FPNA Neighborhood Gathering 5/28 and Upcoming Happennings

updated 5/29/24 with additional events, agendas and public feedback opportunities. 

 FPNA cordially invite you to
A Neighborhood Gathering

Tuesday, May 28th, 2024
6 pm to 8 pm
CRISPR Building Lobby
105 West First Street
or via Zoom

featuring
Our C-6 Community Officers 

MA Representative David Biele’s Office Legislative Updates

Sleeper Street & Congress Street 
Interim Changes to Improve Pedestrian Safety
Pat Hoey, Boston Transportation Department 

Farnsworth Family Shelter Update
Wind Down Plans
United Way & Unitarian Universalist Association

&
Cypher Street Pollution Remediation Update
Ileen Gladstone - Community LSP and SVP at GEI

introducing
Five Iron Golf 
311 Summer Street
A new virtual golf entertainment establishment
requesting an all alcohol license with 2AM closing

A Street Park Beer Garden
Wednesdays through Sundays June 16 - June 30
Craig Panzer - Roundhead Brewing
Cassandria Campbell - Fresh Food Generation
 
plus
Neighborhood Updates  
Fort Point Festival & Arts Marketplace and Development Updates

 Upcoming Happenings

Reserved Channel Project, approximately 1,739,000 square feet of development in eight new buildings. Building uses are proposed to include a variety of commercial, research and development, civic, residential, and ground floor uses. 

May 22: MEPA site visit at 4pm at 645 Summer Street

May 22: Wrap Up Meeting and MEPA Consultation at 6pm at the Condon School, 200 D St. and via zoom

June 7: Reserved Channel Master Plan Environmental Notification Form comments due to MEPA Analyst, Alexander Strysky. (new date)

June 7: Reserved Channel BPDA PNF comment deadline. (new date) 

May 31: Mayor Wu's South Boston Coffee Hour at the Medal of Honor Park from 9:30am to 10:30am. It' a great opportunity to talk to the Mayor and City department heads about neighborhood issues and ideas. You can even get a free plant grown by the Parks Department.

May 31: Comment deadline on the Cannabis Zoning Amendment to remove 1/2 mile buffer between establishments. The intent of the existing buffer zone is to prevent cannabis establishments from opening in clusters to ensure that no particular neighborhood would become the center for cannabis shops, and to ensure that dispensaries are spread out in the city, while allowing access to patients and customers. View amendment and public meeting. Read Councilor Flynn's position statement and hearing order.  Please send your comments to Will Cohen.  

June 1: 13th Annual Southie Family Fun Day hosted by the MOMS Club of South Boston from 11 am to 4 pm at DCR Marine Park, 98 Farragut Park. Free.

June 5: Conservation Commission Meeting at 6pm, includes 7 Channel Center St. NOI and related stormwater report regarding the demolition and construction and 232 A Street request for a determination of applicability. 

June 6: Life Science Public Safety In Person Public Meeting at 6pm at 105 W 1st St. This  is a public meeting in partnership with the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Boston Fire Department, and Boston Emergency Medical Services to discuss the public safety protocols and regulatory responsibilities currently in place for the Boston Life Sciences industry.  

June 8: Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series 2024 from 12pm to 3pm at The ICA. 

originally published 05.22.2024

Summer Street Pilot Open Houses

The Boston Transportation Department will be hosting three Summer Street Pilot Open Houses on:

• Tuesday, June 11th from 5PM - 8PM @ The 105 by Breakthrough (CRISPR) at 105 W 1st St.

• Friday, June 14th from 12:30PM - 1:30PM @ VIRTUAL via Zoom

• Monday, July 8th: Open House starts at 5pm with presentation and Q &A at 6:30pm will be held at the Tynan School, 650 E 4th St.

These events provide an opportunity for community members to hear updates on the Summer Street Pilot Program, ask questions, and provide feedback that will help shape the future of the corridor.

Can't make it in person? You can still provide feedback via email.

UUA & United Way Letter To the Neighborhood Regarding 24 Farnsworth Family Shelter

FPNA contacted the team managing the temporary emergency family shelter at 24 Farnsworth Street regarding their plans to conclude operations. They informed us that, in an effort to minimize disruptions for families, the UUA and United Way intend to request an extension through June.

This additional time will allow families with children attending Boston Public Schools to remain in their current school until the last day of classes on June 20. It will also facilitate adjustments to programming at the YMCA as they transition to their summer schedule.

The United Way and UUA are deeply grateful to the neighborhood for providing a temporary home to their guests in Fort Point and for the support they have received.

The shelter team will be present at the FPNA Monthly Neighborhood Gathering on May 28th at 6:00 pm to address any questions you may have. 

Greater details are addressed in their letter to the neighborhood below:

Dear Neighbors and Members of the Fort Point Community, 

This letter is to share with you our plans for successfully concluding the Safety Net Shelter program currently hosted at 24 Farnsworth Street by the Unitarian Universalist Association, which we first introduced in a March 5 letter to the Fort Point Neighborhood Association (FPNA). As part of the statewide system of shelter for unhoused families, this temporary overnight shelter has been open since March and hosts 25 families with children. The project has been a collaborative effort between the UUA as the owner of the space, the United Way as the funder for the program, the Boston Refugee and Immigrant Community Coalition (BRICC) who operates the shelter, and the state Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC). 

The shelter’s operations have been smooth over the past two months. Residents are driven daily to the YMCA for use of their facilities, as well as to BRICC’s community center in the afternoons. School age children have been attending Boston Public Schools. Both BPS and the YMCA have also been excellent partners in this project. BRICC staff and their security team work closely with the UUA’s operations and facilities staff to manage the space and ensure the safety of our guests. 

We have now been able to clarify the timeline needed to wind down the shelter program, which will conclude no later than June 30, 2024. BRICC has identified placements for roughly half of the families and is on track to place all our current guests by that date. The shelter was initially approved for temporary occupancy by the City from March through May, a timeline which was reflected in the usage agreement between BRICC and the UUA for the space, and this plan will require a 30-day extension of that initial agreement and authorization. The UUA and the United Way are fully supportive of BRICC’s proposal to extend the agreement for another month, pending City approval, to allow BRICC to complete these housing placements and ensure children can finish out the school year. The June 30 deadline is firmly supported by the UUA and the United Way, at which point the UUA will be returning the space its office usage. 

We also want to clearly convey the successes of this project to date. Throughout the project, we have had an outstanding team of collaborators with BRICC, the City of Boston and the EOHLC. We are also grateful for the consistent support we have received from the Fort Point community and the City of Boston. We have remained in regular contact through the FPNA, and the United Way has received dozens of questions and supportive comments from nearby residents and business owners. We have also received incredible offers of donations from local businesses. Flour donates breakfast every Sunday for the clients at the shelter. The Children’s Museum provided about 50 tickets so that families could enjoy the offerings there. South Boston Neighborhood House played a role in collecting in-kind donations for the site. 

We are reaching out to you, the members of the neighborhood, to share this update as we proceed with this approach. If you have any questions, please share them through the South Boston Neighbors Contact Form on the United Way's website. We will join the next FPNA meeting on May 28 to continue our ongoing conversation with the neighborhood. 

This has been an excellent model for how collaborative efforts can bridge the gap to stable housing that gives our families a new foundation to thrive in our community. We are extremely appreciative of the ways in which the neighborhood helped us and our partners to maintain the well-being and dignity of our guests. 

Thank you again for your ongoing support. 

Warmly, 

Carey McDonald
Executive Vice President
Unitarian Universalist Association 

Christi Staples
Vice President of Policy and Government Relations
United Way of Massachusetts Bay

Fort Point Landmarks May 2024 Public Meeting

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

Thursday, May 9, 2024

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 978 5612 1562# You can also submit written comments or questions to FortPointLDC@boston.

I.  DESIGN REVIEW HEARING

APP # 24.0905 FPC 35 THOMSON PLACE Moved to administrative review by staff

Applicant: Chris Ferragamo

Proposed Work: Install new entry door/upgrades at lobby. 

APP # 24.0899 FPC 15 CHANNEL CENTER STREET 

Applicant: Andrea Sonan 

Proposed Work: Replace the Fire Escape A in kind; masonry repairs at rear; disposal of Fire Escape A. 

II. ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW/APPROVAL

APP # 24.0882 FPC 274 SUMMER STREET: Install new vinyl window graphics.  

APP # 24.0905 FPC 35 THOMSON PLACE: Install new entry door/upgrades at lobby. 

APP # 24.0948 FPC 34 FARNSWORTH STREET: Remove existing door frame and hardware and replace with new door, frame and hardware. All to match existing in size, color and appearance.

III.  NEW BUSINESS

Discussion of proposed amendment to Section 8 of the Fort Point Channel Landmark District Study Report regarding provisions for the selection of Commission members and alternates from the district.

IV. RATIFICATION OF 4/11/24 PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES

V.  STAFF UPDATES

FORT POINT CHANNEL LANDMARK DISTRICT COMMISSION

Members: David Berarducci, Susan Goganian, Lynn Smiledge, Vacancy, Vacancy

Calling For Summer, Street Pilot Survey Feedback That Is

Updated 5/6/24: with May 10th survey deadline.

The City of Boston Transportation Division is seeking feedback on the Summer Street Pilot. Whether you are a pedestrian, bus rider, cyclist or driver, your input is not only valued but vital, as you have the closest touch points to this transportation corridor. 

Below you will find two ways to offer feedback, 1. Via Online Survey, and 2. Via Email (wherein you can expand your comments and attach media). Public comment via the survey will conclude on May 10th, 2024.

FEEDBACK OPPORTUNITIES

Take the Online Survey

Email your comments to transit@boston.gov

WHAT IS THE PILOT?

● 6 Month Painted Bus / Truck Lane Pilot between Dorchester Ave at South Station and Butler Freight Corridor

More on the Summer Street Pilot

PILOT GOALS

● Enable Sustainable Mobility with a focus on better conditions for buses and bikes

● Improve Safety for Bikes and Pedestrians with a focus on improved infrastructure

● Accommodate Economic Activity with improved Port/Maritime access and mobility options for people who live and work here

NEXT STEPS

Determination on Pilot Outcome in June 2024:

● Evaluation of User Feedback

● Technical Evaluation of Transportation Data

● Potential Outcomes:

1. Pilot largely left in place

2. Major modifications are made with some elements kept in place

3. Pilot is ended/elements removed

   
   

   originally published 04/24/24