Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Don't Be Alarmed. Filming on Congress & on A St. Monday, August 29th

A movie will be filming on Congress Street and on A Street Monday, August 29th. It will involve the use of emergency vehicles so please don’t be alarmed.

T Street Productions (Knives Out) is currently in production on a new film currently going by the name Untitled Novelist Project. The film is written and directed by Cord Jefferson (Watchmen, The Good Place) and stars Jeffrey Wright (The Batman, Westworld, Angels In America). The movie follows the story of a struggling novelist who finds unexpected success while a brief trip to Boston becomes extended due to a series of family related issues.

Filming will take place at an area business on the corner of Congress St and A St on:

Monday, August 29th, 2022 from 7am – 7pm

The scene will involve emergency vehicles driving from Congress St to A St. They will not be stopping or detouring traffic but we do want to make sure neighbors are aware that this is not a real emergency event. BPD should be on site to sort out any confusion among first responders should there be a real emergency.

All of the crew cars will be staged off site at a private parking lot. They will be permitting parking for filming and to stage essential equipment trucks at:

  • Congress St metered parking between Sleeper St and Thomson Pl
  • A St resident parking between Congress St and Necco St 
  • A St metered parking between Melcher St and Necco St
  • D St metered parking between Claflin St and New Cypher St
T Street Productions are working closely with the City of Boston and the Mass Film Commission to reduce their impact on the neighborhood. To this end, parking passes will be available for neighbors at the Channel Center Garage if needed. Contact hartman.stephen@gmail.com on the day of filming if a resident parking spot isn’t available for you.

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Coffee With A Cop This Thursday

Come meet your local police officers for a chat and some coffee on:

Thursday, August 25, 2022
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Olga's Kafe
206 W. Broadway


Participants will receive a free Boston Police travel mug. 

The coffee is sponsored by the Boston Police Activities/Athletic League.

Special Conservation Preservation Funding Session Tuesday Night

Councilors Flynn and Flaherty are partnering with the Community Preservation (CPA) Team to host a virtual Community Preservation Act (CPA) information session on Tuesday, August 23rd at 6pm. Come learn how to utilize CPA funding to help preserve and enhance our neighborhood.

This session will provide information and resources on the different types of projects that CPA funds, from affordable housing, historic preservation, to open space and recreation facilities. It will discuss the application process, eligibility criteria and relevant deadlines. If you wish to learn more about the program, you can register for the session here.

The application round for the Fall will open in October 2022, close on November 9, 2022, and interested applicants must complete eligibility forms by Wednesday, August 31, 2022.  

Here is a list of CPA projects in South Boston from recent years:

2022
Christopher Lee Playground - N Street Little League Field, $650,000
Boston’s Children’s Museum, $100,000
Barnard Place Park, $34,390
Congress Street Fire Station - Boston Fire Museum, $327,000

2018-2021
Martin’s Park – $500,000
St. Augustine Historic Chapel – $499,075
Barnard Place Park – $150,000
Congress St Fire Museum – $150,000
Harry McDonough Sailing Center – $78,783
Castle Island Interpretive Signs – $75,000
Kearsarge Anchor – $75,000

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

Conservation Commission August 2022 Meeting Wednesday

The Boston Conservation Commission (ConCom) will hold its next bi-weekly public hearing on:

August 17, 2022
6:00 pm
Dial-in audio: 1-929-205-6099
Meeting ID: 686 458 2044 #
Participant ID: provided upon log in

The Commission reviews projects to determine what conditions, if any, the Commission will impose in order to protect 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. View Full Agenda

Neighborhood Agenda Items

Item #4: Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-1889 and BOS 2022-044 from VHB on behalf of GI ETS Fort Point I LLC c/0 GI Partners for the construction of sidewalks, an infiltration system, and electrical equipment associated with the redevelopment of an existing office building for life sciences purposes located at 51 Melcher St, South Boston, MA (LSCSF)

Item #5: Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-18XX from Nitsch Engineering on behalf of the DIV Black Falcon, LLC for the installation of a new electrical conduit, transformer, and switchgear on an existing sidewalk located at 88 Black Falcon Ave, South Boston, MA (LSCSF)

Pro Tip: These meetings can last long. Through the power of zoom, you can zoom in and out to see where they are on the agenda.

Tuesday, August 09, 2022

Fort Point Landmarks August 2022 Meeting This Thursday

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

Thursday, August 11, 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 810 4777 1835# You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 22.1421 FPC   25 THOMSON PLACE
Applicant: Bernard Lebow
Proposed work: Install one 11’ x 25’ black aluminum plaque below existing plaque into the mortar joints.

APP # 23.0035 FPC   372 CONGRESS STREET
Applicant: Andrew Lafuente
Proposed work: Using existing metal frame replace fabric and painted signage of valance and awnings.

APP # 23.0079 FP   300 A Street
Applicant: Gabriel Zavala
Proposed work: Paint various existing front facade features.

APP # 22.1262 FPC   303 CONGRESS STREET
Applicant: Dorothy Deak
Proposed work: Installation of sunshade.

Applicant: ARE-MA Region 74, LLC
Proposed work: Install Chapter 91 Interpretive sign on the Harborwalk consisting of a 2’ x 4’ graphic featuring historic images sitting on a 4’ high black powder coated base to be attached to an existing deck platform.

II. RATIFICATION OF 7/14/2022 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES

III. STAFF UPDATES

IV. PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 8:00 PM

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

Monday, August 01, 2022

A Look At What's Happening This Week & Next

updated 8/1/22 with August 1st Abutters meeting recording and August 2nd National Night Out.

What's Developing in the Neighborhood: 

July 19: 17 Farnsworth Street Public Meeting at 6pm. Replace existing, 361-vehicle parking garage built in 1986 with four-story Life Sciences building with mechanical penthouse set back from the roof edges to minimize visibility from the ground. No onsite accessory parking. Per Coastal Flood Resilience Overlay District, dry flood-proofed at least two feet above Sea Level Rise Base Flood Elevation (19.5 ft. BCB). For additional project details, explore the Project Notification Form. Comment deadline: July 29, 2022

July 19: 776 Summer St (Edison Power Plant) Phase 1 Impact Advisory Group Public Meeting at 6pm. Phase 1 will be located on 8.4 acres / 364,409 square feet within the approximately 15.2 acre (approximately 661,500 square foot) parcel of land known as and numbered 776 Summer Street in South Boston. It includes the rehabilitation of the Edison Turbine Halls 1, 2, and 3 and the construction of the buildings on Blocks D and F.  

July 20th: Blue Bottle (113 Autumn Lane) Abutters Meeting at 4pm. Requesting a Common Victualler License. Public welcome.

July 20th: Madras Dosa Co (55 Wharf Rd) Abutters Meeting at 5pm. Requesting to extend operating hours to 2 AM on weekdays and 3 AM on the weekends plus add third party delivery services. This fast, casual Indian restaurant does not serve alcohol.  Public welcome.

July 20: Moakley Park Design Phase 1 Community Meeting at 6pm. Register.

July 20: BPDA Proposed Zoning Amendments of Floor Area and Other Definitions Public Meeting from 6pm-7:30pm. The proposed amendments will update several terms in the definition sections in Articles 2 and 2A, including Filled and Flowed Tidelands, Gross Floor Area, and Floor Area Ratio (FAR) to make clear that tidelands/land underwater is not included in lot area and FAR calculations and that above-grade parking structures are included in Gross Floor Area. View meeting details and documents.

July 25: Seaport Square (Notice of Project Change) Impact Advisory Group Meeting from 6pm-8pm. Public is welcome to attend. If you missed July 11th Public Meeting, view the presentation and video recordingComment deadline: July 29, 2022

July 27: 7 Channel Center (Notice of Project Change) Public Meeting from 6pm - 8pm. The proposed project is to redevelop 7 Channel Center Street in the Fort Point neighborhood of Boston (the “Redevelopment Site”), by constructing a new office/research and development (“R&D”) building. View Notice of Project Change.

July 27 - August 4th: Better Bike Lanes Are Coming to A Street. The Boston Transportation Department is hosting a variety of times to talk with you in the A Street Park. 

August 1: Grace by Nia Abutters Meeting at 5pm. 1 Seaport Square (part of the former movie theater space). Requesting a 7 day All Alcoholic Beverages License, Live & non-live Entertainment License. View Abutters meeting and enter passcode CmAQ64S!  If you have any questions or comments about this proposal, please contact Anna White, South Boston Liaison, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services.

August 2: Tishman Speyer 232 A Street (former Gillette Parcel 3 parking lot) Coffee Hour at Binford Park (end of Binford St.to the left of the Pump House when facing the Channel) from 8:30am - 11am. Come meet the Tishman Speyer/Breakthrough Properties project team to learn about this 2.5 acre Life Sciences project within the 100 Acres Master Plan.

August 2: National Night Out in South Boston at Moakley Park (near JFK/Umass T stop) from 5pm - 8pm. Meet Mayor Michelle Wu,incoming Police Commissioner Michael Cox, BPD Command Staff, and your neighbors! Free kids’ activities, food and entertainment! Awards for Boston’s crime watch groups! For more information, call the Neighborhood Crime Watch Unit at 617-343-4345.

August 3:  776 Summer St (Edison Power Plant) Phase 1 Public Meeting at 6pm (replaces the original meeting scheduled for July 26th). See July 19th phase 1 project description under July 19th. Register.

originally published 07.18.22

Are Better Bike Lanes Coming to A Street?

After the Vicinity Energy project (bringing steam to 15 Necco) is complete, A Street will be resurfaced. At that time, the City of Boston will change portions of the existing bike lanes on A Street between West Second Street and Binford Street.

The Boston Transportation Department will be at A Street Park on the following dates to talk about the coming bike lane changes: 

  • Wednesday, July 27, 7:30 - 9 a.m.
  • Thursday, July 28, 5 - 6:30 p.m.
  • Monday, August 1, 5 - 6:30 p.m.
  • Tuesday, August 2, 7:30 - 9 a.m.
  • Thursday, August 4, 7:30 - 9 a.m.
Bike or walk on over. The Boston Transportation Department works to make bicycling fun, safe, and convenient. A Street Park is bordered by Richards Streets, Medallion Avenue and W 1st Street. 
originally published 7.25.22