The Board of Health did inspections at a number of businesses in our neighborhood recently and many didn't fare too well. Lucky's was inspected in January and three critical violations were found. They were tested again shortly afterwards and did fix the critical issues. Teriyaki House failed two inspections in early February, but passed a third recently. The Dunkin' Donuts next door and My Dinner on A Street both failed twice before passing. And Mul's Diner failed three inspections in December before finally passing. You can read the full reports on the city's website:
Dunkin Donuts
My Diner
Mul's Diner
Lucky's
Teriyaki House
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Meeting for Archon's Melcher St. Project, 3/13/2008
The Archon Group, L.P. and Goldman Properties Inc., is proposing to substantially rehabilitate the three existing buildings located at 49, 51, and 63 Melcher Street into one, combined office building. There's a community meeting to discuss the project:
Community Meeting
Thursday, March 13th
6:30 PM
51 Melcher St.
The Proposed Project involves approximately 37,000 square feet of infill development, an approximately 11,500 square foot, one-story rooftop addition to 51 Melcher Street, as well as repairs to the facades, new windows and a new roof. The three existing buildings total approximately 173,000 square feet. After the addition and infill are complete, the Proposed Project will include approximately 221,500 square feet, 33,000 square feet of which will be retail space on the ground-floor and the remaining 188,500 square feet will be office space.
Parking for the Proposed Project will be provided at the neighboring Necco Street Garage, which is owned by an affiliate of the Proponent.
Community Meeting
Thursday, March 13th
6:30 PM
51 Melcher St.
The Proposed Project involves approximately 37,000 square feet of infill development, an approximately 11,500 square foot, one-story rooftop addition to 51 Melcher Street, as well as repairs to the facades, new windows and a new roof. The three existing buildings total approximately 173,000 square feet. After the addition and infill are complete, the Proposed Project will include approximately 221,500 square feet, 33,000 square feet of which will be retail space on the ground-floor and the remaining 188,500 square feet will be office space.
Parking for the Proposed Project will be provided at the neighboring Necco Street Garage, which is owned by an affiliate of the Proponent.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Mayor's Neighborhood Coordinator Office Hours
Casey Flynn, the Mayor's South Boston Neighborhood Coordinator, would like residents to know that she holds weekly office hours in Southie:
Mayor's Neighborhood Services Office Hours
Wednesdsays, 3-7 PM
South Boston Resource Center
489 East Broadway
Feel free to stop by to voice concerns, provide feedback, or just say "Hello".
Mayor's Neighborhood Services Office Hours
Wednesdsays, 3-7 PM
South Boston Resource Center
489 East Broadway
Feel free to stop by to voice concerns, provide feedback, or just say "Hello".
New Yorker Article on Steve Hollinger
Fort Point's own Steve Hollinger was featured in an article in the most recent New Yorker, entitled: Thinking in the Rain, An artist takes on the umbrella
Susan Orlean
The New Yorker
February 11, 2008 Issue
ANNALS OF INVENTION about Steve Hollinger’s attempt to design, patent, and manufacture a new kind of umbrella. For several years, the writer lived in an apartment above Hollinger’s in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood of Boston. One day last year, Hollinger, a sculptor and inventor, walked around the neighborhood carrying another one of his surprises, a reimagined, reinvented umbrella, with gutters and airfoils and the elegant drift of a bird’s wing. Discusses Hollinger’s creation of the PosterWorks software program during the nineteen eighties. Briefly mentions some of his other inventions, including a system for animating three-dimensional objects, and a program for micro-printing. Hollinger’s umbrella project was set in motion in November of 2004, on a wet day in Boston. The futility and anguish of humankind’s relationship with the umbrellas stuck in Hollinger’s mind. Tells about the history of umbrellas and parasols, which date back to 1000 B.C. The United States Patent Office, which groups umbrellas with tents, crutches, canes, and walkers, has more than three thousand active patents on umbrella-related inventions. And still umbrellas are seriously flawed. They drip, they flip inside out, they snap in half, they poke bystanders in the eye. Tells about an umbrella-design contest sponsored by I.D. magazine, the Treehugger Web site, and the Sustainable Style Foundation. The rewards for whoever improves the umbrella are substantial. The annual retail market in the United States alone is now three hundred and forty-eight million dollars. Describes the Hollinger Improved Umbrella: it is teardrop-shaped, has a rounded nose and a short tail. Because it is elongated, it shields the user’s legs from rain. The umbrella looks like a cross between a bike helmet and a fisherman’s hat. Tells about Hollinger’s study of textiles and aerodynamics while working on the umbrella. Mentions that Hollinger has recently finished a screenplay called “The Ruby and the Prism” about an inventor. Hollinger contacted Totes and Tumi, who declined to pursue his design. Hands On Toys (HOT), however, agreed to license the umbrella. Writer describes a meeting attended by Hollinger and Rustam Booz and Andrew Farrar of HOT during which they considered names for the umbrella, including “Forewind” and “Bella Brella.” The following week, Hollinger shows the writer a prototype of the umbrella manufactured at a factory in China. Briefly mentions Hollinger’s idea for a new tent design.
Susan Orlean
The New Yorker
February 11, 2008 Issue
ANNALS OF INVENTION about Steve Hollinger’s attempt to design, patent, and manufacture a new kind of umbrella. For several years, the writer lived in an apartment above Hollinger’s in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood of Boston. One day last year, Hollinger, a sculptor and inventor, walked around the neighborhood carrying another one of his surprises, a reimagined, reinvented umbrella, with gutters and airfoils and the elegant drift of a bird’s wing. Discusses Hollinger’s creation of the PosterWorks software program during the nineteen eighties. Briefly mentions some of his other inventions, including a system for animating three-dimensional objects, and a program for micro-printing. Hollinger’s umbrella project was set in motion in November of 2004, on a wet day in Boston. The futility and anguish of humankind’s relationship with the umbrellas stuck in Hollinger’s mind. Tells about the history of umbrellas and parasols, which date back to 1000 B.C. The United States Patent Office, which groups umbrellas with tents, crutches, canes, and walkers, has more than three thousand active patents on umbrella-related inventions. And still umbrellas are seriously flawed. They drip, they flip inside out, they snap in half, they poke bystanders in the eye. Tells about an umbrella-design contest sponsored by I.D. magazine, the Treehugger Web site, and the Sustainable Style Foundation. The rewards for whoever improves the umbrella are substantial. The annual retail market in the United States alone is now three hundred and forty-eight million dollars. Describes the Hollinger Improved Umbrella: it is teardrop-shaped, has a rounded nose and a short tail. Because it is elongated, it shields the user’s legs from rain. The umbrella looks like a cross between a bike helmet and a fisherman’s hat. Tells about Hollinger’s study of textiles and aerodynamics while working on the umbrella. Mentions that Hollinger has recently finished a screenplay called “The Ruby and the Prism” about an inventor. Hollinger contacted Totes and Tumi, who declined to pursue his design. Hands On Toys (HOT), however, agreed to license the umbrella. Writer describes a meeting attended by Hollinger and Rustam Booz and Andrew Farrar of HOT during which they considered names for the umbrella, including “Forewind” and “Bella Brella.” The following week, Hollinger shows the writer a prototype of the umbrella manufactured at a factory in China. Briefly mentions Hollinger’s idea for a new tent design.
Achilles Open for Business
The Achilles Project is now open and serving up pomegranate martinis. It's a high-end clothes store with a the 76 seat restaurant/bar headed by Chef Michael Leviton from Lumiere.
The Achilles Project
283 Summer St.
Boston, MA
617.423.2257
The Achilles Project
283 Summer St.
Boston, MA
617.423.2257
Boiler Room for 368 Congress St. Survives!
Due the community's strong advocacy, Berkeley Investments has withdrawn their petition to demolish the boiler room of 368 Congress St. Thanks to everyone who came out in support of preserving this historic building.
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Reminder: Meeting tonight for Children's Wharf Park
Reminder that there's a meeting this evening to discuss the future of "Wharf Park" in front of the Children's musuem. Copley Wolff Design Group, design consultants for The Boston Children's Museum, will lead a discussion to elicit park ideas, concepts, and themes from the community.
Community Meeting for Wharf Park
February 7th, 6 PM
Children's Museum
308 Congress St., 5th Floor
The park is 8,000 square feet of land on the edge of the channel which was donated by Frank McCourt in 2006.
One concern neighbors have had is over the events the Children's Museum holds on the park which go late into the night and which serve alcohol. Residents in the surrounding area are frustrated by seeing event-goers relieve themselves on the streets and being kept up by the loud noise of tents being broken down at 2 am.
Community Meeting for Wharf Park
February 7th, 6 PM
Children's Museum
308 Congress St., 5th Floor
The park is 8,000 square feet of land on the edge of the channel which was donated by Frank McCourt in 2006.
One concern neighbors have had is over the events the Children's Museum holds on the park which go late into the night and which serve alcohol. Residents in the surrounding area are frustrated by seeing event-goers relieve themselves on the streets and being kept up by the loud noise of tents being broken down at 2 am.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Collection of Recent Articles Related to Fort Point
Sam Allis from the Globe has a column on development plans for South Station and the surrounding area:
Big plans for South Station, but don't hold your breath
Kairos Shen, who worked with many in the neighborhood on the 100 Acres Plan, was promoted to Chief Planner for the BRA:
Kairos Shen named Boston's chief planner
The Boston Business Journal has an article on Russia Wharf being sold (again):
Russia Wharf condo plan may be altered
For the second time in three years, the owner of Russia Wharf is selling the residential portion of the development.
The current owner, Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE: BXP), is in the process of selecting a buyer for the residential slice of the mixed-use development that could sell for about $65 million. Boston Properties bought Russia Wharf from The Blackstone Group last March for about $100 million.
One of the bidders in the final three, according to sources, is Avalon Bay Communities Inc., which owns the luxury apartment complex Avalon at the Prudential Center. Avalon Bay and Boston Properties are partnering on a development at 888 Boylston St. where BXP plans to build a 19-story office building and Avalon intends to build a 30-story residential building. Both buildings are subject to approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
Real estate sources say Avalon isn't necessarily the assumed winning buyer and that the decision will be based on which bidder has the best development plan. Other finalists may include developers who are interested in building either condominiums or a hotel.
Big plans for South Station, but don't hold your breath
Kairos Shen, who worked with many in the neighborhood on the 100 Acres Plan, was promoted to Chief Planner for the BRA:
Kairos Shen named Boston's chief planner
The Boston Business Journal has an article on Russia Wharf being sold (again):
Russia Wharf condo plan may be altered
For the second time in three years, the owner of Russia Wharf is selling the residential portion of the development.
The current owner, Boston Properties Inc. (NYSE: BXP), is in the process of selecting a buyer for the residential slice of the mixed-use development that could sell for about $65 million. Boston Properties bought Russia Wharf from The Blackstone Group last March for about $100 million.
One of the bidders in the final three, according to sources, is Avalon Bay Communities Inc., which owns the luxury apartment complex Avalon at the Prudential Center. Avalon Bay and Boston Properties are partnering on a development at 888 Boylston St. where BXP plans to build a 19-story office building and Avalon intends to build a 30-story residential building. Both buildings are subject to approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority.
Real estate sources say Avalon isn't necessarily the assumed winning buyer and that the decision will be based on which bidder has the best development plan. Other finalists may include developers who are interested in building either condominiums or a hotel.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
BRA Approves Plan for Jimmy's Site
Project OK’d for ex-Jimmy’s siteBy Scott Van Voorhis
Friday, February 1, 2008
Goodbye to Jimmy’s Harborside . . . and hello to Legal Sea Foods.
The Boston Redevelopment Authority voted yesterday to approve plans to replace the longtime home of the now-defunct Jimmy’s Harborside with a new $30 million office and restaurant complex.
The 70,500-square-foot project will include locations for four new restaurants, including a Legal Sea Foods, a city official confirmed.
The complex includes two buildings, each with two eateries, as well as a small kiosk building nearby offering indoor and outdoor cafe seating.
The developer, Edward Nardi of Cresset Harborside LLC, will begin work on the project in the next few months, with an opening currently scheduled for the spring of 2009.
“This project will bring new office space and restaurants to the South Boston waterfront,” Mayor Thomas M. Menino said in a statement.
Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/real_estate/view.bg?articleid=1070508
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