Dear Members and Friends:
Put away your lights, trees and party hats, it’s time to get back to business. The hot topic continues to be development. There are a series of BPDA meetings this month on pending large projects with major impacts on our daily life. Also, there is a draft Squares + Streets Citywide Draft Zoning Amendment released Dec 5, and comments close Jan 28. This amendment was introduced in the holiday season, so you may not have seen it or understand its impacts. We hope you can review, engage, and help shape these projects so they benefit us all. Your input is valued.
If business is not your thing, maybe it’s art… there’s plenty of local offerings, including winter classes at Kaji Aso Studio.
Later in the month, we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – with special events in the Fenway listed below.
For all this and more, please read on…
OUT AND ABOUT?
MBTA: Shuttle Buses Replace Green Line from North Station to Babcock Street, Heath Street, Kenmore on January 3-13 and January 16-28 for Critical Track Work. More info here.
Want more info on the T? View the performance metric dashboards, showing stats on reliability, ridership slows zones and more.
Christmas Tree pickups – this is the final week for city pickup
Trees will be picked up the 2nd week of January, on your first recycling day. Check website for details: https://www.boston.gov/departments/public-works/leaf-and-yard-waste-schedule#christmas-tree-collection. Please place your trees on the curb by 6 a.m., without ornaments or lights.
Boston Symphony Orchestra – free Community Chamber Concerts
Check the BSO’s community chamber concert page to see a series of free concerts at various locations including the Fenway Center, 77 St Stephen St, Boston, MA 02115. Follow this link to view the concerts list, click on the performance you want to see, then click the Ticket button for your free tickets! There are multiple dates for daytime performances at the Fenway location through March.
Kaji Aso Studio announces winter art class offerings, including in-person and mixed modality classes in calligraphy, watercolor, sketching, ceramics, poetry, haiku, singing and piano. Check their site for details.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Tuesday, Jan 9, 5:30 p.m., Monthly Community Police Meeting in the conference room of Morville House, 100 Norway Street.
Monthly community police meetings have resumed in the East Fenway. Meetings will be held the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 5:30 in the conference room of Morville House, facilitated by D-4’s Officer Evans. Come hear your community news and discuss concerns with District 4!
Wednesday, Jan 10, 3:30 p.m.until supplies last, Fenway Cares – Food Distribution WEST FENWAY (full details below)
Wednesday, Jan 10, 6-7:30 p.m., Squares + Streets Citywide Draft Zoning Amendment Update Public Meeting (with a final meeting on Feb 6)
The BPDA’s Zoning Reform team will host a virtual public meeting to provide an update on the draft zoning text amendment that will create new Squares + Streets zoning districts to be adopted into the Boston Zoning Code for areas of activity within neighborhood centers and along main streets. The draft text amendment was released on Tuesday, December 5. The public comment period will close SUNDAY, JANUARY 28. Please share your comments through this public comment form.
How to Participate
Meeting ID: 161 570 7725
Toll-free call-in number: 833 568 8864
Final Public Meeting, Tues, Feb 6 (6:00 PM – 7:30 PM)
Wednesday, January 10, 6-7:30 p.m., 2 Charlesgate West Impact Advisory Group Meeting (IAG) This meeting was previously scheduled for Tuesday, December 19.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR) that was filed and its potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the IAG and public.
Please register for the IAG meeting using the following Zoom link: https://bit.ly/3RgnuAt. The Meeting ID is 161 068 2413 and the toll-free call-in number is (833) 568 – 8864.
Thursday, January 11, 6-7:30 p.m. The BPDA Virtual Public Meeting on 2 Charlesgate West project.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the Draft Project Impact Report (DPIR) that was filed and its potential impacts. The meeting will include a presentation followed by questions and comments from the public. The Proposed Project consists of approximately 290,000 square feet. The program will include 406 residential units, 2,860 SF retail at the Ipswich Street level and indoor bike parking for 408 bikes. The Proponent is proposing the Project to provide 61 units (15%) of on site affordable housing units exceeding the City of Boston’s applicable IDP requirements. There is no onsite parking planned for the Project. A new publicly accessible open stair and enclosed public elevator is proposed, joining Ipswich Street with Boylston Street and providing access to the Back Bay Fens.
How to Participate
Please register for the meeting using the following Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 161 549 0248
Toll-free call-in number: (833) 568 – 8864
UPCOMING
Monday, Jan 15, Martin Luther King Day
BOSTON—On Monday, January 15, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), and Citizens invite the community to commemorate the life, legacy and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at a free open house for Massachusetts residents. Click here for details on the day’s programing, including a welcome speech, art-making, and musical performances.
The BSO will celebrate Dr. King’s legacy with a special concert at 4 p.m. by the Boston Children’s Chorus—In the Name of Love: 21st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Tribute Concert
Want to learn more about Martin Luther King, Jr.? Check out the King Center of Atlanta’s website. This year’s strategic theme is ‘Shifting the Cultural Climate through the Study and Practice of Kingian Nonviolence’.
Tuesday, Jan 16, Fenway Corners (West) 6-8:00 p.m. Joint Impact Advisory Group & Public Meeting (virtual)
The BPDA is hosting a joint Impact Advisory Group (IAG) and Public Meeting for the Fenway Corners (West) project located in the Fenway. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the recently filed Notice of Project Change (NPC) and Planned Development Area (PDA) Development Plan Amendment. The meeting will include a presentation followed by a conversation with the IAG members, then Q&A and comments from the public.
How to Participate
Please register for this meeting using the following Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 161 484 3031
Toll-free call-in number: 833.568.8864
Wednesday, Jan 17, 1400 Boylston Street project, 6-8:00 p.m.,Joint Impact Advisory Group & Public Meeting (Virtual)
Samuels & Associates Development LLC (the “Proponent”) has proposed redevelopment of the approximately 2.4-acre site at 1380-1420 Boylston Street in the Fenway, which is presently occupied by a single-story Star Market grocery store, a decommissioned gas station, and surface parking lots. The Proposed Project would revitalize the site with the construction of an approximately 553,000 gross square foot project, including approximately 498,000 square feet of office/research and development space, approximately 17,000 square feet of retail/restaurant/service and accessory uses and facilities on the ground floor, approximately 33,000 square feet of enclosed loading and back of house space, approximately 5,000 square foot civic building which will be programmed in response to community needs and could serve as a Boston Public Library neighborhood branch, and over half an acre of landscaped green space, with underground parking to support the building’s programming.
Tuesday, January 23, 6:00 – 08:00 p.m. 840 Columbus Avenue, Public – Virtual Meeting NEW DATE:(originally scheduled for January 8)
The BPDA is hosting a joint Task Force and Public Meeting to discuss the recent Supplemental Information Filing for the 840 Columbus Avenue project on the Northeastern University Campus. This meeting will include a presentation from the University team followed by a conversation among the Northeastern University Task Force members, then Q&A and comments from the public.
How to Participate
Please register for the meeting using the following Zoom link:
Meeting ID: 161 170 6553
Toll-Free Call-in Number: 833.568.8864
The information at this meeting is crucial to you as a Boston resident and stakeholder. Language Access services are available at no cost to you. If you require these services, please contact quinn.w.valcich@boston.gov no later than: 1/18/24
ONGOING
Winter in The Fenway / The Rink 401 Park
M–F: 3–9PM SAT: 11AM–10PM SUN: 11AM–8PM
Wednesdays, 3:30 p.m.until supplies last, Fenway Cares – Food Distribution Upcoming Dates
WEST FENWAY: 1/10 (plus Home deliveries*)
EAST FENWAY: 1/17
EAST FENWAY:(*Home deliveries for Morville House and Church Park) https://fenwaycommunitycenter.org/food-distributions/
To ensure we provide food to all who need it, choose one site only- either East or West Fenway – and pickup every other week. Note: pick up at either location is not available to those who sign up for delivery. We thank everyone for this cooperation!
West Fenway – Fenway Community Center, 1282 Boylston (enter-Jersey)
East Fenway – Symphony Community Park, 39 Edgerly Road
Volunteers are welcome to sign up for all dates and both locations! To sign up, visit our Fenway Cares Volunteer Sign up Form
To learn more, visit: https://fenwaycommunitycenter.org/fenway-cares/.
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 2-5 p.m. on Fenway Cares dates, East Fenway, inside Morville House, 100 Norway Street. Current offerings include blood pressure monitoring, COVID-19, flu, and a limited number of pneumonia vaccines.
DEVELOPMENT LINKS for BPDA PROJECTS
Visit BPDA’s website to see details on development projects. You can search by neighborhood, and by Project/Plan Status.
“Letters of Intent” 645 Beacon Street
“Under Review”: 1400 Boylston Street, Fenway Corners (West), 2 Charlesgate West, 142-146 St. Mary’s Street, 409 Huntington Avenue, and in neighboring Back Bay: Belvidere Student Housing (converting Sheraton Hotel south tower into student dormitory); in Longwood Medical Area: 1 Joslin Place
“Board Approved” are clear to proceed
See you around!
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood
Fenway Civic Association 