Boston City Council Looks At Seaport/Fort Point Civic Amenities, Flight Paths, CPA, Energy & More

City Council President Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered the following items and more at their September 19, September 28 and October 4, 2017 meetings:

South Boston Waterfront/Seaport Public Facilities: I filed a hearing order to discuss plans for access to public facilities, civic space, and city services in the South Boston Waterfront and Seaport / Fort Point areas given the continued residential transformation of the neighborhood. The area has seen population double in the last ten years, some projections estimate that the population will grow from about 4,000 current residents to upwards of 26,000 residents in 10-15 years. Currently there is no civic space in the area (e.g. no library, school, community center, fire station or police station), and we should be looking ahead to plan for how we will deliver city services and civic spaces to current and future residents. The matter was assigned to the Planning & Development Committee for a hearing.

Community Preservation Act: Councilor Flaherty filed a communication with the Council announcing the members of the CPA Working Group, whose purpose is to assist the City Council's Special Committee on the Community Preservation Act in recruiting and evaluating candidates for selection to the Community Preservation Committee. The members are Boston residents Curtis R. Kemeny (Beacon Hill), Beverly Johnson (Mattapan), Cortina Vann (Dorchester), Shelly Goehring (Dorchester), and Jeffrey Gonyeau (Dorchester). The group will meet soon to approve the application materials and kick off the process.

Flight Paths: Councilor McCarthy rose to give an update on his trip to Washington DC to meet with Congressmen Capuano and Lynch about the concentration of flight paths over a narrow band of households in recent years after the FAA instituted changes to GPS navigation systems. This has significantly increased noise and pollution over certain neighborhoods in Boston, including South End, Roxbury, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain, Roslindale, West Roxbury and Hyde Park. Councilor McCarthy will make available the in-depth report from MIT commissioned by the Congressmen.

Community Choice Energy: The Council voted unanimously to authorize the City of Boston to adopt the Community Choice Energy that I was proud to file in partnership with Councilor O’Malley. The order charges the Administration with beginning due diligence on a municipal electricity aggregation to increase clean energy for Boston residents and small businesses. At yesterday’s packed hearing, advocates, residents, and experts spoke about the environmental and economic benefits of increasing our renewable energy supply. We learned that dozens of municipalities in Massachusetts have instituted a CCE program with a 5% increase in renewable energy, and in all but one the rates have been cheaper than the Eversource basic plan rate. Boston’s 5% renewables increase would reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to removing 6,400 cars from the city’s roads.

At today’s meeting, Councilors rose to speak about the urgency of committing to a clean energy future as we face the impacts of destructive climate change in weather disasters and the environmental refugees that we will welcome after each incident. Adopting a green municipal aggregation is the single largest action that Boston can take to immediately and dramatically increase our clean energy consumption. Moreover, the process has numerous safeguards, including the ability for anyone to opt out back onto the utility’s default basic plan. The utility company will continue to deliver the electricity and administer billing, so the transition would be seamless for the ~125,000 accounts that would chip in a little towards a big result. As mentioned at the hearing, not everyone can afford to install solar panels on their homes. CCE allows all residents to pool together and share in the transition to a green economy.

With the Council now having voted to authorize CCE, the Administration will begin the process of researching and requesting proposals from energy procurement companies, and vetting them in consultation with state agencies and public process. There are still months of process ahead before any draft plan would be presented and approved.

Short-Term Rental Housing: Councilor Zakim called for a hearing to discuss how the city reviews plans for new developments with respect to short term rental set-asides. The hearing is designed to increase transparency in the development review process around plans that a developer may have to set aside entire floors for short term rental corporations. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Housing & Community Development for a hearing

Upcoming Hearings/Working Sessions (Watch online)

• Tuesday, 10/10 at 4:30PM, hearing on project with the National Black Women's Justice Institute (NBWJI) (Healthy Women, Families, and Children) [Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building, 2300 Washington St, Roxbury]
• Tuesday, 10/10 at 2:30PM, working session on parking permits for home health professions (City, Neighborhood Services, and Veterans Affairs) [Piemonte Room, 5th Floor City Hall]
• Thursday, 10/12 at 10:00AM, hearing on the right to charge (Government Operations) [Piemonte Room, 5th Floor City Hall]
• TENTATIVE, 10/16 at 11:00AM, hearing on the BPD Detectives Benevolent Association collective bargaining agreement (Ways and Means) [location TBD]

                       
For complete notes on Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email. 

Get In The Halloween Spirit

Grab the kiddies and get in the Halloween spirit at the Friends of the South Boston Branch Library's 13th annual Fall Fair this Saturday, October 7, 2017 from 11 am - 2 pm.  There will be crafts, face painting and pumpkin decorating. Families with infants up to age twelve year are invited to participate. 

The South Boston Public Library is located at 647 East Broadway. The branch holds a special collection of South Boston historical materials. There is a large collection of adult music CDs. A set of historical maps of Boston is on permanent display.

The South Boston Branch first opened in April 1872 in the Masonic building at 372 West Broadway. It was the second branch library established in the United States. When the Masonic building was sold in 1948 the South Boston Branch was closed. In response to high demand for library service the branch was reopened in June 1950 in a storefront at 385-8 West Broadway where it remained until destroyed by fire in May 1957. Construction of the present building consolidated the City Point Branch with the South Boston Branch.

The Creation Of A Waterfront Park

The long awaited Martin's Park along the Fort Point Channel Harborwalk officially started construction on September 12, 2017. The Park's creation will take a little over a year. Watch the park come alive by viewing the park's construction activity via the Boston Parks and Recreation project camera. The camera takes time lapse photos every 15 minutes.  As the project continues longer time lapse videos will be available.  

What to expect in October? This Tuesday or Wednesday, pile driving is targeted to start for approximately the next 35 days. 

Sign up to receive monthly construction updates by emailing Lauren Bryant, Project Manager at the Boston Parks & Recreation Department. If you have any questions or comments, Lauren may also be reached at 617-961-3019. 

Related Posts

City Hall Is Coming To South Boston

updated 10/2/17: The MBTA, MassDOT, National Parks, Eversource and the L St Power Plant will be joining Massport as special guests tonight. Whether you have questions/concerns about airplane noise, street conditions & parking, Northern Avenue Bridge, Track 61, developments, parks or public transportation, the South Boston Open House offers one stop shopping for the latest information.   

City Hall To Go invites you to the 2017 South Boston Open House hosted by Mayor Walsh with representatives from every City department including city programs and services, Massport and other special guests. The 2017 South Boston Open House will occur:

Monday, October 2

6 pm - 8 pm

Tynan Elementary School

650 E 4th St (between I & K)

accessible from bus route 9

If the opportunity to ask questions and share concerns isn't enough, there will be free food and ice cream, raffles and balloon animals. For more information, contact South Boston Liaison John Allison. 

Are You Ready To Vote?

updated 9/12/17: The South Boston Association of Non-Profits in conjunction with neighborhood associations of South Boston will be hosting a District 2 Candidates Forum on Sept 19th (details below).  

updated 9/11/17: The deadline to request an absentee ballot is September 25, 2017 at 12 pm. More details at Boston.gov. 

Boston's preliminary municipal election is Tuesday, September 26, 2017. On the ballot are four candidates for Mayor and seven candidates for District 2, which includes our South Boston neighborhood of Fort Point and the Seaport. View the complete list of certified candidates in ballot order. There is no preliminary election for City Councillors-At-Large.

Are you registered to vote? To verify that you are registered click here. The registration deadline for the preliminary municipal election is Wednesday, September 6, 2017. You can register online at the Secretary of State website. 

Candidate Forums

A Harbor Candidates Forum will occur at the BSA Space on September 12, 2017 from 5 pm - 7:30 pm. Boston Globe contributor Michael P. Ross will moderate a panel discussion on waterfront issues including development, design, water transportation, climate change, resilience, and equity with candidates from two of Boston’s Harbor districts (districts 1 & 2). Find out more and to R.S.V.P.. 

The South Boston Association of Non-Profits in conjunction with neighborhood associations of South Boston are hosting a District 2 Candidates Forum on Tuesday, September 19, 2017 from 6 pm - 8 pm at UP Academy located at 215 Dorchester St. The event is open to the public.

Election day is Tuesday, November 7, 2017. To vote on November 7th, you must be registered by October 18th. 

originally published 9.6.17

FPNA Fort Point Welcome Back Gathering Monday, Sept 25

Join the Fort Point Neighborhood Association
for a 

Welcome Back To Fort Point Gathering

MONDAY, September 25, 2017*
6 pm
Factory 63

63 Melcher St.

featuring

The Smoke Shop BBQ

Chef Andy Husbands

Brian Lesser, owner of Tavern Road

introducing

Wine Gallery - Spark Coffee

85 Seaport Blvd.

plus

GE Innovation Point Update

Peter Cavanaugh, General Electric 

&

What you missed over the Summer 

& need to know this Fall

with tasty bites by The Smoke Shop BBQ

*Please note new date of Monday, September 25th.

Boston Municipal Primary Election is September, 26, 2017

originally posted 9.13.17

District 2 (That's Us) One & Only South Boston Candidates Forum

South Boston Association of Non-Profits

together with the

South Boston Neighborhood Associations

are pleased to invite you to a

  

CANDIDATES FORUM

Tuesday, September 19^th

6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

UP ACADEMY(formerly known as the Gavin)

215 Dorchester Street – South Boston

This is your opportunity to get to know all 7 candidates,

who would like to represent you as your next City Councilor!
 

Boston's Municipal Primary Election is Tuesday, September 26,

2017. The top two vote-getters will be on the ballot in November. 

originally posted 9.14.17

Related Post

A Weekend of Art, Music, Dance & Shopping

Have you explored the shops and restaurants along Broadway? This Saturday, September 16th from 11 am to 4 pm, the South Boston Chamber of Commerce brings the best of Southie together on East Broadway from L to I Streets. A hundred local merchants, artists and organizations are participating and special discounts are available. There will be live music, performances and activities for kids. Did we mention food? For more information, visit South Boston Street Festival.

Over in the South End, over 200 artists are celebrating the 31st annual South End Fall Open Studios. The event takes place September 16 - September 17, 2017 from 11 am - 6 pm.  Visit artist work studios and galleries representing local and international artists. On the way over, be sure to check out the murals in the Underground beneath the expressway.

Don't forget to dance. Let Dance Boston, part of the Celebrity Series of Boston, continues through September 17th  at Dewey Square. For complete live dance and music line up visit Let's Dance Boston

Boston City Council Looks At Appointments, Commissions, DACA, Extreme Weather & More

City Council President Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. The Boston City Council considered the following items and more at their September 13, 2017 meeting:

Appointments: Mayor Walsh made the following appointments:

• Richard DePiano, Temporary First Assistant Collector-Treasurer and Anthony Dello Iacono, Temporary Second Assistant Collector-Treasurer, for a period of 60 days
• Board of Appeal: we confirmed the following people
  • Anthony Pisano, Bruce Bickerstaff, Eugene Kelly, reappointed until July 2018
  • Kerry Walsh Logue reappointed until November 2019
  • Tyrone Kindell, Jr., reappointed until October 2018
  •  Mark Fortune, reappointed until June 2018
  • Mark Erlich, reappointed until September 2019
• Zoning Commission: we voted to confirm David Marr, Jill Hatton, and Elliot Guerreroasas members until May 2020

Boston Boards and Commissions Home Rule Petition: The Council voted to follow Councilor Flaherty’s recommendation to pass the Mayor’s Home-Rule Petition that would help the Administration fill more board and commission seats. The legislation would allow the Mayor to appoint members to vacant or expired seats on certain city boards and commissions if the relevant nominating entity fails to submit names for the Mayor’s consideration within 90 days after being notified of a vacancy or expiration of a member’s term. The proposed legislation was amended to include a Council confirmation requirement for all boards and commissions, as well as a residency requirement for nominees. A full list of the city boards and commissions to which this would apply can be found here.

City Response to Extreme Weather Events: Councilor O’Malley called for a hearing to examine the City’s responsiveness to extreme weather events, as they are likely to increase in frequency as climate change continues. The goal is to provide a public opportunity to evaluate the City of Boston’s preparation, physical protective infrastructure, and local response for preparing and reacting to a catastrophic weather event. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Environment & Sustainability for a hearing.

Right to Charge Ordinance: I filed an ordinance on the “right to charge” for Electric Vehicle owners. This ordinance would codify the rights and responsibilities of residents of Boston who wish to install electric vehicle charging stations on their properties and barring condo or homeowners associations from banning or unreasonably burdening the owner doing so. As I mentioned, this in no way is meant to hold back our advocacy for complete streets and improving other modes of transportation such as cycling, walking, and public transit. We need to make it possible for car owners who are looking to switch to electric vehicles to access the necessary infrastructure to reduce their emissions in this way. The matter was assigned to the Government Operations Committee for a hearing.

Resolution on DACA: The Council unanimously adopted Councilor Jackson’s resolution opposing the Trump Administration’s decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Boston has a long history as a home to immigrants from hundreds of different countries, and the thousands of DACA recipients living and working in Boston currently. The U.S. Congress has six months to come up with a legislative solution before the Administration fully revokes DACA. Several Councilors spoke eloquently on the importance of protecting these youth who have known no other country as home, and who are our coworkers, friends, students, family and neighbors.
 
NOTE: Our next two Council meetings will also be held in Fanueil Hall, but due to scheduling conflicts they will not be held on the usual Wednesday. Our next meeting will be 12:00pm on Tuesday September 19^th.

Upcoming Hearings/Working Sessions (Watch at www.cityofboston.gov/citycouncil/live.asp)

• Thursday, 09/14 at 1:30PM, Docket #0199 policy briefing related to a key topic in early education & childcare, specifically transitions from early education to kindergarten. (Healthy Women Families & Communities) [Piemonte room, 5^th Floor City Hall]
• Tuesday, 10/03 at 2:00PM, hearing on an order authorizing the City of Boston to adopt Community Choice Energy (Environment and Sustainability) [Ianella Chamber, 5^th Floor City Hall]

For complete notes on Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com or sign up to receive these notes automatically each week by email. 

Fort Point Landmarks September 2017 Meeting

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

Thursday, September 14, 2017

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.from Faneuil Hall).

DISCUSSION ITEM

Amending Section 8.0 Recommendations of the Fort Point Channel Landmark District Study Report. specifically regarding commissioner nominations.

DESIGN REVIEW

18.095 HPC 47 Farnsworth Street

Applicant: Jean-Claude Tetreault, Trillium Brewing

Proposed Work: Modify openings. construct a roof deck and bulkhead. and install signage.

18.267 FPC 253 Summer Street

Applicant: Kevin Burke. Burke + Design

Proposed Work: Install signage ("253") on the Melcher Street. Summer Street, and channel fagades.

18.269 FPC 253 Summer Street

Applicant: Michael McGowan, Bergmeyer Associates. Inc

Proposed Work: Relocate a Harborwalk sign and install wall-painted signage ("Lolita") on the Harborwalk and channel facades. and an illuminated metal sign panel at the rear facade.

18.268 FPC 253 Summer Street

Applicant: Stephen McDermott, CBI Consulting. Inc.

Proposed Work: Modify a loading bay opening at the rear facade; install metal plates within the former window openings in the Harborwalk (channel facade) and general masonry repairs to all facades including repointing,

replacing deteriorated face brick in-kind, and repairing cracks in the stone and brick faces using an injection grout mortar.

I8.087 FPC 5l Sleeper Street

Applicant: Lee Cooper, Hopsters Brewing Company

Proposed Work: installing paired aluminum and glass doors and transom with applied logos and "51" on the glazing; replacing an exhaust duct with a flush rimless grille; installing a signband with halo-lit logo and lettering ("Hopsters Brewing Co.") on two facades; installing hop finials on the existing patio railing and lighting on the brick piers.

III. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW/APPROVAL: In order to expedite the review process. the commission has delegated the approval of certain work items, such as those involving ordinary maintenance and repair. restoration or replacement. or which otherwise have a minimal impact on a building's appearance. to commission staff pending ratification at its monthly public hearing. Having been identified as meeting these eligibility criteria and all applicable guidelines, the following applications will be approved at this hearing:

PROJECTS COMPLIANT WITH DISTRICT STANDARDS & CRITERIA

18.016 FPC 21 Wormwood Street: 

Replace sixteen non-historic light fixtures on various secondary facades with new black LED fixtures.

REVIEW and RATIFICATION OF August 10,2017 and August 24,,2017 MINUTES

V. STAFF UPDATES

PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 9:00 PM

FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION

David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, John Karofl Lynn Smiledge, Vacancy

Altemates: Thomas Rodde, Vacancy

originally published 9.5.17

BPDA Releases South Boston Waterfront Neighborhood Profile

The Research Division of the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) released a neighborhood profile of the South Boston Waterfront in July 2017 based largely on 2015 and 2016 demographic and economic development statistics. The BPDA aligns Fort Point with the South Boston Waterfront. 

How far have we come in the 21st century?

The population grew by 104% and occupied housing units grew by 101% from 2000 to 2015.

Payroll jobs in the South Boston Waterfront grew by 15% from 2011 to 2014.

From 2000 to 2015, the share of South Boston Waterfront female residents ages 16 and older, and participating in the labor force, grew from 69% to 79%.

South Boston Waterfront is still predominantly White, but after 2000 it became somewhat more diverse: the percentage of Asian residents increased from 5% to 10%.

The foreign born share of the population grew from 12% in 2000 to 18% in 2015.

The percentage of South Boston Waterfront residents aged 25 and over and with a Bachelor’s degree rose from 44% to 79% between 2000 and 2015.

What is in our future?

South Boston Waterfront’s growth is poised to continue, with 4,137 new units of housing approved between 2010 and 2016.*4   Out of the 4,137 new units, 250 are affordable units. 

Who are we?

South Boston Waterfront had 2,862 residents in 2015, less than 1% of Boston’s population*1

South Boston Waterfront grew by 104% from 2000 to 2015, much faster than the city’s growth of 10% over the same time period.

Age Distribution
Only 4% of South Boston Waterfront residents are children, compared to 16% in Boston as a whole.
The 25-34 age group represents 39% of South Boston’s Waterfront population, compared to 23% for Boston as a whole. 
The 35-64 age group represents 38% of  South Boston’s Waterfront population, compared to 34% for Boston as a whole.

Diversity
About a fifth of South Boston Waterfront’s population is foreign born, compared to the 27% share of Boston.
In 2015, the share of non-Hispanic White residents was 84%, much higher than the city share of 46%.

Jobs
South Boston Waterfront had 27,577 jobs in 2014, most of which were in the Business and Financial sectors*2
South Boston Waterfront has almost 15 payroll jobs per resident worker, and 4.9% of the city’s payroll jobs.

Labor Force
South Boston Waterfront’s labor force had 2,307 people in 2015, less than 1% of the city’s resident labor force.
77% of South Boston Waterfront residents ages 16 and older participated in the labor force, a higher rate than the 68% for Boston.
The top occupations for South Boston Waterfront residents in 2015: Management, Business and Financial Services, and Administrative Support.

Education
In 2015, only 1% of South Boston Waterfront residents were enrolled in college or university, a much lower enrollment rate than the city (17%).
About 79% of South Boston Waterfront residents ages 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree, higher than Boston’s 45%.

Income
The median household income in South Boston Waterfront in 2015 was $111,518, doubling the Boston median of $55,777.

Download the profile. Contact BPDA's Research Division with any questions.

Note: Demographic data are for the Census-tract approximations of the South Boston Waterfront. Source: (1) U.S. Census Bureau, 1950-2010 Decennial Census and 2011-2015 American Community Survey, (2) OnTheMap Application and LEHD Origin-Destination Employment Statistics, 2014, (3) City of Boston assessing data FY 2016, (4) Boston Planning and Development Agency Board Memos.

Filming At Menton on Monday

IFP Productions is currently in production on a romantic comedy film project. They will be filming at Menton Restaurant on Monday, September 11th, from 12 pm-12 am. Most of the shooting will take place inside the restaurant with a quick scene on the street outside of the restaurant. 

In order to facilitate filming, IFR Productions requires parking for production vehicles starting Monday at 7 am through 2 am. The streets impacted are:

• Congress St from Sleeper St to Thomson Pl on both sides
• Congress St from Boston Wharf Rd to E. Service Rd on both sides
• 4 resident parking spaces on A Street closest to Congress St starting at 8am
• 3 spaces on Summer St at the A St bridge.
• 6 residential  spaces on Melcher St.

IFR Productions and their small crew apologize in advance for any inconvenience caused by their filming and will do everything possible to minimize the impact of their activities in the neighborhood. Residents and patrons will be able to access their homes and businesses at any time, but may be asked to wait for a few minutes during actual filming. If you have particular concerns (scheduled deliveries,construction, accessibility needs, etc.), please contact Sydney Sherrell, Assistant Location Manager, via email or at 860-299-3626.