Bus Route #4 Shifts from Northern Ave to Seaport Blvd

Effective Sunday, September 1, 2019, the MBTA's Better Bus project will begin implementing select route changes. For our neighborhood, there will be changes to bus route #4 (Tide St. - North Station). To view all September 1 route changes, please visit mbta.com/betterbus-sept1. 

Route 4 will no longer make either stop on Northern Ave, traveling only on Seaport Blvd. The Route 4 stops on Northern Ave will close, and 2 new stops on the corner of Seaport Blvd and Sleeper St for inbound and outbound service will open.

What You Can Expect

If you take the 4 to or from...

• Stops on Northern Ave, walk to Seaport Blvd @ Sleeper St for inbound and outbound service
• Any other stop on the route, your stops will not change

Why Make This Change?

By straightening and shortening Route 4, the MBTA is able to provide more reliable service.

The Seaport & All That Jazz

This weekend, August 30th and August 31st, is the ninth annual Boston Jazz Fest at the Maritime Park in the Seaport. Boston Jazz Fest kicks off Friday evening at 5:30 pm until 9:30 pm and noon to 9:30 pm on Saturday. Stroll on down for this family friendly free event and enjoy great music by a diverse array of Jazz artists. 

Meet Me On The Brink

Boston arts and community organizations are collaborating with the Fort Point Theatre Channel (FPTC) to explore the contemporary relevance of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

The public is invited to preview Meet Me On The Brink, a fifteen minute vignette, FPTC is creating for Tempest Reconfigured. Be one of the first to witness the beginnings of this work in-progress performance as it readies for its fall debut.

Sunday, August 25, 2019
6 PM

Midway Production & Performance Lab
15 Channel Center St, lobby level
free

Tempest Reconfigured will culminate in fall 2019 with community-based and citywide performances.

401 Congress Street Public Meeting

The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) will be hosting a public meeting for a proposed development project at 401 Congress Street (Massport Parcel A2) in the South Boston Waterfront / Seaport on: 

Aug 20, 2019

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

District Hall

75 Northern Avenue

Boston Global Investors and their partners intend to construct a new Class A office building with significant public and cultural uses located at and around 401 Congress Street in the South Boston Waterfront District of Boston. The Project Site is owned by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and consists of two parcels containing approximately 1.6 acres of land. Parcel A2, which is currently a 1.1. acre surface parking lot; and the Triangle Parcel, which is a 0.48 acre of isolated, undeveloped land. The Project consists of a total of approximately 675,000 square feet: approximately 645,000 square feet on Parcel A2 and an estimated 30,000 square feet on the Triangle Parcel. Additionally, the Project contemplates approximately 30,000 square feet of surface improvements along the World Trade Center Avenue Viaduct outside of the primary parcels but also on Massport property.

View the letter of intent

View the project notification form
Project Manager: Aisling Kerr

Public comments may be submitted directly to Aisling or via the online form at the bottom of the page. 

originally published 08.13.19

Fort Point Festival Fun For All

It is summer. What would summer be without a street festival celebrating all things Fort Point? The Friends of Fort Point Channel invite you to their summertime street festival on:

Sunday, August 18, 2019

12 PM to 5 PM

Channel Center Street (from Iron St. to Mount Washington Way)

enter at Iron Street (One Channel Center/State Street building & Channel Center St.)

Buy Tickets now and enjoy discounts

Children under 10 and Seniors are free.

The festival is open to adults and families alike. There is something for everyone from a petting zoo, games and live music to an Artists Village to The Taste of Fort Point with samples from local restaurants, beer from Hopsters and wine from 90+ Wine Cellars. 

More fun activities:

• Artists Village with 15 artists selling their work
• Interactive arts from Artists for Humanity
• Sea shanties
• Touch-A-Tank from Save the Harbor Save the Bay
• Children’s games from the Boston Children’s Museum
• Touch-A-Truck from the Boston Fire Museum
• Historical performance by the Boston Tea Party Museum
• Three live bands
• Wine and Beer Garden
• And more!

Come rain or shine. It is a short walk from South Station or West Broadway T Station. Closest Blue Bikes station is at the A Street Park (Richards Street side). Free metered street parking on Sunday. Other parking options are the Channel Center Garage (including bike racks) and Channelside Parking lot on A Street. 

originally published 8.5.19

Portraits of Boston Opens Tonight

The Gallery at 35 Channel Center is delighted to invite you to the opening of Portraits of Boston, a photograph exhibition by Fort Point photographer Helene Maumy Florescu

Helene Maumy Florescu

Thursday, August 15, 2019

6 pm - 7:30 pm

35 Channel Center Street

Fort Point Landmarks August 2019 Meeting

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

Thursday, August 8, 2019

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.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 20.089   FPC 25, 26,30, 35 & 36 Thomson Place
Applicant: Fort Point Channel Investors, LLC
Proposed Work: Work at the sidewalk including installing a raised speed table consisting of brick with granite curb to align flush with the north and south side of Thomson Place, removing an existing ramp, and associated sidewalk repairs. Work at the front facade of 25 & 26 Thomson and 35 & 36 Thomson, including installing spanned catenary lighting across Thomson Street.  

APP # 19.1456 FPC   27-43 Wormwood Street
Applicant: New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC
Proposed Work: Work at the Wormwood Smokestack, including installing three new panel antennas, shifting the location of the existing panel antennas to accommodate the new antennas, and installing port holes at the base of the smokestack and the antenna level to accommodate new interior cabling.

APP # 20.069 FPC 346 Congress Street
Applicant: ImagineOne Industries
Proposed Work: Work at the front elevation, including installing a banner sign and associated flagpoles, a blade sign, and sign at the storefront sign band.  

II.  Ratification of 07/11/2019 Public Hearing Minutes

III. Staff Updates

IV. Projected Adjournment: 7:00 PM

FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION

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

Alternates: Thomas Rodde, Vacancy

originally posted 7.30.19

Trillium Live Entertainment License Meeting

Trillium Brewing Company would like to apply for live entertainment in the form of live acoustic style music two nights a week: Tuesdays & Thursdays, with the ability for a Disc jockey or a band for special events such as weddings. 

The Office of Mayor Martin J. Walsh invites you to:

ABUTTERS MEETING

Trillium Brewing Company

Tuesday, July 30, 2019

6:00 p.m. 

50 Thomson Place

Public Welcome

Please note, the City does not represent the owner(s) /developer(s) /attorney(s) /applicant(s). The purpose of this meeting is to get community input and listen to the resident’s positions on this proposal. 

For more information please contact:

Haley Dillon

Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services

(617)-635-2680

email

Celebrate Boston's Public Open Spaces By Pitching A Blanket

Last month FPNA invited you to Waterfront Development In Your Neighborhood presented by the Harborfront Neighborhood Alliance in partnership with Conservation Law Foundation (CLF) and Boston Harbor Now, focusing on your rights to public access and amenities along our waterfront. 

This summer CLF and the Boston Waterfront Partners* invite you to pitch a blanket with your friends and neighbors, enjoy games and refreshments, bring a picnic, and learn more about your rights along Boston’s waterfront. Did you know that Massachusetts law grants each of us the right to use open spaces on Boston's waterfront? Getting out and pitching a blanket is a great way to reclaim public spaces in Boston’s Seaport and Downtown Waterfront areas. It's only by actively using our public spaces that we can ensure Boston Harbor remains vibrant and accessible to all – the People's Harbor we all deserve.  

Celebrate Boston's Public Spaces 
Thursday, July 25, 2019
5:30 PM –7 PM 
The Public Green, Seaport District 
1 Marina Park Drive, Boston

Sign Up Here

Please keep in mind that per the rules of the Public Green no dogs are allowed. 

What else can you do?

Know your rights. CLF will be providing “People’s Harbor” tote bags to guests on a first come, first serve basis. Each tote bag will include a USB with copies of the People’s Guide to Chapter 91 in English and in Spanish. 

Get out and enjoy Boston's Waterfront. Use the Boston Harborwalk Map Tool to discover public spaces along the Harborwalk and waterfront. You can find restrooms, green lawns, seating areas, fishing docks and observation decks. You can also look up Chapter 91 licenses and management plans governing access to waterfront public spaces in your neighborhood. 

Take the pledge to Protect the Boston Harbor and the Public Waterfront. 

*FPNA and the Harborfront Neighborhood Alliance are members of the Boston Waterfront Partners along with CLF and many other advocates of our waterfront. 

originally published 7.18.19

Heat Emergency Declared

Mayor Walsh has declared a heat emergency, beginning Friday, July 19th at noon through Sunday evening July 20, 2019. Temperatures between 92 and 96 degrees with a real feel temperature of between the mid 90s to 110 degrees are expected. 

Cooling centers will be open at BCYF community centers and residents can swim at the City's pools free of charge during their normal operating hours. Heat emergency programming will begin at BCYF centers starting at noon on Friday. 

Extreme heat can be dangerous to health by itself. It can also make pre-existing health issues worse. Some areas in the City are hotter due to elevation, limited shade from trees, and heat-retaining structures, like buildings and roads.

Heat Safety Tips

• Don't leave children or pets in cars
• Drink water and stay hydrated
• If you lose power, click here
• Prepare your home
• Rest often in cool shaded areas
• Signs of heat related illness
• Stay cool indoors
• Watch out for those at high risk
• Wear appropriate clothing and sunscreen

Watch summer heat tips video and click here for more heat safety tips details. 

Stay cool at BCYF centers, State owned pools, tot sprays and pools and Boston Public Libraries. More details at Boston.gov

Signing up for Alert Boston is a great way for residents, businesses, and visitors to be notified in the event of an emergency. If the City of Boston declares an extreme heat event, you will receive a direct message via text, call, or email.

Weed, Wine & Vine Neighborhood Gathering

Please join FPNA for "Weed, Wine & Vine" on Tuesday, July 16, 2019* from 6 pm to 8 pm at Wormwood Park (Wormwood & A Streets) for a bit of gardening and then snacks and beverages. Come hang with your neighbors on a lovely evening. We are placing beautiful solar lights in the trees!

Tools and gloves will be provided. 

*If it rains on July 16th, Weed, Wine & Vine will be take place Thursday, July 18th.

originally published 7.11.19

Summer Street Improvements Enter Completion Phase

updated 7/12/19:  Resurfacing stages and estimated durations added at bottom. Work hours are 7 am to 3 pm. 

updated 7/11/19: No parking 7 am to 4 pm on Summer Street from Melcher to West Service Road Bridge through Saturday, July 13, 2019. 
Watch out for parking restrictions (orange cones) over the next couple of weeks as road paving continues. Cars parked in posted areas will be towed. 

Boston Public Works is entering into the last major task of the Summer Street Improvements project. A project years in the planning under the leadership of Jonathan Greeley at the Boston Planning & Development Agency and under implementation by Public Works since April 2018. The project area is Summer Street from Melcher Street to West Service Road Bridge (towards the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center). 

What to expect?

The paving of Summer Street is scheduled to start this week and you can expect restricted street parking.

Overnight milling begins Tuesday, July 9th at 8 pm until 6 am on Wednesday, July 10, 2019. Milling removes the first couple inches of asphalt.  Typically this process takes 2 days; however, overnight work should allow milling to be completed in one night. The remaining asphalt will be lower than the manhole covers, and the surface of the road will feel grooved.

Once the milling operation is completed, the casting adjustments and prep for the new pavement should be completed in a week.  

DeRoma Construction will then ensure that manhole covers are level with the new asphalt layer. This is often the most time intensive and loudest part of the resurfacing job. The areas beneath the manholes sometimes need to be excavated and rebuilt. 

After the new asphalt is installed, the new pavement markings/stripping will be installed within (1) week.

There will probably be some adjustments to the traffic signals and other features, but they should be minor.

Resurfacing Stages and Estimated Durations

Adjustments of castings: July 10-July 16

Paving: July 18-July 19

Pavement markings: July 26

Any questions? Contact Public Works at 617-635-4950. 

originally published 7.8.19