Development

Landmarks Commission Not Happy with Mayor Wu, and Handling of White Stadium & Arborway

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Members of the Boston Landmarks Commission feels that Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's administration disregard's the Commission's legislative mandate and they let her know so in a recent letter. In their letter from April 9, that the Dorchester News attained, all 16 BLC members cited several examples of the current administration not allowing the BLC to do its purpose including the proposal to renovate White Stadium, and changes to the Arborway. The letter states that by law, the BLC has authority over the designation of landmarks, landmark districts, and architectural conservation districts. The commission wrote that they have seen the administration disregard the BLC’s established procedures and guidelines. "We are concerned that this disregard may impact the Commission’s ability to fulfill its legislatively defined objectives, and could create a public impression that the Commission’s mandates and processes do not apply equally across all districts and properties," states the letter.

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Development

Provide Feedback During White Stadium Design (Virtual) Meeting on April 25

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The city is leading its first of three public meetings regarding the design of White Stadium to "integrate community feedback into a holistic stadium design" on April 25. This is a virtual meeting in which the city "will align on design principles for the White Stadium project that support the values and goals identified in the Franklin Park Action Plan and respect the significance of the overall park," according to the city's website. The meeting begins at 6 pm. Register here to attend via Zoom.

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Development

5-Story, 37 Units, Mixed-Use Building Pitched for Service Station’s Spot on Washington Street

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The public is invited to offer their comments regarding a mixed-use five-story building that would replace a one-story service station on Washington Street. Boston Pinnacle Properties LLC, and its principal owner, Adam Burns, submitted plans to the Boston Planning and Development Agency for their proposed building at 3458 Washington St. Currently, Keegan's Service Station is at the location, and adjacent to Hatoff's Gas Station, which may also be redeveloped. The proposed building would have 37 units, primarily marketing rate according to the filing, with eight affordable units. There would be 807 sq.

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Development

Jamaica Plain-Focused ‘Reimagining’ White Stadium Meeting Discussing Transportation Concerns on April 10

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Transportation is one of the biggest concerns about the redevelopment of White Stadium. With that in mind, the city is hosting a public meeting on April 10 that is focusing on the aspect of transportation in regards to redeveloping the stadium. The redevelopment plan includes making the stadium the centerpiece of Boston Public Schools athletics, as well as the home field for a professional women's soccer team. In this workshop, the city will present a detailed transportation plan for the Jamaica Plain neighborhood to guide discussion and feedback. The meeting is open to the public, but is intended for Jamaica Plain residents.

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Development

Neighborhood Talk about Shattuck Redevelopment with Elected Officials (and Pizza!) on March 18

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A trio of politicians are leading a community meeting to discuss the redevelopment of the Shattuck Campus on Monday night at English High School. And pizza will be provided, but no word on where the pizza will be from. District 6 City Councilor Ben Weber, state Representative Sam Montaño, and state Senator Liz Miranda will hold the community conversation at 6 pm. The meeting will not be streamed. "This meeting is a community conversation, not an official meeting," tweeted Montaño.

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Development

Franklin Park Coalition Survey Shows Neighborhood Support for White Stadium Renovation

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A survey of 700 community residents conducted by the Franklin Park Coalition (FPC) showed neighborhood support for the plan to renovate White Stadium. But support would be higher if certain concerns like traffic and parking were resolved. The plans to renovate White Stadium were announced last year by the city in partnership with the future owners of a professional women's soccer league team, which would use the stadium as their home field starting in 2026. The stadium would also be the hub for Boston Public Schools athletics. But there's been resistance to the plan with several concerns, and the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and more than a dozen community members are suing to stop the plans.

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Development

Cancelled White Stadium Impact Advisory Group Meeting Not Rescheduled Since Lawsuit

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The city has not rescheduled a cancelled White Stadium Impact Advisory Group (IAG) meeting that was cancelled one day after a lawsuit was filed to stop the redevelopment of the Franklin Park stadium. The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) IAG meeting scheduled for Feb. 26, was cancelled on Feb. 22, one day after the Emerald Necklace Conservancy and 15 plaintiffs announced a lawsuit to stop "the unconstitutional privatization of public land" to rehabilitate Franklin Park's White Stadium so it can be the home field for a women's professional soccer team. The city previously held one IAG meeting about the project on Jan.

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Development

City Places Stop Work Order on Centre Street Building After Developer Eliminated Retail Space

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It's taking a long time for construction to be completed at 632-638 Centre St., and the city recently issued a stop work order on construction due to the developer not following the original building permit that included first floor retail space. Back 2017, a one-story building was razed, and a shell of a building was built. In 2020, there was a proposal to build a 4-story, mixed-use building with four commercial spots an 18 units with four affordable units. That proposal was eventually scuttled because the stop work order issued on Jan. 26 was for a construction permit to build a 3-story building with first floor retail space, second floor office space and three apartments on the third floor, said an Inspectional Services Department (ISD) spokesperson. However, after a preliminary inspection of the structure a building official noted the buildout increased to 12 apartments, eliminating the retail space all of which failed to comply with the terms of the original permit.

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Development

BHA Requests Waiving Large Project Review of New Hailey Apartments Electrification Project

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Citing redundancy, the Boston Housing Authority has requested the Boston Planning & Development Agency waive the required large project review of the Mildred Hailey Apartments electrification project on Centre Street. "This project has been publicly reviewed in various venues convened by the BHA as well as through the City of Boston's capital budget process, and the Mildred C. Hailey Tenant Organization strongly supports the project," wrote BHA Administrator and CEO Kenzie Bok to the BPDA. Located at 265 Centre St., the development consists of several phases with numerous buildings. This particular part of the project is for 456 units of federally-assisted public housing, and due to its size, Boston's Zoning Code requires the BPDA to conduct an Article 80 review of the project. The project is already approved by the BPDA under the Master Plan review.

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Development

Emerald Necklace Conservancy and Citizens Suing to Stop Proposed Development of White Stadium

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The Emerald Necklace Conservancy and 15 plaintiffs are suing to stop what they say is "the unconstitutional privatization of public land" to rehabilitate Franklin Park's White Stadium so it can be the home field for a women's professional soccer team. The plaintiffs are suing the city, the trustees of the George Robert White Fund, and Boston Unity Soccer Partners. The lawsuit alleges that the proposed redevelopment of White Stadium by Boston Unity
Soccer Partners, a private for-profit investment group, “would not only violate the White
Fund Trust and [the Public Land and Protection Act, Article 97, of the Massachusetts
constitution] by transferring public trust land to private use and excluding members of the public from the Project Site, including some Boston Public School sports teams who currently use White Fund Stadium, it would fundamentally alter the nature and feel of a significant portion of Franklin Park during the majority of fair weather weekends each year,” according to a press release. The lawsuit contends the defendants are proposing to privatize White Stadium and 1.5 acres of surrounding public parkland in Franklin Park. They contend the plan would displace Boston Public Schools student-athletes and the local community from White Stadium and Franklin Park.

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