80 East Berkeley Street

New development is on our doorstep - don't forget to submit your comments.  The comment deadline is fast approaching (Sept 30th).   More details at the end of this post.

For those who are just hearing about it, 80 East Berkeley street is a proposal to put a larger commercial building at the corner of Shawmut/East Berkeley/Washington streets.  Currently this area is occupied by a public parking lot and an auto garage (which rents their parking out to Mings Market).

For an overview of the project, read this Globe article.

For complete project information, read the PNF.  This will download a PDF file of the Project Notification Form.   It's a real big document that contains everything about the project.  Drawings, renderings, traffic analysis, costs, Zoning, History, Environment Impact.  It's worth the read just to see what goes into the planning of projects.

The basics

The proposal is for an 11 story office building at the location.  The height is the maximum allowable height based on a re-zoning effort that took place last year.   Eight Streets Castle Square and Old Dover opposed the higher zoning for that block.  The city wanted a larger building on that corner, calling that corner and East Berkeley overall are a 'gateway' to the South End.   The developer has chosen to build an Office building rather than residential.   

There will be 2-4 commercial businesses on the first floor.  The building entrance is to be on East Berkeley, but the entrance to the garage will be on Washington street (which is planned to be a 2-way street)  There will be larger sidewalks on the E Berkeley and Washington sides, and a 'pull over' lane in front of the main entrance so daytime pickup-dropoff and evening valet service will not block E Berkeley traffic.   BTD says there are currently no plans to change any street parking availability on E Berkeley street.

What you can do

The BRA (Boston Redevelopment Authority) is seeking public comment until September 30th.  Everyone is going to have an opinion on the development.  The NA ha heard both positive and negative comments on the proposal.  If you have any comments on the project, your best way to share your thoughts are to write the BRA directly. The more letters they have, the more they will listen to the public.

Sending a US Mail letter or email are the best way to share your opinion.  A phone call may not be recorded as an opinion, but you are free to phone or email with any questions.   

Send all comments to

Casey Ann Hines

Project Manager

BRA

One City Hall Square

Boston, MA  02201

617-918-4244

casey.hines.BRA@citofboston.gov 

Eight Streets

We will also be sending a letter from the Neighborhood Association.  We certainly support all the construction going on in the East end of the South End.  An open and often barren area of our neighborhood will become a vibrant new area will many new stores and residents.  

But as with the zoning, we are concerned about the height of the building.   A slightly shorter building would ease the transition from the 4-story residential area into the new development.  A setback on the Berkeley edge would also help lessen the building's impact.   

Remember to get your feedback to the BRA by September 30th.

South End Trash meeting: W, 9/11

A reminder that there is a meeting this Wednesday (9/11) to discuss the trash pilot program.

As I've announced at several meetings, an area in the western South End has been doing a trash experiment.   They were not allowed to put trash out until 11pm the night before trash pickup.   In June there was a public meeting where those residents said the streets were a little cleaner, but 11pm was too late.   At that time, the pilot program was continued, but with the earliest time you can put trash out moved back to 9pm.

On Wednesday those residents will be allowed to comment again on how they believe the pilot program worked with 9pm pickup.   If the City/Public Works receives positive feedback from those residents, the 9pm trash put-out time program will be expanded South End wide.   At today's meeting of South End NA leaders, a vote was taken to support the extension of the 9pm time.   The city will take all these feedback into consideration when making their final decision.

If you would like to hear those residents' feedback on the pilot, or would like to comment on the change in put-out time, please join us at Wednesday's meeting.   (Everyone has many trash concerns, but this meeting will be limited to a change in put-out time.  The city is having a multi-neighborhood meeting on trash collection on October 9th - more information as it becomes available)

Wednesday, September 11
6:30pm
South End Branch library (Tremont & W Newton)

An article on the meeting was also in the South End News.

Follow us on twitter!   @eightstreets

September ESNA Meeting

Hope everyone had a good summer.   Hard to believe Autumn is around the corner.

This Wednesday brings the return of our monthly business meetings.   We meet the first Wednesday of each month at the Boston ballet in their 5th floor board room.   The agenda for the meetings is kept up to date on the web site, and is sent out in these emails/blog posts close to meeting time when all presenters have been finalized.     The meeting schedule for thour Google Calendar (if you use google, you can add our calendar to yours...
e rest of the year is below, and is also on

And don't forget our Fall Pot Luck this weekend (Sept 7th).   See web page for details.

Business meeting schedule:

2013:
September 4
October 2
November 6
December 4
2014:
January 8th   (2nd wednesday,   first wednesday is 1/1...)
February 5
March 5
April 2
May 7
June 4

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Business meeting Wednesday, Sept 4th.  6:30-8:30 at the Boston Ballet 5th floor board room (Corner of Warren & Clarendon)

Usual meeting format:

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

On the agenda this month:

• Boston Ballet
• 254 Shawmut Ave
• 80 East Berkeley
• Open Member Discussion

Boston Ballet, who has allowed us to use the meeting room for several years now, will tell us about their exciting program celebrating their 50th year, and a free event coming to Boston Common this month.

254 Shawmut wish to add onto the rear of their building and seeing support (non-opposition) from the neighborhood.  Plans will be presented and a vote taken.

Finally we'll update you on the public meeting that took place last week concerning the proposed development on the Shawmut/E Berkeley/Washington parking lots, known as 80 E Berkeley.  We'll blog about this after the meeting, but in the meantime, please read the PNF from this BRA link.


Hope to see everyone there!