Dear Members and Friends:
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
Being an election year, let’s look at the history of the women’s vote: it was 1920 when women got the right to vote. 104 years later, women are 51% of the population but hold 30% of elected offices. Here in Boston, women hold many top offices, but we still have a ways to go.
Boston Parks is marking Women’s History Month by lifting up the stories behind the names of some of your favorite neighborhood parks. Honor their legacy by visiting these public spaces with renewed understanding of their struggles and achievements.
As we approach St. Patrick’s Day, Let’s Raise a Glass to the Irish American Women who worked for a better society.
FENWAY CIVIC ANNUAL MEETING – SAVE THE DATE – APRIL 10TH
Details to come! We look forward to sharing our accomplishments and goals with you at an in-person meeting.
SUPPORT FENWAY CARES
Donate to Fenway Cares by pledging to our Boston Marathon Runner.
Nehal Munshi is running to raise $5,000 in pledges – and he’s 40% there!!!
Please make your pledge here: bit.ly/FenwayCaresRun (flyer below)
BPDA DISCUSSIONS
The City of Boston Ordinance creating the City of Boston Planning Department is being discussed in detail by the City Council. Public comment is encouraged. More below.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Councilor Sharon Durkan – Office Hours for the Fenway neighborhoods
Tuesday, March 12, Fenway: at Phinista Cafe (96 Peterborough St)
Thursday, March 21, Kenmore: at Cornwall’s (644 Beacon St)
You’re invited to Councilor Durkan’s winter/spring office hours! If you’ve never met for office hours, consider signing up! Meet the Councilor and the new Constituent Services Director and liaison to the Fenway, Lily Sweeterman. Sign up here.
Wednesday, March 13, Fenway Cares (see detail below)
Thursday, March 14, 1-2PM, Boston Tree Alliance General Meeting
Join the meeting to talk about the development of the program’s tree planting and care grants. Boston Tree Alliance General Meeting
ONGOING
Coffee Hour with Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services liaison, Maggie Van Scoy: Fridays – Locations rotate and include Fenway, for up-to-date information, visit: https://www.boston.gov/calendar/back-bay-beacon-hill-mission-hill-and-fenway-kenmore-liaison-coffee-hours
Every Other Wednesday, 3:30 p.m.until supplies last, Fenway Cares – Food Distribution Next date: 3/13
Fenway Cares takes place at 2 locations on the same day:
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! Volunteer
MGH/MBG Community Care Health Clinic – 2-5 p.m. on Fenway Cares dates, East Fenway, inside Morville House, 100 Norway Street. Offerings include blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar testing, COVID-19, flu, and a limited number of pneumonia vaccines.
MBTA Current Service Alerts: Click here to see CURRENT service alerts.
UPCOMING
March 19 & 21, The Mayor’s Office of Housing Wants to hear from you!
The Mayor’s Office wants your input on setting priorities for use for an estimated $143 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds may be invested in housing, homeless assistance and community development programs that serve low to moderate income residents over a 5-year period from July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2029 and cover these HUD programs:
- Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
- HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME)
- Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
- Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)
Tuesday, March 19, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm Hearing #1 (Virtual – Zoom)
Video call link: https://boston-gov.zoom.us/j/5995592565?omn=83698691556
Meeting ID: 599 559 2565 Or dial: 1-646-558-8656
Thursday, March 21, 6:00 pm to 7:30pm Hearing #2 (In Person)
Boston Public Library, Copley Square, Commonwealth Salon, 700 Boylston Street.
Wentworth Institute of Technology (WIT) Institutional Master Plan (IMP)
Comment Period – End Date is March 20 2024
The WIT Institutional Master Plan (IMP) outlines the campus plan for the next ten years. WIT has 31 acres between Southwest Corridor and the Back Bay Fens. Highlights of the plan: redesigned Ruggles Street Front Lawn; a Huntington Pavillion, building upgrades and new structures: a 23-story dormitory on Huntington, network of open spaces, sports field deck with parking underneath to replace Sweeney Field (converting to a private project, 500 Huntington), a 7-story consolidated parking garage with 700 spaces on Parker St. WIT’s goal is to have 60-70% of their approx 4,000 students on a modernized campus. Visit the project page for details, video and comments.
Thursday, March 21, 6-7:30 p.m. Sign Code Modernization Kickoff Public Meeting
A BPDA virtual public meeting to kick off the Agency’s Sign Code Modernization zoning initiative. Presentation will be followed by a discussion on what the future of Boston’s signage should look like. Project webpage. Register in advance
Saturday, April 6th, save the date for the annual Northeastern off-campus Spring Clean-Up. This event celebrates a successful year of weekly litter clean-ups and seeks to include our off-campus student leaders, student residents, and Boston community members in a day of beautification projects across neighborhoods.
ARTS & RECREATION
Boston Symphony Orchestra – free Community Chamber Concert, March 22nd
Click here for tickets and more info.
Kaji Aso Studio announces arts offerings and special events announced via their emailing list. The 35th International Haiku Contest submissions are due on April 15, 2024 Please check their site for details.
DEVELOPMENT – BPDA DISCUSSION
Mayor Wu’s vision for the BPDA to create a City Planning Department has generated robust discussion, with questions on structure, oversight, community input, and the transferal process.
In 1960, the City Planning Department was abolished and the Boston Redevelopment Authority took on Urban Planning, outside of City oversight, focused on Urban Renewal. The Ordinance is to bring Planning back into City government. Concurrently, there are related questions on how the roles of Development and Zoning will work.
This change requires community input, as we will live with these results for decades to come. Civic groups across the city are demanding hearings and discussions so the citizens can be involved in shaping our city’s future.
The Boston City Council held a working session on Friday, March 8: you can view the recording here: Government Operations Working Session -Docket #0257-A working session to discuss an Ordinance creating the City of Boston Planning Department. This session was different from most, because public testimony was allowed at the start of the meeting. The session was nearly a full day, raising complex and important issues which need clarity. We encourage all to review and weigh in.
BPDA ACTIVE PROJECTS
The 2 Charlesgate West development proposal is currently under review, and comments are open through March 22. This large project is considered a Gateway position in the Fenway, at a prominent entry to the Fenway and abutting sensitive parklands. Please take a look and submit your comments during this open period.
Currently, there are 5 projects in the Fenway “Under Review”: Fenway Corners (West) ,Boston University – Warren Towers Renovation, 409 Huntington Avenue, 2 Charlesgate West, 142-146 St. Mary’s Street
See you around!
Promoting a vital and sustainable neighborhood