Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Street Cleaning April Through November

April marks the start of the street cleaning season through November 30th.

The cleaning of Binford Street from A Street to the Channel occurs from 9 am until 1 pm. The odd side of the street (closest to Gillette) will be cleaned on the first and third Tuesdays of the month starting April 5, 2022. The even side (next to the Channelside parking lot) will be cleaned on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month starting April 12th.

The street sweepers will also tackle A Street from Binford to Congress on the 1st & 3d Tuesdays beginning April 5, 2022 from 9 am until 1 pm. 

They will cross over to even side of A Street from Melcher to Congress every 2nd & 4th Tuesday commencing April 12th from 9 am until 1 pm. 

Everyday street cleaning  occurs on Congress St (Dorchester Ave to E. Service Rd ) and Sleeper St from 12:01 am until 7:00 am.

To receive no tow reminders, click 
here and enter the street name and then scroll down. The street cleaning parking fine is $40. If your car is towed, the minimum tow ticket is $108. More details Lookup nearby street sweeping schedules here.

Monday, March 21, 2022

In Development News: Life Sciences Abound & 244 - 284 A Street Returns

updated 3/21/22 with 51 Melcher March 16 meeting video and presentation (see below)

updated 3/14/22 with 51 Melcher meeting video and presentation. Public meeting is March 16th at 6:30pm
updated 3/7/22: 51 Melcher Street IAG Meeting at 6pm and Seaport Circle 3/1 meeting presentation and meeting video.
updated 2/23/22: 51 Melcher Public meeting moved to March 16th due to conflict with City's Budget Listening Session.
updated 2/17/22 with Seaport Circle IAG meeting presentation and video.
updated 2/8/22 with 244 - 284 A Street IAG presentation and meeting video.
updated 1/31/22 with Seaport Circle public meeting dates and newly proposed garage to Life Sciences lab conversion at 17-33 Farnsworth St. 

Related Beal filed Supplemental Information on the 244 -284 A Street development project along the Fort Point Channel and A Street. The Supplemental Information Filing was submitted in response to a Request for Supplemental Information issued by the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) to the Proponent on October 20, 2021.There will two BPDA public meetings to review the information and the opportunity to provide public comment. 

February 3: 244 - 284 A St Impact Advisory Group
View Presentation
View Meeting Video

February 15: 244 - 284 A St Public Meeting
View Presentation
View Meeting Video

February 22: 244 - 284 A St Supplemental Filing comment deadline

This 1 million square feet+ mixed-use development is composed of a residential building, an office building and a laboratory/research and development Life Sciences building plus required parks and open space. 

12 Farnsworth is an office to office/labs Life Sciences conversion located at 12-22 Farnsworth St, and is scheduled to be at Zoning Board of Appeals on February 15th. For more details and to view Jan 10th Abutters meeting and presentation check out 12 Farnsworth on Fort Point Boston. 12 Farnsworth also includes the street parking lot at 11 Sleeper St. 

51 Melcher Street is a conversion of an existing approximately 97,000 square foot office building at 51-61 Melcher Street to life science use. The project will be undergoing BPDA  Article 80 public review. An Expanded Project Notification Form was filed in December and is available here. A PDA amendment filed March 3, 2022.

March 8: 51 Melcher Impact Advisory Group Meeting 6pm - 8pm
March 16: 51 Melcher Public Meeting at 6:30pm - 8:30pm (new date)
View Presentation


Seaport CircleThis 600,000sf+ project includes the construction of a laboratory/research & development and office building and job training/non-profit center located at 701 Congress Street. A Project Notification Form was filed last week. More details, visit the BPDA Seaport Circle project page. 

February 16: Seaport Circle Impact Advisory Meeting

March 1: Seaport Circle Public Meeting
View Presentation
View Meeting Video
Comment deadline: March 14


7 Channel Center Street is a proposed 100,000+sf, 9 story Life Sciences office/labs building that will be undergoing BPDA Article 80 public review. For an inside peek, view 7 Channel Center  Fort Point Landmark District Commission January presentation
7 Channel Center

17 - 31 Farnsworth St: Toronto-based real estate investment firm BentallGreenOak is proposing to replace a parking garage on Farnsworth Street in Fort Point with a four-story life sciences building. The new building, located at 17-31 Farnsworth St., would include just over 78,000 square feet of floor space, according to a letter of intent filed with the Boston Planning and Development Agency that was published Friday. The parking garage now at the site is six stories tall, including rooftop parking, with spots for 361 vehicles. The new building would not have on-site parking, according to BentallGreenOak. source: Greg Ryan, 'Proposal would replace Fort Point garage with lab space', Jan. 28, 2022, Boston Business Journal.
17 -31 Farnsworth St

232 A Street: In September 2021, P&G Gillette sold the 2.5 acre parcel along Binford St between A Street and the Channel to Tishman Speyer's Life Sciences arm, Breakthrough Properties. The sale includes the waterfront Binford Park. Read Gillette's letter to the neighborhood

originally published 01.26.22

Sunday, March 20, 2022

St Patrick's Day / Evacuation Day Parade Is Sunday

The St. Patrick's Day parade returns Sunday, March 20, 2022. The parade will begin at 1 PM starting on West Broadway T Station, continuing to East Broadway and ending at Farragut Road. Broadway will be closed to traffic from approximately 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.

In the words of Dave Falvey, Commander, South Boston Allied War Veterans Council: “As the first American city to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 285 years ago, we’re simply delighted and honored to be holding the parade again after a very long, two-year absence. To have such an iconic Irish brand like Guinness as headline sponsor supporting this year highlights what an important event this parade is and why it is so welcome to be back. The level of interest this year sponsors, participants and the entire community has been incredible, showing how important these twined events are to the fabric of the city of Boston, the region of New England and beyond. We look forward to a fantastic event where all are encouraged to take part.”

The St. Patrick’s Day Road Race will also take place on Sunday beginning at 11 AM.   Runners will proceed from West Sixth Street at the Boys and Girls Club and will end at 12 pm. 

Before these two events start is the St. Patrick's Day Breakfast hosted by Senator Collins and broadcast live starting at 10am on Irish Hit Parade RadioCBS Boston (online), Boston Neighborhood Network Media

To accommodate the two events, staging/dispersal and clean-up, drivers should expect the following roads to be closed to vehicular traffic. Streets effected by the parade will close no later than 12 PM and streets effected by the road race will close no later than 10 AM.  Delays are expected on West 6th Street from F to Dorchester and F (odd side only) from 6th to Bowen Street.

Tow Zone, No Stopping, Boston Police Special Event Sunday
Additional parking restrictions that will be implemented temporarily to support Sunday’s events are as follows:
  • Dorchester Avenue, both sides, from Gillette Park to Old Colony Avenue
  • Foundry Street, both sides, from Greenbaum Street to Dorchester Avenue
  • West Second Street, both sides, from Dorchester Avenue
  • A Street, both sides, from Binford Street to West Second Street
  • Binford Street, both sides, from A Street heading northwesterly to end at 45 Binford
  •  West Fourth Street, both sides, from A Street to Dorchester Avenue
  •  West Broadway, both sides, from Dorchester Avenue to Dorchester Street
  •  East Broadway, both sides, from Dorchester Street to P Street
  •  Farragut Road, both sides, from East Fourth Street to East First Street
  •  Summer Street, Financial District, Atlantic Avenue to the MBTA bus stop near 245 Summer Street
  •  Summer Street, South Boston, East First Street to the end of 776 Summer Street
  •  E Street, from West Broadway to Athens Street
  •  L Street, from East Third Street to East Broadway
The Channel Center garage is offering discounted parking of $12/day for South Boston residents and the public. The rate will go in effect starting Friday, 3/18 at 5pm through 3:30am on Monday, 3/21 to allow residents to remove their cars from along the parade and race route. Per Boston Police Department, parking restrictions will start Sunday at 7:30am on A St and on Binford St. 

Other Southie fun facts for March 20th: Liquor Stores will close at 4pm. All bars and restaurants will close between 6-6:30pm and patrons need to leave by 7:30pm.

originally posted 3.15.22

Monday, March 07, 2022

Fort Point Landmarks March 2022 Meeting

updated with presentations. 


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

Thursday, March10, 2022*
6:00 PM

This hearing will be held virtually and NOT in person. 
You can participate in this hearing by going to the Zoom meeting link 
or by calling 929-205-6099 and entering meeting id 898 8385 3336# You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 22.0885 FPC  333 SUMMER STREET
Applicant: Dan DeMille
Proposed work: Replace two existing signs from “logmein” to “goto” in same size and color.

APP # 22.0894 FPC  51 MELCHER STREET
Applicant: Alex Munoz
Proposed work: Install new window louvers, new loading dock, new egress stair for Boston Fire Department, enhanced rooftop mechanical equipment, accessibility improvement on Melcher Street sidewalk.

APP # 22.0896 FPC  44 THOMSON PLACE
Applicant: Ashlea Andrews
Proposed work: Install four temporary signs in vinyl applied to window glass.

II. Advisory Review

Proposed Work: Changes to rooftop equipment; exterior modifications at ground floor and rear of the building to  accommodate conversion to Life Sciences.

III. Ratification of 1/13/2022 Public Hearing Minutes

IV. Staff Updates

V. Projected Adjournment: 8:00PM


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

*Please note February 2022 meeting cancelled due to lack of complete applications.

Wednesday, March 02, 2022

Boston To Lift Indoor Mask Mandate Saturday


“Mayor Wu and Dr. Ojikutu have guided our City through the latest surge with steady hands and thoughtful, informed public health decisions,” said Manny Lopes, Chair of the Boston Board of Health. “Based on the data BPHC has presented, we feel confident in the recommendation to lift the masking order.”

While masks are no longer mandated in certain indoor settings, the Boston Public Health Commission recommends masking in these settings if you are at high risk for severe illness or if you will be around individuals who are. There are many people in Boston who are vulnerable to COVID-19, including individuals who are immunocompromised, seniors, and those who are unvaccinated, including young children. Wearing a well-fitting mask or respirator while indoors minimizes your risk of getting infected with COVID-19 and spreading it to others. Because masking offers a first line of defense when there is increased risk of COVID-19, a masking mandate may be reinstated if data show an increased risk of community transmission. Be sure to consider your specific situation and risk factors, such as those in your life who may be vulnerable, before going out without a mask.

The best way to protect yourself and loved ones is by getting vaccinated and boosted against COVID-19. While case numbers are down, the risk of severe illness remains. COVID-19 vaccines are available for all residents ages 5 and older, and widely available throughout Boston. For more information about where to find a vaccine, visit boston.gov/covid19-vaccine.

Re-Imagined Congress St. Reconstruction Project

updated 03/02/22 with meeting video

The City of Boston Public Works and Transportation Departments are hosting a neighborhood gathering to discuss design options for a re-imagined Congress Street.

Congress Street Reconstruction Project 

Public Meeting
Monday, February 28, 2022
6:30 pm
View Meeting Video

For a more detailed understanding on the City’s policy and design guidance for city streets take a look at the Public Works Plan details and Boston’s Complete Streets Report.


originally published 02.11.22