Dear Members and Friends,
January… has truly brought the darkness of midwinter. Time for reassessment and planning ahead.
On January 19, the BPDA gaveled through approval of the Longwood proposal, ignoring the petition of thousands to follow the LMA guidelines on building heights relating to shadowing public parks. There is a proposal to do a study on shadows ‘after the fact’ which was aptly summarized during the hearing as “It seems to me that what we’re asking here is to open the barn door and let all the horses out and then study … the barn door.”
We welcome Mayor Wu will to shed some light on the Fenway at her first state of the City address at the MGM Music Hall.
For this and more, see below:
The Week Ahead
Out with the old!
1. MATTRESS REMOVAL City of Boston began a new mattress recycling program in January. Help keep landfills mattress free.
2. RECYCLE YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE. Last call!!! The Department of Public Works will pick 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!
UPCOMING DEVELOPMENT & PLANNING MEETINGS
1. Tuesday Jan 24 6 – 8 p.m. Boston University Institutional Master Plan Taskforce – Virtual Public Meeting
This is a combined Task Force and Public Meeting, beginning with a 30-minute presentation of the project by the development team, followed by a 45-minute discussion of the IAG, followed by 45 minutes of public Q&A.
2. Wednesday Jan 25 7 p.m. Mayor Wu’s State of the City Address A ticketed live event at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway, and streaming online. Mayor Wu’s first State of the City Address.
3. Thursday Jan 26 – 6-8 p.m. Virtual BPDA Public Meeting – Inclusionary Development Policy Zoning Amendment
The Inclusionary Development Policy (the “IDP”), first created in 2000, was last updated in December 2015. Over 2022, MOH has worked with a consultant, RKG Associates, to better understand the feasibility of increasing the requirements of the IDP. At the same time, the MOH also released the Boston Housing Conditions and Market Trends report to better understand the affordable housing needs of Boston’s residents.
4. 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.
SAVE THE DATES
Wednesday Feb 1 – 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/.
Thursday Feb 2 – Free First Thursdays – Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum 3-9 p.m.
registration required – RESERVE YOUR free ticket online
https://www.gardnermuseum.org/experience/thursday-nights
Wednesday Apr 26 – 6 – 8:30 p.m. Muddy River MMOC 2023 Public Meeting, at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.
Fenway Civic Association 