Fort Point Landmarks December 2022 Meeting

updated 12/08/22 with 338 Congress St presentation

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

Thursday, December 8, 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  929-436-2866 and entering meeting id 939 1602 6352# You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 23.0438 FPC   315 A STREET  

Applicant: Brett Bentson

Proposed work: Install permanent support brackets for removable flood barriers at ground floor openings.

APP # 23.0384 FPC       338 CONGRESS STREET  

Applicant: Peggy Siepka

Proposed work: Update signage to reflect brand change. At interior remove "Bank" from lettersets located behind glass; at southwest exterior reface flag sign, remove and install channel letters, install vinyl logos; at southeast exterior install wall plaque, door hours sign, vinyl logos, remove and install channel letters.

II. RATIFICATION OF 11/10/2022 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

originally published 12.05.22 

What You Need To Know This Week

Seaport Square planning is nearing completion. Make sure it is adding what you want to the neighborhood by attending tonight's (12/5) public meeting. The City is working on a permanent outdoor dining program and wants your feedback Monday (12/5) or Tuesday (12/6) night. On Wednesday night (12/7), there is a community meeting for another Life Sciences building project in Fort Point's historic district. The Fort Point Channel Landmark District Commission is holding their December meeting Thursday (12/8) night. If you are a Fort Point resident or business property owner who is interested in serving as a Fort Point Landmark Commissioner, please contact FPNA.

December 5: The Boston Planning & Development  Agency (BPDA) is hosting a Seaport Square Public Meeting at 6pm to discuss Notice of Project Change (NPC) and amendments to the Planned Development Area (PDA) including project impacts and mitigation. Attend to find out what remains to be be built and give feedback on what is needed to create a complete neighborhood. Will it be climate resilient, reduce urban heat and protect the neighborhood from flooding? Will it include civic, cultural spaces? A park? Affordable Housing? Residential homes separate from Life Sciences Labs? How many more labs do we need? Register. Also, see December 6th for update at BCDC.

Seaport Square Proposed Changes in blue

December 5: Outdoor Dining Listening Session at 6pm to hear from residents and restaurants on tbe goals of a permanent outdoor dining program with updates from the City. Register. This listening session will be repeated December 6th. Send questions/comments to outdoordining@boston.gov

December 6:  Outdoor Dining Listening Session at 6pm to hear from residents and restaurants on tbe goals of a permanent outdoor dining program with updates from the City. Register. This listening session is a repeat the one held December 5th. 

December 6: Seaport Square is at the Boston Civic Design Commission (BCDC) to provide an update on changes to building uses, location, and open space in the PDA and NPC.

December 7: 7 Channel Center Public/IAG Meeting at 6pm The proposed project is to redevelop an existing historic 3 story building into a 9 story office/labs Life Sciences building. This project requires a Notice of Project Change and an amended Planned Development Area. What is the right use, residential or labs? Public safety concerns? What about ground floor use to activate the street and provide a service to neighbors?

7 Channel Center Life Sciences Labs Proposal

December 8: Fort Point Channel Landmarks District Commission December meeting at 6pm. View agenda.  

Holiday Events With A Mix of Life Sciences, Seaport Square Expansion, Climate Resilience & Cycling

updated 12/1 with Mayor Wu's Sunday, December 4 Enchanted Trolley Tour & Tree Lighting and new 7 Channel Center Public meeting date.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving and inviting you all to enjoy holiday events and a couple developments going on in the neighborhood. 

November 29: FPNA Fort Point Seaport Holiday Social at The Holiday Market at Snowport from 6pm-8pm. R.S.V.P. required.

November 30: Boston Harbor Now’s Harbor Use Forum on CFROD (Climate Resilient Flood Overlay District) at 8:30am. Find out how designs are evolving, and what designers, developers, and advocates should know about CFROD.

November 30: 17 Farnsworth St Impact Advisory Group Public Meeting at 6pm. Replace existing, 361-vehicle parking garage built in 1986 with four-story life science building. In addition, per CFROD, dry flood-proof at least two feet above Sea Level Rise Base Flood Elevation (19.5 ft. BCB).

December 1: South Boston Christmas Stroll, Shop, Dine, Splurge, starts at 4pm. View the details and where Santa is visiting at 2022 Christmas Stroll Schedule - South Boston Chamber of Commerce

December 1: Winter Cycling Clinic with Seaport TMA & MassBike from 5pm to 6:30pm. Curious about biking into work in the winter, but hesitant about how to get going? Learn best practices about cycling in the window. Meet up at The Benjamin, 25 Northern Ave.

December 2: LightUp Seaport from 5pm - 9pm with holiday tunes, a celeb appearance by Betty the Yeti, and annual tree lighting on Seaport Common. Enjoy special offers and sparkling surprises at neighborhood businesses as you stroll.

December 4: 26th Annual Enchanted Trolley Tour & Tree Lighting with Mayor Wu and Santa at Medal of Honor Park (E. Broadway & M Streets). Festivities start at 2pm. 

December 5: Seaport Square Public Meeting at 6pm to discuss Notice of Project Change and amendments to the Planned Development Area including project impacts and mitigation.

December 7: 7 Channel Center Public/IAG Meeting at 6pm The proposed project is to redevelop an existing historic 4 story building into a 9 story office/labs Life Sciences building. This project requires a Notice of Project Change and an amended Planned Development Area.

ongoing through December 31st, the Holiday Market at Snowport welcomes over 120 small businesses to fill your gift list. 

originally published 11.23.22

Celebrate With Your Neighbors At FPNA Holiday Social

 

You are invited to

Celebrate with Your Neighbors 

at

FPNA's Fort Point Seaport Holiday Social

Tuesday, November 29

6 pm - 8 pm

R.S.V.P. (limited space)

 
Enjoy hearty hors d'oeuvres & refreshments 

 at the

Holiday Market at Snowport

The Food & Beverage Tent*

 
with special thanks to 

 Tuscan Kitchen

&

Seaport by WS Development

closest entrance is via Northern Avenue

Please note that the Holiday Social is in lieu of our November Neighborhood Gathering. 

If you would like to support FPNA, please consider becoming a member or renewing your membership. Your membership allows FPNA to continue to advocate for a better neighborhood in Fort Point and Seaport while bringing neighbors together at our monthly gatherings.  An individual membership is $35 and a family membership is $50. You may pay by check or Nov. 29th eventbrite or via venmo @FPNA-Boston.  Join FPNA today!

originally published 11.17.22

Ahoy Matey! 2nd Annual Ship Lighting At Martin's Park

2nd Annual Ship Lighting in Martin's Park

Saturday, November 26, 2022

4pm - 6pm 

64 Sleeper Street

The City of Boston, the Friends of Martin's Park and the Boston Parks and

Recreation Department will host the 2nd Annual Holiday Lighting of the

signature Wooden Play Ship located in Martin’s Park on Saturday, November

26, beginning at 4 p.m.

Located at 64 Sleeper Street at the Smith Family Waterfront in Boston’s

Seaport, Martin’s Park will be transformed into a beautiful holiday display

when the park’s wooden play ship, surrounding beach fencing and pedestrian

bridge are illuminated with over 1500 feet of blue and white tube lights.

Visible from the Northern Avenue Bridge and the Smith Family Waterfront,

visitors are encouraged to head inside the park for the celebration. Watch as

Santa arrives by boat at the Harborwalk and enters the Park to switch on the

lights.

Entertainment will be provided by Ball In The House, performing a selection

of holiday classics, along with special guest the Seaport’s own Betty the Yeti.

Volunteering at the event is fun too. If interested in spreading joy, please complete this form.

originally published 11.18.22

Fort Point Waterfront Community Designs Debut Today

FPNA and Boston Harbor Now along with our partners lookv forward to seeing you Saturday (November 19) morning for the final presentatsion and commuity discussion of  Fort Point Waterfront Community Design Program.

If you will be joining us in person, we'll be at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter at 100 West 2nd Street. Please enter from 2nd Street. There will be coffee, breakfast snacks, Spanish and Cantonese interpretation, and child care available. We strongly recommend walking or taking public transportation (the Broadway stop on the Red Line is a 4 min walk). There are also bike racks around the building and a Bluebikes dock at Richards and A Street. Vehicle parking is available at the Channel Center Garage. We are encouraging but not requiring mask wearing for participants; if you are feeling unwell, please consider joining virtually.

 If you are joining us on zoom, we have structured the day to offer  parallel activities online and a live stream of the presentations. 

To help you plan your morning, the schedule is below:

• 9:30 - 10:00         registration, breakfast, reviewing ideas, collecting new ideas
• 10:00 - 11:00       presentations by design teams on ideas they've developed over the past month
• 11:00 - noon        small group conversations about moving ideas forward (refining ideas for effectiveness and implementability)
• noon - 12:30         additional idea collection and networking

Coming Up This Week

11/16/22 updated with link to Congress St project for tonight's meeting.

November 14: Better Bus Project Additional Public Meeting at 6pm. The revised bus design removes bus service from A Street. If you would like to share comments with the Implementation Team, please complete this Comment Form. View November 2nd Better Bus Review Public Meeting and view Boston/Brookline breakout.

November 14:  South Boston Transportation Action Plan Public Meeting at 6pm. Find out about planned transportation and infrastructure improvements in (South Boston) and surrounding (Fort Point and Seaport). Register. 

November 15: View 22 Drydock Impact Advisory Group Public Meeting at 6pm. The project proposes to combine the parcels into a single lot, clear the lot of its existing improvements, and construct in their place a seven-story, research laboratory building with a gross floor area (“GFA”) of approximately 319,750 square feet (“sf”), and including fitted-out, ground-level space for The Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, a non-profit organization.

November 16: View 22 Drydock Public Meeting recording (see 11/15 for project description)

November 16: View Congress Street Reconstruction Public Meeting recording about the final design for Congress Street between Sleeper Street and Boston Wharf Road. For more information about the former Crossroads project, visit Congress St in Fort Point.

November 19: Fort Point Channel Waterfront Final Design Presentations from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at Artists For Humanity located at 100 W. 2nd Street.

November 19: Hull LifeSaving Museum's Boston Rowing Center hosts The “Icebreaker”- The 30th annual Northeast Regional Youth Open-Water Rowing Championships from 8:30 am - 4 pm. The Boston Rowing Center is located at the Barking Crab Marina. 

orignally published 11.14.22

Help Shape The Future of The Fort Point Waterfront

updated 11.14.22 with Office Hours conference room. 

How we view our waterfront is forever changing in response to: neighborhood growth, sea level rise, increased precipitation, storms and heat island impacts; development pressures, and our own vision of what we want it to look like and who we want it to be for- residents of Boston and the Commonwealth and visitors. 

With that in mind, FPNA and Boston Harbor Now along with the Boston Society for Architecture (BSA), Boston Society of Landscape Architects (BSLA), Stone Living Lab, and BPDA are pleased to introduce Fort Point Waterfront Community Design. The program is a series of events over the next two months to build upon past work and further develop design concepts and new ideas for the waterfront that we hope will assist property owners up and down the channel. 

As discussed at our September Neighborhood Gathering, we invited you to a join us at the Octoner 19th kickoff. The October 19, 2022 kickoff offered a briefing of past and current planning efforts along, around, and across the Fort Point Channel and provide an opportunity for neighbors to join teams composed of designers (architects and landscape architects) and other local stakeholders to create waterfront designs instead of react. 

The concluding conversation and final presentations on November 19th will provide a forum for teams to share their design ideas and an opportunity for all participants to weigh in on the elements that they hope to see integrated in future development, redevelopment, and other projects in the area -- local preferences for "Harborwalk 2.0" pieces that address coastal resilience, inclusion and equity, and access and connectivity from the water's edge to the landward boundaries of the Massachusetts Public Waterfront Act, Chapter 91. 

In between there will be "office hours" for teams to check in with the organizers and work together. The office hours are: 

• Wednesday, October 26 - 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom
• Tuesday, November 1 - 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Midway Artist Studios, 15 Channel Center St.
• Monday, November 7 - 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom
• Friday, November 11 - 8:00 am to 1:00 pm via Zoom
• Monday, November 14 - 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Hamilton Conference room, 2nd floor, 300 A Street (Red Hat building)

Looking forward to seeing everyone this Saturday, November 19 from 9:30am - 12:30pm at Artists for Humanity, 100 W. 2nd St. R.S.V.P. today.

originally published 10.17.22

Make Fort Point Bloom This Sunday

updated 11/10/22:  The bulbs are here! Fort Point Boston Blooms volunteer day is now November 13th given the forecast.

Boston Blooms 
200 Daffodil Bulbs To Plant

 

*new weather date*
Sunday, November 13th
10am - 1pm

 

Sign up to let us know you are coming! 

Wormwood Park (A & Wormwood Streets)

Create future joy and beauty by planting daffodils in November to bloom next spring. Come plant and spruce up the neighborhood.
Gloves, tools and apple cider will be provided.

Special thanks to Mayor Wu and the City of Boston Parks & Recreation Department for the donation of 200 Daffodil bulbs. 

originally published 10.28.22

Election Day Today, A New Hotel, Daffodils & More

Here is a quick glance at what is going on this week and next. 

November 8: State Election (includes 4 ballot questions). Vote at District Hall from 7am - 8pm. If you haven't already, please vote and demonstrate we live here in Fort Point and the Seaport. 

November 9: 330 C Street Public Meeting at 6pm. The proposed project consists of a new six-story 74-room hotel, with a ground-floor restaurant, situated at 330 C Street in South Boston. The lot size is approximately 8,202 square feet and is currently occupied by a vacant single-story concrete block building that formerly housed a repair garage. The project is a small project review development. 

November 10: Fort Point Channel Landmark District Commission Public Meeting at 6pm. View agenda and meeting details.

November 11: Mass Fallen Heroes Flag Planting. Come help plant flags from 9am - 11am at 85 Northern Avenue in rememberance of 9/11 and Veteran's Day.

November 11: The Holiday Market at Snowport opens Friday and runs through December 31st. The Holiday Market is located at 100 Seaport Blvd. 

November 12: Fort Point Boston Blooms Volunteer Day from 10am - 1pm. Rain date is November 13th at the same time. 

November 14: Better Bus Project Additional Public Meeting at 6pm. The revised bus design removes bus service from A Street. If you would like to share comments with the Implementation Team, please complete this Comment Form. Last week's public meeting recording will be posted on the events page.

November 15: 22 Drydock Impact Advisory Group Public Meeting at 6pm. The project proposes to combine the parcels into a single lot, clear the lot of its existing improvements, and construct in their place a seven-story, research laboratory building with a gross floor area (“GFA”) of approximately 319,750 square feet (“sf”), and including fitted-out, ground-level space for The Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute, a non-profit organization.

November 16: 22 Drydock Public Meeting at 6pm (see 11/15 for project description)

November 16: Congress Street Reconstruction Public Meeting at 6:30pm Share details and answer questions about the final design for Congress Street between Sleeper Street and Boston Wharf Road. 

November 19: Hull LifeSaving Museum's Boston Rowing Center hosts The “Icebreaker”- The 30th annual Northeast Regional Youth Open-Water Rowing Championships from 8:30 am - 4 pm. The Boston Rowing Center is located at the Barking Crab Marina. 

November 19: Fort Point Channel Waterfront Final Design Presentations from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm at Artists For Humanity located at 100 W. 2nd Street.

State Election: Who, What, When, Where & Why

updated 10/20/22: with local early voting location, dates and times.

WHO & WHAT
In the upcoming State election, candidates on the ballot will be for:

Representative in Congress, Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Governor's Council, State Senator, State Representative, District Attorney and Sheriff.

View Sample Ballot.

In addtion, there will be four Ballot Questions:

QUESTION 1: Proposed Amendment to the Constitution, Additional Tax on Income Over One Million Dollars

QUESTION 2: Law Proposed by Initiative Petition, Regulation of Dental Insurance

QUESTION 3: Law Proposed by Initiative Petition, Expanded Availability of Licenses for the Sale of Alcoholic Beverages 

QUESTION 4 -Law Proposed by Initiative Petition,  Eligibility for Driver’s Licenses.

On September 9, 2022, the Elections Division certified that a referendum petition for a ballot question that was submitted on September 7, 2022 had been signed by enough registered voters to qualify for placement on the November 8, 2022 State Election Ballot. 

Because this petition was submitted after the July 2022 deadline for inclusion in the printed Information for Voters booklet that is mailed to each household, this question is not listed in that voter guide. The question will, however, be listed on each November 8 State Election ballot as Question #4.

WHEN & WHERE

Voter Registration

Last day to register to vote or update your address for the November election is October 29th

Early In-person Voting (full location list) October 22nd - November 4th

In the neighborhood
October 27: ICA (25 Harborside Drive) from 12pm - 8pm plus free musuem admission

October 29 - October 30: Condon chool (200 D St) from 11am - 7pm

November 3: ICA from 12pm - 8pm plus free musuem admission

Vote by Mail

Application must be received at City Hall by November 1st. 

Ballots need to be postmarked by November 8th and received at City Hall no later than November 12th

Secure drop box option at the South Boston Public Library, the ICA on early voting days only and multiple other locations in the City

In Person Voting on November 8th

Precinct 6-11 and 6-12 vote at District Hall, 75 Northern Ave

Polls open at 7AM and close at 8PM

WHY
The community counts on our elected officials for their support of local issues and initiatives. Elected officials look at voter turnout by neighborhood. Why do State Elections matter? The State (MCCA/BCEC, MBTA and Massport) is a property owner, developer and transit provider in the neighborhood.

Poll Workers are still needed on election day. To find out more information and apply, click here

originally published 09.27.22

Fort Point Landmarks November 2022 Meeting

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

Thursday, November 10, 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  929-436-2866 and entering meeting id 996 0665 6534# You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 23.0283 FPC        51 MELCHER STREET                      

Applicant: Alex Munoz

Proposed work: Updates to rooftop equipment installation and at-grade equipment.

APP # 23.0316 FPC       34 FARNSWORTH STREET  

Applicant: Matthew Wessling

Proposed work: Remove and replace existing low sloped roof system and associated roof edge metal flashings. All new edge metal to be copper.

APP # 23.0353 FPC        THOMSON PLACE moved to Advisory Review

Applicant: Nathan Turner

Proposed work: Install signage, lighting and wayfinding graphics around Thomson Place.

II.  Advisory Review

APP # 23.0353 FPC        THOMSON PLACE 

Applicant: TJ DiFeo

Proposed work: Install signage, lighting and wayfinding graphics around Thomson Place

III. Discussion Item: Street Trees

IV. RATIFICATION OF 10/13/2022 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES

V.  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