Saturday, January 26, 2013

Keeping sidewalks safe

As we enter the season of warm days and cold nights, we'd like to remind everyone that we need to keep our sidewalks ice free for the safety of everyone.

While everyone knows they need to shovel their sidewalks after a snow, most people don't realize they need to make sure there's no ice on their sidewalks.   As snow melts or water runs off rooftops, it risks re-freezing on the sidewalk after the sun goes down and temperatures drop again.   It's the owner's responsibility to make the sidewalks safe by sanding, removing or using an ice melting solution on icy sidewalks and steps.  

Not keeping sidewalks and stairways free of ice can result in the same city fine that you get if you don't shovel snow.

The problem is compounded in our area due to a change in government rules.   Residents are no longer allowed to connect downspouts (gutters) to the storm drain system.  For the rear of houses, gutters can drain to the yards or to a groundwater recharge system.   But there's often not room for either of those options in the front of buildings, so the downspouts now discharge right onto the sidewalks.  While usually not a problem, in wintertime this can create havoc.  On days like today where just a bit of snow is melting, even a small 'drip drip' from your gutter will create a thin sheen or water on the sidewalk, turning the sidewalk into a skating rink once the sun goes down.  

Please, everyone, check your sidewalks in the evenings and make sure they provide a safe environment for you and your neighbors!

Monday, January 07, 2013

Snow Emergency parking

South End Patch put together some important tips on parking in the South End during a snow emergency.  

You can find the article here

If there is a snow emergency - even if you're not parked on an artery, you can park at a local garage at a discount rate (and save yourself from shoveling out!).   A complete list can be found on this city web page.

A bunch of other information on the city during snow times can be found on the city's Know Snow web pages.  Surf to find out Boston Snow information, including signing up for alerts to get emails when a snow emergency has been declared.  

For those in the twittersphere, you can follow @NotifyBoston, which tweets not only snow alerts, but trash, traffic and other useful city information.   Visit and follow!

January business meeting



Our next monthly Eight Streets business meeting will be this Wednesday, January 9th (2013) in the Boston Ballet 5th floor board room (corner of Warren and Clarendon streets)


6:30-7 - Neighborhood Networking.   Meet your neighbors in an informal setting. 
7-8:30 - Business meeting.  

On the agenda this month:
  • Parklet discussion
  • Open Member Discussion
HI everyone.   Some last minute changes to the agenda.  54 Dwight will be coming before us in February for roof deck and balcony.  

BTD will also be joining us to discuss the proposed parklet on Hanson at Shawmut.  I've discussed the parklet at previous meetings, but BTD hadn't been in touch with us since their initial presentation at a South End forum meeting in May.   At previous meetings some people have questioned the need for a parklet in that area.  There has also been a negative article on the parklet penned by an abutter that made the papers. (the letter can still be found here).

BTD will be at the meeting to present information about the proposal, and to see if the neighborhood is interested in having the Hanson/Shawmut corner still be a part of the city's parklet program.

Additional reading:


Hope to see everyone there!  

And a reminder that the meeting schedule for the rest of the ESNA year is on line -  mark your calendars so you don't miss a meeting!