Dear Members and Friends
We hope you have a chance to visit The Embrace, the newly installed statue at the 1965 Freedom Plaza on Boston Common, ’65 being the year Dr. King spoke there to a crowd of 22,000 Bostonians. It is a monument to the strength of love of family and community, of unity and so much more.
Members of the Fenway Community are united in asking the City of Boston to uphold a policy to protect our Emerald Necklace from shadows. We encourage you to sign onto one of the petitions to be presented to the BPDA, and to participate in this week’s BPDA meeting on Thursday, January 19th either in-person or online. (see more below).
Protect the Emerald Necklace parks—please don’t take our sunlight away!
Save Boston’s Emerald Necklace
For this and more, see below:
The Week Ahead
Out with the old!
1. MATTRESS REMOVAL City of Boston begins a new mattress recycling program this month. Help keep landfills mattress free.
2. RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE. The Department of Public Works picks up Christmas trees in January to be shredded for compost. If you have two recycling days, they pick up trees on your first recycling day. Check the Trash and Recycling Day app to find your tree collection dates. Please place your trees on the curb by 6 a.m., without ornaments or lights.
In with the new!
3. Boston Parks launches Winter Fitness series – online & free!
Ready to get moving? Everyone, at every fitness level is invited to join in, feel good, visit https://www.boston.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation/boston-parks-fitness-series to learn more!
FENWAY CARES
Wednesday Jan 18 – 3:30 p.m. Fenway Cares – Food Distribution
Need food? Fenway Cares will be distributing fresh produce, grains, and more at Fenway Community Center and Symphony Community Park. For more information, visit: https://fenwaycommunitycenter.org/fenway-cares/.
DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING MEETINGS
1. Tuesday Jan 17 6 p.m. NIC meeting
https://berklee.zoom.us/j/92462899737?pwd=NXF4elVMazQ4TFgvVWY4SkdsUWE0UT09
Meeting ID: 924 6289 9737 Passcode: 251907
Hear from Berklee and the NIC* regarding new Fenway legislative maps, Institutional Master Plan updates, Berklee funded community grants, Traffic Calming plans for the East Fenway, and subcommitee updates. *The Neighborhood Improvement Committee (NIC) is an all volunteer group of Fenway Neighborhood residents, organizations and businesses, facilitated by Berklee College of Music, with the goal of encouraging shared stewardship of the Fenway Neighborhood.
2. Thursday Jan 19 5:40 p.m. BPDA meeting, including hearing on Longwood place (aka the Simmons Project) scheduled for 5:40 p.m.
Two petitions are circulating; please sign before the meeting:
Protect the Emerald Necklace parks—please don’t take our sunlight away! petition to protect the Emerald Necklace by requesting the BPDA to adhere to its Interim Longwood Medical Area Guidelines, which would limit shadows and building heights for Longwood Place. To read the petition and sign, visit: https://chng.it/BYxwkNbRby
Save Boston’s Emerald Necklace
Stop 300 Foot tall towers from surrounding Boston’s Emerald Necklace Parks! This petition puts forth the case, with links to supporting articles and background information.
Jan 19 BPDA Meeting info:
The Boston Redevelopment Authority d/b/a the Boston Planning & Development Agency (“BPDA”), pursuant to Sections 80A-2 and 80C-5.4 of the Boston Zoning Code (“Code”), hereby gives notice that it will hold a virtual Public Hearing on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 5:40 p.m., televised on Boston City TV (Xfinity Channel 24, RCN Channel 13, and Verizon Fios Channel 962) and live streamed on boston.gov, to consider the proposed Development Plan for Planned Development Area No. 134, Longwood Place, submitted by SCD Pilgrim Road Master Planner LLC c/o Skanska USA Commercial Development Inc. Members of the public may participate in this Public Hearing by registering at https://bit.ly/JanBPDAMeeting or emailing your testimony to BRABoard@boston.gov. Emailed testimony will be read aloud during the hearing. The Proposed Project may be viewed at the following link: https://www.bostonplans.org/projects/development-projects/longwood-place
ARTS
Friday Jan 20 – 7 p.m. Concert at Kaji Aso Studio
Local concert pianist & contemporary music composer, Yuhang Li, performs Mozart, Schumann, Chopin and original music. This event is free. Complete info at: www.kajiasostudio.com
UPCOMING DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING MEETINGS
*This meeting was rescheduled from 1/12/23*
Monday Jan 30 – 6-8 p.m 165 Park Drive Public meeting
The BPDA will be hosting a virtual public meeting for the 165 Park Drive project; construction of two 7-story residential buildings in the rear of the site of the Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral. A Letter of Intent is under review. One building will be affordable condominiums, and the second will be market rate rentals. Click this link to submit your comments now through Feb 3 by going to the project page and filling out the online comments form.
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood
Fenway Civic Association 