National Night Out August 1st

National Night Out 2017 is coming to South Boston Tuesday, August 1st from 5 pm - 8 pm at Moakley Park*. 

Sgt. Mike Mylett, Community Service Office District C-6, invites you to a free cookout and DJ entertainment along with this year's award presentation by Mayor Walsh and Police Commissioner Evans. There will be free kids' activities too. 

National Night Out, “America’s Night Out Against Crime”, began in 1984 in an effort to promote involvement in crime prevention activities, police-community partnerships, neighborhood camaraderie and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back. The National Night Out program culminates annually, on the first Tuesday of August nationwide.  National Night Out represents the kind of spirit, vitality and determination to help make neighborhoods a safer place year round. The one night celebration honors safety and crime prevention successes and works to expand and strengthen programs year round. 

The 34th Annual National Night Out Boston is a citywide celebration that cultivates and strengthens partnerships between the community, youth, law enforcement, city/state agencies, and community based organizations.  The event also acknowledges the contributions that Neighborhood Watch Groups make to Boston’s neighborhood safety and it fosters community participation. 

*Moakley Park is located at 1005 Columbia Rd. 

Keep Fort Point Blooming All Summer Long

New August dates announced: The next Weed, Wine & Vine events will be August 1 and August 8th from 6 pm - 8 pm. 

updated 7/25/17: Join us July 26th from 6 pm to 8 pm for FPNA's Weed, Wine & Vine event to keep Fort Point blooming and neighbors connected outdoors this summer. 

updated 7/12/17: Due to forecast of rain and flash flooding watch July 12th's Weed, Wine & Vine has been cancelled. Please mark your calendars for July 26th and August 9th. 

Plants need water and volunteers need wine. Come show your Fort Point Love at the Fort Point Neighborhood Association's Weed, Wine & Vines events on July 12th, July 26th and August 1st and August 8th from 6 pm to 8 pm*. More dates will be announced. 

This is a fun way to be outdoors, get a bit of exercise and visit with neighbors all while beautifying our neighborhood.

Gather at Wormwood Park (Wormwood & A Streets) and weed your way to wine, cheese and other small plates afterwards in the park. 

Tools and gloves provided.

*If it rains the day of the event, then Weed, Wine and Vines will be cancelled. 

Young Artists Use Ancient Techniques In Stitched Into Memory

Meet the young Boston artists utilizing ancient tie dye, stitch and weave techniques to create a large scale West African textile installation at the opening celebration of Stitched Into Memory on:

Saturday, July 29, 2017
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Atlantic Wharf
290 Congress Street
Register for this Free Event

Visit Atlantic Wharf for an artful and cultural afternoon featuring an introduction by lead artist and educator Stephen Hamilton, free West African food, music and demos by local artist Imani McFarlane, and more. The event is open to all ages. Be sure to stop by on your way to the 7th Annual African Festival of Boston taking place 10 am - 7 pm on the Rose Kennedy Greenway.

Stitched Into Memory is an arts education initiative teaching ancient West African textile arts to Boston youth led by Stephen Hamilton, with the generous support of the New England Foundation for the Arts, and in collaboration with the Friends of Fort Point Channel. The project celebrates and commemorates the historic and contemporary African Diasporic communities of Boston.

originally published 7.25.17

Congress St. Bridge Lighting Project Update

updated 07/13/17: Due to weather, the the installation of the pier lantern LED retrofit kit and bulb will be Monday, July 17th.

A different light may be shining from a lantern on the Congress St. Bridge this week. According to Erikk Hokenson, Waterfront Planner at Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA), the City's Public Works Department Street Lighting Division is retrofitting one of the pier lanterns on the Congress St. Bridge with an LED fixture and antique amber glow light bulb for the base. They expect to install it this Thursday night July 13, 2017 (weather permitting) on the pier lantern immediately to the east of the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum. The light will remain for ten days for those interested in taking a look at it.
The goal is to improve the pedestrian experience as specialized lighting will also added to the counterweight structure and to the the outer/waterside of the bridge on north and south. Please send comments to Erikk Hokenson at the BPDA.

In addition, Congress St. Bridge lighting project consultants, Hartranft Lighting Design and Jacobs, have conducted mini-tests utilizing various fixtures, colors, and temperatures at a variety of locations over the past months. A selection of photos and videos from these mini-tests are available via Dropbox. These are not necessarily the final fixtures, colors, temperatures, etc. that will be used, but samples. (As it relates to color, the BPDA stills expect to have the ability to program different colors at different times.)

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments or would like to receive updates, please contact Erikk Hokenson at the BPDA.

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originally published 7.12.17

Power Plant Redevelopment Under Port Review

In response to a request by the developer of the former L St Edison Power Plant, HRP 776 Summer Street LLC, the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management has agreed to to review the South Boston Designated Port Area. 

The Office of Coastal Zone Management will take public comment for 30 days from the publication of the notice (Posted July 12th in the Environmental Monitor). 

The Office of Coastal Zone Management will hold an informational meeting on the review on July 25, 2017. Please contact Lisa Engler with any questions or comments

Time: 07/25/2017 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: EDIC - Raymond L. Flynn Marine Park, 22 Drydock Avenue, 3rd Floor Conference Room, Boston, MA 02210

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originally posted 7.19.17

Fort Point Summer Art Opening Tonight

Immerse yourself in the waves, wind  and tides without the sand and wet at the opening reception of Flow at the Gallery at 249 A tonight from 6-8pm. 
  July 6, through August 15
Reception: Thursday, July 20, 5:30 – 8:00 pm

Hours: Thursday 3:00-6:00pm and by appointment
Summer hours vary. Please call before planning your visit.
Contact: Lisa Knox 617-459-5250  |  lisaknoxstudio@gmail.com

“Flow” is a meditation on the sea with its ceaseless tides, waves, wind and weather. It is also a tribute to the complex intermixing of ideas and experiences between two artists who have been married for many years. The open-ended question presents itself; how do ideas “flow” from one person to the other and how is the vision of one artist influenced by the observations and opinions of the other? Within this framework the exhibit becomes an opportunity to examine the changing nature of two elemental forces in perpetual flux: the ocean and love.

Kirk and Lisa have shared a studio in the 249 A Street Artists Cooperative in Boston for over 20 years. Their free time is spent wandering the shores of New England in a 1963 Ford Ranchero in search of inspiration and subject matter for their work

Farmers' Market Wednesdays in Seaport

On Wednesdays from noon to 7 pm, stroll over to Seaport Common (next to District Hall located at 75 Northern Ave.) for a farmers' market featuring quality produce, meat, seafood and bread from local producers: 

Mamadou's Artisan Bakery
Red's Best,
Stillman's Farm, 
Stillman's Quality Meats 
El Colombiano Coffee. 

Seaport Common is also the place for free fitness classes and bike tune-ups all summer long. Click here for a calendar of events. 

7 Channel Center Redevelopment Abutters Meeting

Abutting residents and businesses of Channel Center are invited to a presentation to learn about a hotel proposal for the redevelopment of 7 Channel Center by representatives from Berkeley Investments, The Hoxton and Handel Architects. The proposed hotel project is in the planning phase and seeking community input. This proposal has not been officially filed with the City of Boston.

What: Berkeley Investments 7 Channel Center Redevelopment Abutters Meeting
When: Tuesday, July 18, 2017
Time: 6 pm
Where: 9 Channel Center, 2nd Floor

Questions/Concerns, contact:
Christine McMahon
Berkeley
617.270.8640

orignally publihed 7.10.17

Boston City Council Looks At Summer St Improvements, Budget, Nips & 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 June 21st, June 28th and July 12, 2017 Council meetings:

Appointments: Mayor Walsh made the following appointments:

• Zoning Commission: David Marr and Jill Hatton, reappointed until May 2020 and Elliot Guerreroas, appointed until May 2020.
• Richard DePiano, as Temporary First Assistant Collector-Treasurer
• Anthony Dello Iacono, as Temporary Second Assistant Collector-Treasurer 
• Boston Public Library Board of Trustees: Priscilla Douglas, reappointed until April 2019
• Mayor’s Commission for Persons with Disabilities Advisory Board: Jerry Boyd, Feleshia Battles-Byrdsong, Eugene Gloss, Dusya Lyubovskaya appointed as Commissioners until June 2020; Kyle Robidoux reappointed until May 2019, Carl Richardson until June 2019, and John Winske until March 2019.

Sandwich Board Signs: Mayor Walsh filed an ordinance to make permanent the 2015 regulations that created a pilot program for citywide consistency on free-standing signs aka sandwich boards. The Council passed this legislation in 2015 to provide consistent rules across all neighborhoods that would lighten the permitting load on small businesses by eliminating the free-standing sign permit, but include rules to guarantee accessibility of the sidewalk and accountability from store owners. The matter was assigned to the Committee on Government Operations for a hearing.

Summer Street Improvement Project: The Council voted to authorize the Public Works Department to accept and expend a $6M MassDOT grant for pedestrian, bicycle, and traffic improvements on Summer Street in the Seaport. Construction is scheduled to begin this September and end in November 2019 that would include reconstruction of sidewalks, addition of protected bike lanes on both sides, as well as trees, benches and light fixtures for a better pedestrian experience.

FY18 Budget: The Council voted to pass all the different elements of the City of Boston’s programmatic budget for the next fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018. This includes several votes:

• General Operations Budget: passed 12-1 (Councilor Jackson voting against)
• Boston Public Schools Budget: passed 11-2 (Councilor Jackson and Pressley voting against)
• Other Post-Employment Benefits Liability Trust Fund: passed unanimously. This was an annual $40M appropriation to pay down our long-term, unfunded liability for retiree benefits.
• Vision Zero $1M appropriation: passed unanimously. This was an additional $1M for the Vision Zero capital line item, bringing the total appropriation to $4.1M for capital funding for the Neighborhood Slow Streets program.
• Capital Budget: Passed with a unanimous 2^nd reading today. All capital items require two separate 2/3 affirmative votes at least 2 weeks apart. At the June 7, 2017 meeting, each of the five dockets received a unanimous first vote, except the Parking Meter Fund capital appropriation, which received a 12-1 vote (Councilor Jackson voting against) then. Today, each of the five capital dockets received a unanimous second vote.

Most Councilors rose to explain their votes for or against the various budget components. While no one believes these budgets are perfect, most Councilors stated that the plans represent positive investments in the future of our City. Several Councilors praised the increases in allocations for Vision Zero safe streets infrastructure, the Boston Police Department’s mobile psychiatric crisis team, the mobile sharps team that picks up improperly disposed needles across the city, the indigent burial fund, and resources for BPS to address the needs of students experiencing homelessness. Some Councilors expressed continued need for a city-funded housing voucher program, and several reflected on the need for more strategic vision and accountability from BPS. The Council isl grateful to our Central Staff who supported this process in many ways, to the members of the Mayor’s Administration who engaged thoughtfully and fully with us in the process, and to the members of the public who took time to offer testimony both in person and in writing. For full budget details, see the City website.

Grants: The Council voted to authorize the Administration to accept several grants today from various sources:

• $30M for the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND) from the Inclusionary Development Policy (IDP) Fund to produce/preserve affordable housing. This fund collects payments from new residential developments, where the developer can choose to offer affordable units on-site or pay a “buy-out” rate into the fund for projects that DND chooses through a competitive public notice process. Since FY15, DND has collected $50.4M in IDP payments and anticipates collecting $17M more through FY19.
• $24.5M for DND from the US Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) to support grants that fund housing education, down payment assistance, production of new affordable housing, operating support for CDCs, tenant-based rental assistance, and permanent housing placement.
• $28M for DND from HUD Continuum of Care grant funds to support programs that provide services and housing to the homeless. Councilor Essaibi-George described the funding as being used to serve the chronically homeless, including front-door triage and programs to streamline housing search applications. A recent 1-day housing search  event served 63 attendees experiencing chronic homelessness, where 44 were housed that day by the Boston Housing Authority, 5 received pending offers, and 9 received housing vouchers from MBHP.
• $33,931 for the Environment Department from the MA Dept of Revenue for the Climate Ready Boston Community Leader Program, which would fund outreach on climate initiatives in multiple languages and targeting specific communities in Boston.
• $400K for the Office of Immigrant Advancement from various donors to fund programs including Immigrant Integration & Empowerment, English for New Bostonians, and Citizenship Day.

Medically Supervised Injection Facilities: Councilors Essaibi-George and Baker reported back on the hearing on medically supervised injection facilities in Boston. At the hearing, Councilors heard from the Boston Public Health Commission, the MA Medical Society, Boston Healthcare for the Homeless, concerned residents, and many other key stakeholders. Councilor Essaibi-George stated that she was not convinced this is a tool that Boston should use in combating the opioid epidemic, but that action must be taken and the Council should be part of the conversation. Councilor Baker stated that he was against these sites and that we need 30-day treatment . As a reminder, safe injection sites would be legally sanctioned, medically-supervised facilities, where opioid users could consume illicit recreational drugs intravenously under the care of medical experts. Safe injection sites are meant to reduce nuisance from public drug use and provide a hygienic and medically supervised environment. The MA Medical Society has adopted a resolution urging the state to launch a pilot program allowing the creation of two safe injection sites, including one in Boston. Safe injection sites would need not only state approval, but federal approval as well. The matter remains in the Committee on Homelessness, Mental Health & Recovery.

Disposal of Miniature Alcohol Containers: The Council voted to adopt Councilor McCarthy’s resolution to support HD3528, a bill filed by Rep. Randy Hunt at the State House which would promote the proper disposal of miniatures, often called “nips”. Currently, miniature containers are not covered by the MA bottle deposit statute that applies a 5-cent deposit to containers of soda and beer. Councilor McCarthy spoke about the number of empty miniature bottles that are littered throughout our city and emphasized the need to explore solutions. The bill would add a 5-cent deposit on the sale of nips, which is meant to incentivize consumers and others to return empty nip bottles for the 5-cent deposit redemption, rather than improperly disposing of them. Councilor Jackson rose to ask that the term “nip” be removed from the Council resolution, given its connotation as an ethnic slur in certain contexts. The Council voted on the amended version without that terminology. 

NOTE: Summer City Council meetings are in Faneuil Hall while the Council Chamber undergoes renovations for universal accessibility.

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 July 2017 Meeting

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

Thursday, July 13, 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).

I. DESIGN REVIEW

17.1468 FPC 15-33 Sleeper Street
Applicant: Dan Gollinger, Dockside Place Condominium Association
Proposed Work: Replace two wood signs with two internally illuminated signs in the planting beds.

17.1298 FPC 5 Necco Street
Applicant: Peter Cavanaugh, General Electric
Proposed Work: InstalI bollards, site lighting, security cameras, fire department connections, and fuel intakes: amend CDA I 7.382FPC by modifying entrance canopies, tenant signage, and glazing at select windows; and amend CDA l7.I289FPC with minor chanues to the east facade of the connector bridge.

II. REVIEW and RATIFICATION OF June 8,2017 MINUTES 

III. STAFF UPDATES 

PROJECTED ADJOURNMENT: 7:30 PM 

FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION 

David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, John Karoff, Lynn Smiledge. Michele Yeeles Altemates: Thomas Rodde. Vacancy

originally posted 7.6.17