About The Neighborhood This Week and Next

updated 10/29/23: Pumpkin, Paws & Pints postponed due to ☔️

10/18: Conservation Commission Public Meeting at 6pm

10/20: Boston Design Vision - Designing for a Diverse Boston Open House at 4:30pm at City Hall Plaza Civic Pavilion. Learn more about the Boston Design Vision and share your design ideas for how to build a Boston for everyone.

10/21: Boston Design Vision - Designing for a Diverse Boston Open House | Boston Planning & Development Agency from 9am – 1pm at t City Hall Plaza Civic Pavilion. Cancelled due to weather.

10/24:  Boston City Council At-Large Candidate Forum hosted by FPNA, DBNA, LDNA and WDC at 5:30pm at Atlantic Wharf, Fort Point room, 2nd floor of 290 Atlantic Ave.

10/25: 244 -284 A St Chapter 91 comment deadline for consolidated written determination encompassing 8 chapter 91 licenses.

10/26: Public Meeting on Proposed Zoning Amendment for Cannabis Establishments at 6pm. This meeting has been postponed and will be rescheduled at a later date. In the meantime, please feel free to reference last year's previous meeting on this proposed zoning change to understand the process to date. A new date will be announced as soon as possible.

10/26: 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat for children up to 8 years old from 3:15pm - 5pm at 1187 Columbia Rd.

10/27: City Council Committee on Government Accountability, Transparency, and Accessibility Hearing on Docket #1538 at 10am. A hearing to discuss and evaluate the Boston Planning and Development Agency's (BPDA) community engagement process with regard to various neighborhood planning initiatives across the city. View docket.

10/28: Boston Children’s Museum’s 4th Annual Spooktacular for infants, toddlers, kids, teens and adults from 5pm to 8pm

10/28: Halloween Howl Open Mic Competition from 7pm-10pm at Aloft, 401-403 D St. 

10/29: Pumpkins, Paws & Pints from 2pm- 4pm at the Pappas Way Recreation Center. Family friendly. Cancelled due to weather.

10/29: Inundation District, a 79 minute film on sea level rise and storms, and the development of the Seaport created by David Abel and Ted Blanco, will be screened at the Brattle at 7pm followed by discussion with the creators. Purchase tickets for virtual viewing.

originally published 10.17.23

Gillette Announces Future of Fort Point Campus

A Message From Gillette To The Neighborhood

As you know, in November 2019, we announced our intent to begin an assessment of our Massachusetts operations to enable a critical transformation for our Gillette business.  The goal of this assessment was to transform our operations to make us stronger and more competitive in the future.  

This morning, we informed our employees about the outcome of this assessment. This decision will bring the single most significant investment that we have ever made in Massachusetts as we transform our operations.  This includes our single largest investment in Boston, our home for over a century, where we will maintain both commercial and technical operations in a city that offers so much in terms of innovation, education and culture. 

We are confident that we have arrived at the right conclusion and optimistic about what the future holds. Our plan has two key components:

 

·       The first is to create an industry-leading Global Headquarters and Technical Innovation Center in South Boston providing a more modern, dynamic and collaborative workspace in the very community where The Gillette Company was established so long ago.   There is no better location for our HQ and Tech Center than in this epicenter of innovation, academia and world class talent. This location will bring tremendous advantage to our commercial, R&D and Engineering teams as we continue our century long heritage of innovation. 

 

·       The second is to move our South Boston manufacturing operations to our 150-acre campus in Andover where we will build a 21st Century production facility that is more sustainable, agile and efficient with some of the best manufacturing equipment and capabilities in the world.   We will also accelerate key capabilities like digital infrastructure, sustainability and our employee experience to ensure a competitive edge ahead.

 

Our focus is very much on our people at this time.  We will ensure that every current South Boston manufacturing employee who wants a role in Andover will have one. We will also offer a wide range of transition support to help any affected employees manage through the location change to ensure they are supported every step of the way.

 

As we undertake this transformation, one thing that won’t change is our work to enhance the community. This includes longstanding partnerships with the United Way of Massachusetts and South Boston Association of Nonprofits along with our bi-annual community grant process which funds the vital work of over 40 area nonprofit organizations each year. 

 

As you might imagine, this business decision will create new possibilities for our campus in the future.  Today, our 31-acre South Boston site is a gated, industrial site filled with empty parking lots.  Tomorrow, it can be so much more.  With the right partnerships and a thoughtful planning process, we can address some of Boston’s critical needs like bringing new jobs and economic opportunity, building more housing, bolstering climate resilience, and establishing an inclusive waterfront public space that connects surrounding neighborhoods to key public transportation hubs. 

 

We believe this is a once-in a lifetime opportunity to leave a lasting legacy for our home and our community– and we are excited to begin this process with the community.  We plan to host an open community meeting in the coming weeks to share perspective on why we have made this business decision, to talk about launching a more formal community process for site redevelopment and to hear any questions and thoughts on residents’ minds. We will keep you posted on the date of this meeting and community members can email us at gillettecommunity.im@pg.com to request meeting notifications.  

2024 Atlantic Wharf Annual Work Plan & Chapter 91 Programming Public Meeting

There will be an in person public meeting on October 17, 2023 at  4pm to present the proposed 2024 Atlantic Wharf Annual Work Plan. During the meeting, Boston Properties (BXP) will present an overview of the future Fort Point Room, which will be relocated in 2024. 

All community members are welcome to attend the meeting and to participate in the review of the 2024 Plan and the discussion of future Chapter 91 event and community programming for the Fort Point Room.

The meeting will take place in the Fort Point Room on the 2nd floor of Atlantic Wharf at 290 Congress St. 

To RSVP, please email marketing@bxp.com.

For more information, view Related posts

originally published 10.10.23

Fort Point Landmarks October 2023 Meeting

updated 10/11/23 with presentations,

 THE FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION

will hold a public hearing on:

Thursday, October 12, 2023

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  929-436-2866 and entering meeting id 963 6282 0363#.You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 24.0224 FPC  THOMSON PLACE
Applicant: James Gillen
Proposed Work: Continued from the September 14th FPCLDC hearing. Install (5) canopies at office building entries; Add additional catenary lighting to match the existing (removed by applicant) and the addition of building lighting to uplight the building facades. 

APP # 24.0308 FPC   25 THOMSON PLACE 
Applicant: Daniel Brennan
Proposed Work: Install new double-stroke, direct-applied Neon lit wall sign; install new 3' x2' banner flag. Moved to Administrative Review by staff.  

APP # 24.0238 FPC   374 CONGRESS STREET (removed by applicant)
Applicant: Donna Bennett 
Proposed Work: Build a new 6th floor roof deck level with existing penthouse. Roof deck to include custom pergola, bench, lounge and bar-style seating along with lush plantings and greenery.

APP # 24.0266 FPC    47 FARNSWORTH STREET (removed by applicant)
Applicant: Mario Watkins
Proposed Work: Install new roof lighting. 

APP # 24.0349 FPC    15 CHANNEL CENTER STREET
Applicant: Andrea Sonan
Proposed Work: Removal of non-functioning, rusting fire escapes at rear.

II.   ADVISORY REVIEW

APP # 24.0321 FPC     7 CHANNEL CENTER STREET
Applicant: Phil Marcotty  
Proposed Work: Redevelopment of the existing property at 7 Channel Center including the construction of a new 9-story building.

III.  ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW

APP # 24.0137 FPC   9 CHANNEL CENTER STREET: Drill (1) hold through rear wall and install pipe and metal grill located next to existing vent.

APP # 24.0287 FPC   15 CHANNEL CENTER STREET: Replace two blue stones to match existing, repoint in kind.

APP # 24.0349 FPC 15 CHANNEL CENTER STREET: Emergency repair at rear to window lintels and masonry wall.

APP # 24.0308 FPC 25 THOMSON PLACE: Install new double-stroke, direct-applied Neon lit wall sign; install new 3' x2' banner flag.

IV.  RATIFICATION OF 9/14/23 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES

V.   STAFF UPDATES

VI.  PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 7:30 PM

FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION

Members: David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, Lynn Smiledge, Vacancy, Vacancy

Alternates: Thomas Rodde, Vacancy

originally published 10.04.23

Fort Point Open Studios This Weekend

Fort Point Open Studios is this weekend! Come explore the art being created behind the doors of our historic waterfront warehouses and meet local artists, craftspeople and performers. Find established artists and discover new emerging talents. Immerse yourself in a captivating array of artwork. Buy original art directly from the people who make it. (There are only 76 shopping days until the holidays.)

Fort Point Open Studios is free and open to public. It takes place:

• Friday, October 13, 2023 from 4pm to 7pm (select studios)
• Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 11am to 5pm
• Sunday, October 15, 2023 from 11am to 5pm

Fort Point will be alive with art, music, demonstrations, performances and public art.

Numerous Studios will be open in the neighborhood. 

The Artist Building at 300 Summer

The Muse (formerly Factory 63) at 63 Melcher St.

249 A Street Artists Cooperative including the 249 A Street Open Studios Artists Group Show at The Gallery at 249A

Midway Studios including Midway Open Studios Artists Group Show at the Midway Gallery at 15 Channel Center St

More Galleries

Atlantic Wharf presenting "Unearth" at 290 Congress St.

Assemblage Art Space presents FPAC Members Annual Open Studios Showcase at 70a Sleeper St (across from the Barking Crab at the Envoy Hotel).

Special Events

The Muse (63 Melcher St.) is hosting live music performances and a wine tasting. 

• On Saturday, Thomas Collum (violin, classical) at 2pm, Hua Ye /Jane (host, piano solo, classical) at 3pm and Joanna Lee (flute, classical) at 4pm. 
• On Sunday, Guillermo del Angel (cello, classical) at 2pm, Madeleine Farmer (vocal, pop) at 3pm and Hua Ye /Jane (host, piano solo, classical) at 4pm. 

Midway Studios (15 Channel Center St)

Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) is offering family-friendly performances, demonstrations, and a showcase of work by Midway community artists. Programs will take place both indoors (Fort Point Lyric Room #102) and outdoors on BLO's Street Stage. 

Saturday

• Stage performances every half hour from 12pm to 3:30pm (rain date is Sunday) 
• BLO Demonstrations every half hour from 12:3pm to 3pm at Fort Point Lyric Room. 
• Special Guest:  Sharon Montella, Midway Studios’ dancer, choreographer and World Champion Black Belt in the dance-like form of Chinese Kung Fu, will perform her creative choreography at 3pm  
• Hansel & Gretel at 3:30pm for children aged 5 to12 years old.

 Sunday

• Fort Point Lyric Room Performances every half hour from12:30pm to 4pm.

Studio Troika is creating architectural experiences through virtual reality and is using Legos for model making (Saturday and Sunday in room 104).  On Saturday only, there will be an Architectural Wheel of Fortune. Come guess the correct architectural style to win a prize! 

For more details, visit Fort Point Open Studios 2023 or take a sneak peak at the digital Fort Point Open Studios program . 

Fort Point Open Studios is accessible by public transit from South Station, West Broadway  and the Silver line Courthouse station. Free parking is available at the Channelside lot (244 A Street). Open Studios parking passes can be found in the Open Studios program, which are available at any of the artist buildings or the information booth located at 241 A Street (Barlow’s Restaurant patio).

For over forty years, the the Fort Point Arts Community (FPAC) and the artists of Fort Point have welcomed visitors into their live-work studios annually to share the arts, industry, and creative culture of this unique community. To learn more about the history of artists in the neighborhood and the history of Fort Point, read A Short History of Fort Point by Don Eyles including Fort Point: A Brief History by the Seaport Alliance for Neighborhood Design.

Future of Open Space & Ground Floor Spaces At 244 -284 A Street

updated 10/6/23 with some additional follow up information provided by the applicant to MassDEP.

Related Beal is seeking a Chapter 91 Consolidated Written Determination for ground floor facilities of public accommodation (FPA) at 244‐284 A Street, to authorize:

• approximately 6.46‐acres of the mixed‐use development which includes three (3) residential/commercial/R&D Office buildings
• associated underground parking structure
• internal roadways
• open space/public parks, a waterfront overlook and dock 
• improvements to the existing Harborwalk 

in and on filled and flowed tidelands of the Fort Point Channel. Additionally, the Applicant seeks an extended license term pursuant to 310 CMR 9.15(b). The proposed project has been determined to be Nonwater‐Dependent.  

There will be two opportunities for the public to participate plus providing written public comments:

• MassDEP Public Hearing: October 2, 2023 at 2:00 pm  
• MassDEP Public Information Session: October 2, 2023 at 6:00 pm. 
• View Presentation
• View Additional Hearing Follow Up Information

Public Comments Deadline: October 25, 2023 to Susan You 

Project plans and documents for the Waterways application are on file for public viewing electronically at: https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/EEA/PublicApp/ (enter 23‐WW16‐0001‐APP in the Search Page in the field for Record ID). If you need assistance, please contact susan.you@mass.gov or if you do not have access to email, please leave a message at(617) 292‐5929 for alternative options.

originally published 10.04.23

Future of Trees on A Street & Binford Street Public Hearing

updated 10/05/23 with tree hearing presentation.

Related Beal is requesting to remove 28 public shade trees in the 244 - 284 A Street project development site. The City of Boston's Park & Recreation Department will be holding a public hearing on:

Thursday, October 5, 2023

11am

via zoom

View presentation

Participate via phone: 646-558-8656

Webinar id: 891 0490 9851

The requested removal of the 28 trees encompass the following trees on the city sidewalks:

• 5 Sweetgum trees, 6 Oak tress and 6 Elm trees on Binford Street
• 11 Honey Locust trees on A Street 

Click on image to enlarge

Public comments, questions or objections to the removal of the trees must be submitted in writing prior to or during the hearing to the Tree Warden to parks@boston.gov with South Boston Tree Hearing in the subject line. 

A final decision will be rendered within two weeks of the hearing. 

For more information contact the Tree Warden at 617-635-7275.

originally posted 09.26.23