Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Mayoral Candidate Waterfront Forum In-person & Online Thursday

FPNA and over 40 Boston non-profit partners of the Coalition for a Resilient & Inclusive Waterfront invite you to a Mayoral Candidate Forum on the future of an accessible, equitable, climate resilient & economically vibrant Boston waterfront on:

 
Thursday, July 29, 2021

4:30 pm to 6:00 pm

In person at the New England Aquarium's Imax Theatre
or
Online
 
One Registration. Two Ways to Attend.

 
The Mayoral Forum will be moderated by El Mundo Boston's Alberto Vasallo and Boston Globe's Shirley Leung. 
 
The Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront is an alliance of diverse non-profit organizations focused on bringing the pressing issues facing Boston’s harbor and rivers to the forefront of public conversation.

Tuesday, July 27, 2021

Boston Parks & Recreation Neighborhood Events: July & August

Mayor Kim Janey and the Parks and Recreation Department invite you to gather outdoors a these special summer events.


Neighborhood Concert: Rebels (Tom Petty Cover Band)
Bring a picnic and some friends to enjoy music in the park!
THIS THURSDAY, July 29
7:00 pm
Medal of Honor Park/Lee Playground


Enjoy popular films under the night skies!
Tuesday, August 17
7:45 pm (dusk)
Moakley Park




Meet the Mayor, enjoy treats from Dunkin' & fresh fruit from Star Market, and bring home a free plant from our greenhouses!
Wednesday, August 18
10:30 am
Medal of Honor Park/Lee Playground





Monday, July 26, 2021

Ground Floor Uses & Architecture Along Fort Point Channel Top Tonight's Public Meeting

244 - 284 A Street (along the Fort Point Channel)

BPDA Urban Design & Ground Floor Uses Virtual Public Community Meeting
 
Monday, July 26, 2021
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
View Presentation

Let the Boston Planning and Development Agency and the developer know your thoughts and ideas to improve: 

Urban Design: Does the architecture and public realm layout enhance the character of the neighborhood?
 
:

 
Building Heights & Density: 2 of the 3 building exceed zoning: one by 80% and the other by 25% with  mechanical extending 50 feet into the sky. Do the 180 feet buildings wall off the neighborhood from the water? Does the inclusion of another 180 foot building across from historic 75 foot buildings divide the neighborhood?
 



 
Ground Floor Uses: Do the ground floor uses support watersheet activation and park activation? Do they offer a diverse set of civic, cultural & retail uses at price points that include a high degree of affordability for Boston residents, workers and visitors that complement the offerings in the Seaport? Will there be opportunities for small business and especially minority owners to flourish?
 
 
 

This is critical point in the approval process. Decisions made now will not be changed. What do you want to see and have in this last waterfront expansion of the neighborhood? 
 
244 - 284 A Street, the 6.5 acre development along the Fort Point Channel & A St (aka former Gillette Channelside parking lots), is resuming the approval process from the City and requires feedback from the neighborhood and other advocates.

Thursday, July 22, 2021

What's Happening On A Street?

updated 7/22/21: No parking on A Street from Wormwood to Necco is extended to August 18th.

Vicinity Energy is now executing a plan to bring steam down A Street. 

Steam you say, isn’t that so “old school”? Vicinity has been delivering steam to Boston and Cambridge businesses for over 90 years. 

They are expanding their footprint into our neighborhood and are connecting businesses along A Street to the existing steam pipe on West Second Street. Plans currently are to run steam from the West Second Street pipe to Necco Street in conjunction with 15 Necco Life Sciences building.

The project will run in phases with step one, test pits, being dug over the next week. Don't forget the parking restrictions on A Street from Wormwood to Necco every Monday through Friday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm until July 21, 2021. The project will eventually progress into full excavation along one lane of A Street. Construction will complete in the summer of 2022. 

Police will manage vehicular traffic as needed, appropriate sidewalk detours will be in place and parking restrictions will be posted. If you have any questions on the A Street Steam project, call Vicinity Energy's 24 hour service line at 617-482-8232.

originally published 07.06.21

Friday, July 09, 2021

Voice Your Opinion On New Waterfront Parks & Resilience

updated 7/13/21 with meeting presentation and meeting video.

The Boston Planning & Development Agency is hosting a public meeting on Monday, July 12th at 6pm regarding new waterfront parks and climate resilient flood protection at 244 - 284 A Street (former Gillette Channelside parking lot) a 6.5 acre mixed development with required open space. 

What do you want to see in South Boston's newest waterfront parks, and will these new parks also protect our inner neighborhoods from flooding?  Will it be a model for coastal resilience and equitable, high quality open space?

Discover the latest 244 - 284 A Street development plans for Open Space & Climate Resiliency on: 

Monday, July 12, 2021
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

View Presentation

Let the Boston Planning and Development Agency and the developer, Related Beal, know your thoughts on: 
  • Public Parks Design & Programming 
  • Sea Level Rise & Stormwater Flood Protection
  • Climate Resilience
This is critical point in the approval process, decisions made over the next couple of months will not be changed.

244 - 284 A Street, the 6.5 acre development along the Fort Point Channel (aka former Gillette Channelside parking lots), is resuming the approval process from the City and requires feedback from the neighborhood.

******

The Waterfront Parks: Last year, the community established three themes focused on urban wilderness, community living room and flex space/outdoor gallery. Do the park designs meet neighborhood needs and expectations?



Climate Resilience: Will the proposed climate resilient solutions protect the site and neighborhood from sea level rise and stormwater flooding? 



originally published 07.09.21

Thursday, July 08, 2021

Fort Point Landmarks July 2021 Meeting

07/06/21: updated agenda with presentation links below.

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

Thursday, July 8, 2021
6:00 PM

This hearing will be held virtually and NOT in person. 
You can participate in this hearing by going to our Zoom meeting link 
or by calling 301-715-8592  and entering meeting id 829 7962 1250 # 
You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.gov 

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 21.1106 FPC 44 THOMSON PLACE
Applicant: John Kiernan
Proposed work: At the roof, remove entire existing roofing assembly, edge metal, gutters, downspouts, masonry pier caps, party wall caps, and reglet flashings. Install new PVC roof assembly with PVC roof edge metal in "Lead Grey" color. Install new copper gutters and downspouts, copper caps and reglet flashings.

APP # 21.1105 FPC 44 THOMSON PLACE:
Applicant: Dina DiTommaso
Proposed Work: At the ground floor storefront, install new vinyl graphic signage and a new video telecom device at the side of the entry.

APP # 21.1103 FPC 20-30 CHANNEL CENTER STREET
Applicant: Philip Marcotty
Proposed Work: Install new rooftop mechanicals at the roof for change of use to research and development. Install new elevator override.

APP # 21.1002 FPC 374 CONGRESS STREET:
Applicant: Mike Miller
Proposed Work: At the Stillings Street entrance, remove main entry sign and yellow brick and replace with wood panelled enclosure to conceal dumpster located behind the sign. Add new signage to enclosure.

APP # 21.1130 FPC 308 CONGRESS STREET:
Applicant: Amy Auerbach
Proposed Work: Replace existing green roof at second story of Boston's Children's Museum. Work includes steel fortification of existing roof structure, installation of glass railing system, and lowering existing door to meet ADA requirements.

II. ADVISORY REVIEW

332 CONGRESS STREET: Modify the ground floor storefronts and entry.

III: RATIFICATION OF 5/13/21 & 6/10/21 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES

IV. Staff Updates

V. Projected Adjournment: 8pm

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

originally published 07.02.21

Wednesday, July 07, 2021

Preservation & Conservation Events For Southie & Fort Point Tonight

Wednesday, July 7,2021 is Conservation night for South Boston and Fort Point.

Councilor Ed Flynn and Councilor At-Large Michael Flaherty along with the Community Preservation Team are hosting a virtual Community Preservation Act (CPA) information session for South Boston residents on Wednesday, July 7th at 6pm.

This meeting will look to provide helpful information and resources for neighbors, civic groups, youth sports and other organizations in South Boston who may want to apply for funding from the CPA for initiatives related to affordable housing, historic preservation, open space, and outdoor recreation facilities.

Topics will include the application process, eligibility criteria, relevant deadlines and other related information. If you wish to be in the know, register for tonight's informational session

Learn more about how to utilize CPA funding to help preserve and enhance our neighborhood.
At the Boston Conservation Commission tonight, Related Beal is requesting a determination for the authorization of geotechnical borings and test pits, located at 244 – 284 A St, South Boston, MA (100ft Buffer to Coastal Bank, LSCSF).  

Conservation Commission Meeting
July 7, 2021
6 pm

244 - 284 A Street is tenth on the agenda. You can drop in and out to see how the meeting is progressing.  Zoom in to discover more about the 10 test pits and 58 test borings on the development site and its impacts on groundwater, stormwater management and the neighborhood. 

The proposed test borings will be approximately 2-in. to 4-in. diameter and will be advanced between approximately 5- to 60-feet below existing surface grades. Deeper boreholes are anticipated to be performed using a truck-mounted drill rig, while shallower explorations may be conducted using a direct-push (Geoprobe®) rig. The test pits will be roughly 10 feet by 10 feet to a depth of about 8 to 10 feet, with the pavement being sawcut and taken offsite for proper disposal. Greater details and impacts are outlined in the application.

244 -284 A Street

The Boston Conservation Commission protects the interests of the public and private water supply, groundwater, prevention of pollution, flood control, prevention of storm damage, protection of fisheries and land containing shellfish, and protection of wildlife habitat.