FPNA October Neighborhood Gathering & Spooky Happenings

You Are Invited To A Fort Point Seaport Hybrid Neighborhood Gathering Tuesday, October 26, 2021 6 pm to 8 pm in person at District Hall (75 Northern Ave.)  or  via Zoom Sign Up Today featuring Seaport Winter Wonderland & Upcoming Programming at Martin's Park plus Our C-6 Community Officers District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn including  Neighborhood News & Conversations Construction & Development Updates from the Channel to the Harbor Latest News on Redistricting & Reprecincting  Neighborhood Cleanup and Daffodil Planting Day & A New Restaurant Marcelino's Boutique Bar 2 Northern Ave (formerly the Daily Catch) requesting support for all liquor alcohol license

Your Choice: In Person or Online You choose how you would like to participate when you Sign Up. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Please note: the sign up confirmation will include the zoom link even if you plan to attend in person. Please remember if you are visiting us at District Hall to wear your mask. We look forward to seeing you all.

Upcoming Neighborhood Happenings October 15 - 17: 42nd Annual Fort Point Open Studios throughout the neighborhood and online. October 19: 776 Summer Street (L Street Power Plant) Deconstruction Informational Meeting at 6pm. Register. October 20: Conservation Commission Meeting  Neighborhood Topics Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-1824 and BOS File No. 2021-049 from Epsilon Associates on behalf of Channelside Acquisitions, LLC for the proposed replacement and reconfiguration of subsurface utilities located at 244-284 A St, South Boston, MA Notice of Intent for DEP File No. 006-18XX and BOS File No. 2021-XXX from Nitsch Engineering on behalf of Seaport D Title Holder LLC for the proposed demolition of a parking lot and construction of a new building and underground parking garage located at 65 Northern Ave/88 Seaport Blvd, South Boston, MA Saturday, October 23, through Friday, October 29: Early Voting for the 2021 Mayoral & City Council Municipal Election (November 2) Saturday and Sunday at Condon School (200 D St.) from 11am to 7pm.  Thursday, October 28 at District Hall (75 Northern Ave.) from 12pm to 8pm. Halloween Fun  Boston Children's Museum: Visit the Bootanical Garden starting October 20 and the. Halloween Spooktacular on October 29 from 6pm - 9pm. Spooky Movies on the Greenway at 6pm: Get Out (R) on October 21 and Hocus Pocus (PG) on October 28. Pappas Way: October 24th Barks, Brews & Boos: Family and pet friendly Halloween Fun from 3pm - 6pm. Trunk or Treat for Children aged 0 - 8 years old on November 1st at South Boston Neighborhood House Preschool Parking Lot (1187 Columbus Rd) from 3:45pm - 5:15pm. (Rescheduled to 11/1 due to weather)  Trick or Treat on Broadway: October 29 from 4pm - 6pm hosted by South Boston Chamber of Commerce businesses & South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation.(new listing)   Let's build a better neighborhood together. Contact FPNA  today! originally published 10.16.21

244 - 284 A Street IAG Public Meeting Tomorrow

updated 10.25.21: BPDA IAG Presentation.

updated 10.22.21: BPDA IAG Meeting Recording. The presentation from October and September should be posted per Aisling Kerr. Contact information below. 

updated 10.20.21: BPDA Request for Supplemental Information is now available. 

The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) is hosting a 244 - 284 A Street Impact Advisory Group Public Meeting from 12pm - 1:30pm on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. The meeting will be held online or in person at Related Beal's Channelside Sales Office at 300 A Street (in person attendees will all need to wear masks, in compliance with the City of Boston's indoor mask mandate). 

For those who may prefer to join the meeting remotely, please register in advance. After registering, you will receive an email confirmation from Zoom with a personalized link to join the meeting directly. 

Any questions, contact Aisling Kerr, BPDA Senior Project Manager.

originally published 10.19.21

Your South Boston Newsletter from Haley Dillon

South Boston highlights from your South Boston Liaison, Haley Dillon.  Sign up to receive the complete Your South Boston Newsletter directly in your inbox. NEW PLAY LOT OPENED AT MEDAL OF HONOR PARK IN SOUTH BOSTON The McGrath Family joined the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and fellow South Boston residents of all ages to open a new play area for children ages two to five built in memory of their beloved son, Colin. The 2021 park renovation includes age-appropriate play equipment, safety surfacing, site furnishings, landscaping, and upgrades to drainage for the splash pad. Construction costs were $217,500 funded by the Mayor’s Capital Improvement Program and a generous donation by playground equipment manufacturer Kompan. The design team of Kyle Zick Landscape Architect Inc and the contractor Haven Contracting Corp - EJ O'Sullivan made the plans a reality. Learn more.

City Announcements EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS IN BOSTON FOR 2021 MUNICIPAL ELECTION The early voting period for the 2021 Municipal Election takes place from Saturday, October 23, through Friday, October 29. During that time, voters registered in Boston will be able to cast their ballots in person before the Municipal Election on Tuesday, November 2. Any voter registered in Boston can vote at any early voting location. You don’t need an excuse or reason to vote early.   Nearby early voting:  Condon School (200 D St.) this Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 7pm.  District Hall (75 Northern Ave.) on Thursday, October 28 from 12pm to 8pm.  Learn more about early voting. MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES SWIM SAFELY PARTNERSHIP, AN INITIATIVE TO INCREASE WATER SAFETY FOR BOSTON RESIDENTS Mayor Kim Janey announced the Swim Safely Partnership, aimed to increase access to swimming lessons, especially for those who have faced historic and economic barriers. Mayor Janey made the announcement today at Roxbury’s YMCA, an organization participating in the multi-part community strategy. This initiative seeks to increase swim safety by offering free YMCA swim lessons for children and adults, expanding the lifeguard workforce through free training, and plans to implement a pilot program that offers free swimming lessons for Boston Public Schools (BPS) students at some schools as part of the curriculum. Learn more here. NEW DEVELOPMENT REVIEW GUIDELINES LAUNCHED TO REDUCE TRAFFIC, CONGESTION Mayor Kim Janey announced that the Boston Transportation Department, in partnership with the Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) and the Environment Department, has launched guidelines for new developments over 50,000 square feet, which will facilitate a more efficient and transparent development review process. As part of the new guidelines, developers of large projects must complete a demand management point system tool to increase access to sustainable transportation for their tenants. Learn more here. MAYOR JANEY ANNOUNCES GRANTEES OF FOOD SOVEREIGNTY AND COMMUNITY GRANTS  Mayor Kim Janey and the Mayor’s Office of Food Access (OFA) announced the distribution of $2.2 million in grant funding to 39 local, non-profit organizations through the Food Sovereignty and Community Grants programs, funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Through the five Food Sovereignty grants awarded, 500 Boston residents and 11 community-based sites will receive raised beds and 1,800 subsidized Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) boxes will be provided for older adults and adults with disabilities. Submit proposals by Oct 29. Learn more at bit.ly/foodaccessRFP. BOSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY HOMEWORK ASISTANCE PROGRAM The BPL's Homework Assistance Program (HAP) offers free after-school homework help, mentorship, and activities for students Grades K-8. Attend in person or online for help in English, Arabic, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Learn more at https://bpl.org/homework/.

INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE BOSTON PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT AGENCY’S WORK IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD? Sign-up for emails by interest, neighborhood and adjacent neighborhood (South Boston Waterfront and South Boston) or citywide to receive notifications about upcoming public meetings, development projects and planning studies, and the latest news from the BPDA:  http://www.bostonplans.org/about-us/get-involved Follow the BPDA on social media for project updates, information on upcoming public meetings, and news about our work:  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BostonPlans Twitter: https://twitter.com/BostonPlans Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bostonplans/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bostonplans

Your South Boston Liaison, Haley Dillon

Born and raised in South Boston, Haley attended Gate of Heaven and Boston Latin Academy, and received her Bachelors of Arts in Communications from the University of Maine at Orono. Read More.

Fort Point Landmarks October 2021 Meeting Thursday

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

Thursday, October 14, 2021

6:00 PM

This hearing will be held virtually and NOT in person. 

You can participate in this hearing by going to our Zoom meeting link 

or by calling 929-205-6099 and entering meeting id 891 9136 5404# 

You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.gov 

I.  VIOLATIONS 

APP # 22.0127 FPC   253 SUMMER STREET Continued from the 4/08/2021 and 6/10/2021 FPCLDC Public Hearings. 

Applicant: : COJE Management Group, Chris Jamison

Proposed Work: Ratify a patio expansion, including the installation of pavers, planters, lighting, furniture, and associated landscaping (Violation # VIO.21.009)

II. DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 22.0419 FPC  44 Farnsworth Street
Applicant: Laurel Christensen

Proposed work: Install new signage.

APP # 22.0422 FPC  344 Congress Street. Withdrawn by staff. 
Proposed work: Install new signage.  

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. 

APP # 22.0343 FPC   381 Congress Street: At the Congress Street elevation, remove copper cornice to repair underlying masonry and reinstall/ replace in kind. At the rear elevation, install mockups for cleaning, repairs, and masonry coating.

APP # 22.0223 FPC   383 Congress Street: At the seasonal patio at the Boston Wharf Road façade, replace stationary fabric wall panels with power-operated retractable panels (work previously approved administratively at the 3/12/2020 FPCLDC Public Hearing).

IV Advisory Review

7 Channel Center Street

Proposed work: Construct a new building. 

V  RATIFICATION OF 9/09/2021 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES

VI  STAFF UPDATES

VII  Projected Adjournment: 8:30 pm

FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION

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

Alternates: Thomas Rodde, Vacancy

Boston City Council Look at Downtown MHP, BERDO, Redistricting, School Buses, Rental Conditions & More

City Councilor-At-Large Michelle Wu publishes notes from Boston City Council meetings. Below are some highlights from September 22 and September 29, 2021 City Council meetings:

VOTES

Amending the Downtown Municipal Harbor Plan Resolution: The Council voted to approve a resolution from Councilor Edwards in support of amending the Downtown Municipal Harbor Plan.

Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance: The Council voted unanimously to approve the Building Energy Reporting and Disclosure Ordinance (BERDO), amending the City of Boston Code to set emissions targets and reporting requirements for annual energy use and water use for buildings greater than 20,000 square feet, and requiring emissions reductions compliance to decarbonize the City of Boston’s building stock. The 3,500 buildings subject to this ordinance account for only 4% of Boston’s building stock, but over 70% of building emissions. This ordinance also establishes the Emissions Review Board to increase accountability and transparency and the Building Emissions Investment Fund to support local building carbon abatement projects, prioritizing projects that benefit environmental justice communities, develop workforce opportunities, improve public health and increase affordable housing opportunities. This ordinance is known as BERDO 2.0 because it builds on the first iteration of BERDO, spearheaded by Mayor Tom Menino in 2013, which required public disclosure of building energy and water usage but did not require emissions reductions. 

Reproductive Freedom and Women’s Health Protections Resolution: The Council voted unanimously to approve a resolution from Councilor Mejia calling on Congress to affirm reproductive freedom and pass the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would codify the right for doctors to provide and patients to access abortion care free from medically unnecessary bans and restrictions and fight back against the calculated attacks on reproductive rights and freedom across the country.

MATTERS RECENTLY HELD FOR POSSIBLE ACTION

Redistricting Process: Councilor Arroyo reported back as Chair of the Committee on Census Redistricting to discuss a hearing recently held to discuss the reprecincting process in the City of Boston. The process will begin in earnest in January 2022 and will continue until October, a year before the municipal elections in November 2023. (Remains in Committee)

REPORTS OF PUBLIC OFFICERS AND OTHERS

Newmarket Business Improvement District: Communication was received from Susan L. Sullivan, Executive Director of the Newmarket Business Association, regarding a proposed petition for the creation of a Newmarket Business Improvement District. (Referred to the Committee on Planning, Development and Transportation)

FILES

Review of Rental Unit Conditions, Standards, and Inspections: Councilors Breadon, Edwards and Bok called for a hearing to review rental unit conditions, standards and inspections in the City of Boston. The City of Boston Code requires non-exempt owners of rental units to register each unit with the Inspectional Services Department (ISD), and generally requires inspections of all units every 5 years. The Code also allows for new tenants to request an inspection within 24 hours of moving into a new rental dwelling unit, with ISD inspecting the unit no later than 2 business days of receiving the request. However, rental unit registration status and information is not publicly accessible, leaving tenants and members of the public with limited means to determine whether a rental unit is in compliance, and the Code does not currently require property owners and agents to disclose all individuals or entities with business ownership interest in a rental unit to ISD during the registration process. (Referred to the Committee on Housing and Community Development)

Non-Criminal Disposition of Fines Home Rule Petition: Councilors Edwards, Bok, and Breadon filed a home rule petition regarding the maximum fine resulting from violations of ordinances, by-laws, rules and regulations, which is currently $300. The low dollar amount for fines reduces the efficacy of important tenant protection laws and regulations, including regarding problem properties and short-term rentals. If approved by the City Council, Mayor, Massachusetts State Legislature, and Governor, this special law would give the City of Boston the opportunity to propose specific fine increases up to $3,000, which would then be reviewed by the Boston City Council. (Referred to the Committee on Government Operations)

Boston Public Schools Bus Transportation Reliability: Councilor Edwards called for a hearing to discuss Boston Public Schools’ bus transportation reliability, after news reports of students arriving late to or missing school because of unreliable bus transportation. (Referred to the Committee on Education)

UPCOMING HEARINGS (Watch Online)

• Next City Council meeting will be on October 6, 2021 at 12PM

For complete notes of Boston City Council meetings, visit MichelleForBoston.com to sign up to receive Council Notes automatically.