadon, O’Malley)
  • Veteran & Military Affairs (Flynn, Edwards)
  • Ways & Means (Bok, Essaibi-George)
  • Whole (Janey, O’Malley) 

NEW MATTERS

Boston School Committee Governance Structure: Councilor Essaibi-George called for a hearing on the governance structure of the Boston School Committee. Following a home-rule petition and 1989 citywide referendum, in 1991 the City of Boston transitioned from a 13-member elected School Committee to a Committee with seven members, appointed by the Mayor. In a 1996 referendum, Boston residents voted to maintain the appointed School Committee. The Mayor appoints members from a list of candidates recommended by a 13-member Citizens Nominating Panel composed of parents, teachers, principals, and representatives of higher education. The process to become a member of the Citizens Nominating Panel as well as the process and criteria by which the panel evaluates School Committee candidates is currently not transparent nor accessible. The School Committee also currently has a non-voting, uncompensated student member, and many advocates have recommended giving the student representative formal voting authority. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Education for a hearing.

South Boston Traffic Master Plan: Councilors Flynn & Flaherty called for a hearing to discuss establishing a Traffic Master Plan for South Boston. They noted that the neighborhood has absorbed much of Boston’s development boom and housing production, with large scale developments either already approved or proposed along every major corridor that connects the neighborhood to the rest of the city. The ongoing South Boston Waterfront Strategic Transit Plan accounts for the impact of growth within the study area and the respective impacts on various modes of transportation in and out of the South Boston Waterfront, but does not account for the impact of other large scale developments on other major transportation corridors of the neighborhood. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Planning, Development & Transportation for a hearing.

2020 Census: Councilor Flynn & I filed a hearing order to discuss ways to promote a complete and accurate count for the 2020 Census in the City of Boston. The 2020 Census will begin on April 1st of this year, and it will be an important undertaking to provide an accurate population count to determine the number of Congressional seats in our state, the boundaries of local, state, and federal legislative districts, and how federal funds are distributed in our community; it also provides important data that can help lawmakers craft policies that accurately reflect the needs of constituents. Boston also ranks among the hardest cities to count, as we are home to many traditionally undercounted populations, such as immigrants, residents who speak a language other than English, students, and renters. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Census & Redistricting for a hearing


Additional Liquor Licenses: Councilor Baker filed a home-rule petition for additional liquor licenses in various neighborhoods of the city. Because of the cap on liquor licenses in Boston established in state law, many of the City’s neighborhood restaurants have difficulty or are unable to obtain a liquor license, making it difficult for smaller neighborhood restaurants to open and be successful and exacerbating income inequality and racial disparities as neighborhoods that are predominantly residents of color have far fewer establishments with liquor license. Councilor Baker stated that he hoped each District Councilor would give feedback and help set a number of requested licenses that was appropriate for the neighborhoods in her or his area. This matter was assigned to the committee on Government Operations.
Transportation Benefits: Councilor Edwards & I called for a hearing regarding creating a Transportation Benefit Ordinance that would require employers to offer pre-tax payroll deductions for public transit passes. The City of Boston already offers this for municipal employees, but there is no requirement for private employers to provide similar access. Modest efforts to reduce congestion could significantly improve commuting times, combat vehicle pollution and reduce time lost at work due to traffic delays. I also noted that this was a step for necessary, low-hanging fruit to improve our congestion situation, but that the ultimate goal is still to move toward fare-free public transit. The matter was assigned to the Committee onPlanning, Development & Transportation for a hearing.

Parking Reform: Councilors Edwards, Essaibi-George & Campbell called for a hearing on Parking Reform to address unprecedented traffic congestion and transportation issues that impact quality of life, Boston’s local economy and the environment. They stated that the City of Boston can simultaneously move towards a transportation system with fewer cars on the road and less congested streets while maintaining and improving parking and driving conditions for residents and workers who depend on their vehicles for personal and professional obligations, educational advancement, and other needs. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Planning, Development & Transportation for a hearing.

Recycling, Composting, and Reducing Trash: Councilor O'Malley called for a hearing regarding recycling, composting, and reducing trash in the City of Boston. Boston's current recycling rate is 25% and at least 75% of what is disposed as trash is potentially recyclable or compostable, including paper, plastic, metals, glass, textiles, food, food-soiled paper, plant debris, wood and soils. The cost of recycling has increased significantly due to China's stricter standards on the quality of the products they will buy. Resolving this recycling crisis will require implementing innovative strategies that addresses producer responsibility and building a sustainable infrastructure that promotes zero waste. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Environment, Resiliency & Parks for a hearing.

APPOINTMENTS
  • Zoning Board of Appeals: Konstantinos Ligris, Eric Robinson and Kerry Walsh as members until March 2022 (Assigned to Planning, Development & Transportation for confirmation hearing)
  • Make Boston Shine Trust Fund: Manar Swaby, Kaira Fox, Jerome Smith, Inez Foster & Jacob Wessel as Trustees until January 2022
  • Boston Common Maintenance Trust Fund: Emme Handy reappointed as Trustee until January 2022
  • Franklin Park Maintenance Trust Fund: Emme Handy reappointed as Trustee until January 2022
  • Boston Housing Authority: Kathryn Bennett appointed as Administrator effective January 6, 2020.

UPCOMING HEARINGS (In the City Council Chamber unless otherwise noted. Watch at: https://www.boston.gov/departments/city-council/watch-boston-city-council-tv):

Our next City Council meeting will be on Wednesday, February 5th at Noon

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