Taylor street construction hearings

We have two neighborhood construction projects in the works, both of which abut Taylor/Watson park.  Both of these projects have hearings before the Landmarks District Commission on this Tuesday (Nov 1).  While both projects are currently scheduled for our December meeting, some abutting neighbors might be interested in attending these public hearings.

Both of these are Advisory Review hearings.  This means Landmarks is not taking any kind of vote or issuing any approvals.  Construction projects ask for an advisory hearing to basically take their early designs before landmarks to say "This is what I'm planning on doing - what's your opinion".    This allows projects to get Landmarks feedback before they spend time and money on detailed plans.  Landmarks then gives their feedback on the project's current direction, allowing the project to make any modifications to the project before the official Landmarks hearing.

Since this is an advisory hearing, there is no neighborhood association feedback as of yet, but this is an opportunity for residents to see a project in it's early phase.   I don't know what kind of (if any) feedback form residents is allowed during an advisory review.

Unfortunately, although a stone's throw from each other, the two hearings are scheduled 3 hours apart...  The hearings take place at City Hall, room 801.  After 5:30, enter city hall via theCongress street entrance.

5:30-6:00 - Advisory review of 8 Taylor street - "proposal to add onto the wood-clad townhouse at 8 Taylor st, which includes an addition onto the adjacent vacant lot at 10 Taylor st."   (10 Taylor is currently used as a driveway for 8 Taylor, and is enclosed by a stockade fence).  The hearing should cover both height and materials of the proposed addition.

9:00 - Advisory review of 251 Shawmut ave (Abandoned building at corner of Shawmut and Milford).   This hearing is for the external building changes.  This hearing will discuss extending the large plat windows on the first floor around to the Milford side, adding oriels, and recladding the external wall the faces the park.  The hearing will not address their request to change zoning of the 1st floor from Commercial to Residential.  ESNA should be taking that issue up at our December meeting.


Again, both these items are currently on our December agenda.   Another blog/email will go out before that meeting to give you extensive project detail for both projects, as each one will be coming to the NA to ask for our support for their projects.   These Advisory Review hearings are for direct abuters and interested parties to get  more information.  If you can't make the hearings, you'll still get all the project information and get a chance to vote on the proposals at our December meeting.

November ESNA Meeting

Hi Everyone!

Our next monthly Eight Streets business meeting will be this Wednesday, November 2nd in the Boston Ballet 5th floor board room (corner of Warren & Clarendon streets)

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

On the agenda this month:

• Buttery update - The South End Butter will be expanding into the adjacent space, formerly occupied by Hudson. They'll give us an update on what changes we can expect to see at the location.
• Let's Talk Trash - this our big Trash meeting.   Frank O'Brien from Boston's Public Works Dept will be joining us in a discussion about Trash.   Frank will tell us what the City's responsibilities are for trash collection, and will take your questions about trash and street sweeping. We'll also discuss what we the residents can do to ensure a cleaner neighborhood, including putting trash out correctly and grabbing a broom from time to time. I hope we can use this meeting as a spring board to a neighborhood trash education campaign
• Taylor Park Construction - we have two construction projects next to Taylor/Watson park that are on our December agenda. We'll finish tonight's meeting with a brief update on what will be discussed at the December meeting.

I hope many of you will be able to make it. Trash is always a hot topic, but we're going to make this a 'solutions' discussion rather than just a grip session.


A reminder that we meet on the First Wednesday of every month, September through June.  This detailed agenda tends to go out a few days before the meeting because our guest list is often in flux. I put potential topics on the web site as soon as they believe they can attend a meeting, but hold off on this detailed agenda until everyone is 100% confirmed, so everyone can see one final correct agenda.  



Hope to see everyone a the meeting this Wednesday! The Haley's will also be bringing in some refreshments, so save room for some dessert!

Leaf and Yard Waste collection

Flurries on Thursday not withstanding, it's still Autumn, and time to clean out those yards.

The city has begun collecting Leafs and Yard waste.   Green waste will be picked up on Recycling Day, between now and November November 30th.  For Eight Streets, this means Tuesday mornings.through the end of November.

Yard waste needs to be in paper bags, or open barrels.   No plastic bags - anything in a plastic bag will be taken away as trash.  Tree branches must be cut to no longer than 3 foot lengths, and tied with string

For complete details, or for more information, please see the City Leaf and Yard Waste web site

City Council-at-Large candidates forum

The neighborhood organizations of Boston, including Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the West End, the North End, the South End and others, are again coming together to jointly sponsor the 4th Biennial Boston Neighborhoods City Councilor-at-Large Candidates Forum, to take place on Monday, October 24, 2011, 6:30pm - 8:00 pm, in the Auditorium at the Park Street School, 67 Brimmer Street, on the Flat of Beacon Hill.  The forum's moderator will again be Peter Nessen, a long-time Beacon Hill resident and well-known former governmental official. 


City Councilors-at-Large represent everyone in Boston, and will be on the ballot in every districts.   The candidates for City Coincilor-at-Large are, in alphabetical order. 

Felix Arroyo (I)
John Connolly (I)
Will Dorcena
Michael Flaherty
Stephen Murphy (I)
Ayanna Pressley (I)
Sean Ryan

The top 4 candidates will take the At-large seats.

A Reminder the October 19th is the last day to register to vote in the November elections.   For complete City voter information, please see this web page.  You can also visit the State web page on Voter Information.    And, to debunk a myth, the city does not use voter registration for the jury pools - so it's save to be a registered voter  :)

Ringgold - Halloween is back on

Friends of Ringgold will be partnering with Friends of Peters Park to hold the Ringgold Halloween Celebration in Peters Park this year!!

The celebration will be from 4:30 to 6 in Peters park.   Friends of Ringgold is looking for volunteers to help set up, clean up, and "donate savory food items".  To help with Halloween please email ringgoldpark@verizon.net.

Additional info:

We will host a cleanup beforehand, tentatively scheduled for Sunday, Oct 30, from 2 to 4 pm.  Rakes, bags and gloves provided. Please join us in making this fun community event a success!  Our friends at the D4 Police Precinct are planning to close Shawmut Ave and Waltham Street for a short period so we can safely parade back towards our traditional trick or treating route, up Waltham and Hanson Streets before branching out to surrounding streets. All are welcome!

South End News also posted an article on the fountain construction... 

To get more involved with Ringgold park, please email the Friends of Ringgold park....

South End House Tour

The South End Historical Society's 43rd Annual South End House Tour is Saturday, October 15th from 10 am to 5 pm.  

 

From a sleek and contemporary reinterpretation of a row house to a family-friendly, traditional Victorian home, each of the featured spaces presents a different South End story.  Whether you are looking for fine historic architectural details, seeking design inspiration, or simply want to get a glimpse of the view from one of the South End’s best located roof decks—there is something for everyone on this tour.

 

General tickets are on sale and can be purchased through our website at www.southendhistoricalsociety.org or by check by calling 617-536-4445.  General tickets purchased in advance are $25 each.  Upgrade to a $50 Sponsor's ticket and attend the private party after the Tour! 

 

General tickets are $30 on the day of the Tour and will be available at the Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, or Rondeau-Tierney Real Estate, 69 Appleton Street. 

 

Please call 617-536-4445 or email admin@southendhistoricalsociety.org with questions.

 

Ms. Hope Shannon

Executive Director

The South End Historical Society

532 Massachusetts Avenue

Boston, MA 02118

p. 617-536-4445

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter
www.southendhistoricalsociety.org

October Eight Streets meeting

Greetings Eight Streets members

 

A reminder that our monthly meeting is Tomorrow, October 5^th at the Boston Ballet’s 5^th floor board room.

We have no business items on the agenda this month.  I had hoped to have the city come and talk about Trash, but that will be happening at our November meeting.

Rather than cancel the meeting, I hope we can get together and get some engagement going.   If we want the Association to thrive, we need more participation by members and residents.   Some things we can work on over the next year include:

• Crime – Bernard has volunteered to work with the OD Crime committee.   Do we have others interested in crime?  Maybe put tips together and flier the neighborhood.   Have a neighborhood walk-through with BPD to point out hot spots and see how we can make our neighborhood safer?   Do we have enough interest to get neighborhood watches together?
• Trash – the City’s DPW will come next month to talk about the City and trash collection.  What can we do?   Fliers and brochures delivered to residents to educate US on proper trash containers & collection procedures?   How can we work to keep our neighborhood clean between trash days?  Should we fundraise to get big-bellies throughout the neighborhood?   Any other trash ideas?   Or better – people who want to form a trash committee?
• Greenspace – we have two parks in our neighborhood, we’re adjacent to a third, and are home to one of the largest community gardens in the city.   Is the association supporting them enough?  Is there more we can do to help the spaces “Friends” organizations?   Raise money?  Help with projects? 
• City services – How’s our infrastructure?   I attend a quarterly meeting with DPW.  Are others interested in joining in?   Do we need a place where people can report issues to ESNA so we can bring them to the city?  Or is Citizens Connect enough?  (Hope everyone is using that app;  :) 
• The neighborhood!!! – We moved to a blog form email to reach more people.   Are we reaching enough of our residents?   Should we also facebook?  Tweet?   Should we flier or direct mail residents to remind them we’re here?    Are you interested in a civic outreach campaign?  (possibly in conjunction with the fundraising mentioned above)
• Activities – We haven’t had many activities outside of the monthly meetings in a while – and the few we have had were lightly attended.   What kind of activities do you want to see?   What’s fun and exciting?   Are these events we can hold that tie together some of the ideas mentioned above?

None of this can happen without you.  We can have a passive neighborhood with Heather & I minding the shop and blogging you news.  Or we can have an active organization with more events and outreach to our community.   It’s in your hands.  Only your participation can decide what kind of association you want your neighborhood to be.

So come join us at this Wednesday’s meeting.  Regular meeting format with socializing and meet & greet form 6:30-7, and the business meeting starting at 7.

I hope you can make it for some great discussions!!!

- John