Neighborhood Life

Waste Collectors to Rescue After Ghost Car Blocks Jamaicaway

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An odd scene played out on Thursday morning when an unoccupied car sat in the middle of the Jamaicaway until trash collectors came to save the day. A Jamaica Plain News reader sent in these photos of the vehicle, which sat in the northbound lane of the Jamaicaway, blocking one lane for about 20 minutes. Apparently, the vehicle's driver had taken a walk around Jamaica Pond, and forgot to put the emergency brake on, and it rolled into the intersection. Luckily, no one got hurt, as trash collectors pulled over, and pushed the car over to the site with help from a Massachusetts State Police officer.

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Arts

Where Is This In Jamaica Plain?

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It's a simple question. Where is this beautifully-painted utility box located in Jamaica Plain? Put your guesses in the comments below. We'll provide the answer on Monday. Also, what is the picture of?

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Neighborhood Life

City Close to Purchasing Egleston Square Peace Garden Property from Clear Channel

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Egleston Square Main Street shared some good news recently -- it sounds like the city is going to purchase the property of the Egleston Square Peace Garden from Clear Channel and make it into a permanent community park. In a post on the Egleston Square Main Street website, Mayor Michelle Wu’s State of the City address in February, in which Wu said, “We worked alongside residents in Egleston Square and business partners to secure a Community Peace Garden on Washington Street.” 

"What this means is both the City of Boston and Clear Channel are now working collaboratively toward the outcome we’ve all been advocating for. A final purchase and transfer of property for open park space takes a long time, but our partners at the City feel positive and excited and are working hard to move the process forward," said Main Streets' page. The property has a long history within the community and Clear Channel. In December 2021, Clear Channel listed the property for sale for $1.1 million.

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Neighborhood Life

Emerald Necklace Conservancy Honors Olmsted Now Committee of Neighborhoods

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The Emerald Necklace Conservancy honored the Olmsted Now Committee of Neighborhoods with the Olmsted Award of Excellence on February 1 at the Curley House in Jamaica Plain. The Olmsted Now Committee of Neighborhoods was formed to rectify a structural inequality in park decision-making in Greater Boston, on the occasion of Frederick Law Olmsted’s Bicentennial in 2022. Comprised of intergenerational leaders working across a wide array of disciplines in the Roxbury, Mattapan, Grove Hall and Dorchester neighborhoods, the Committee re-centers programming decisions in the communities that are impacted the most by them and distributed over $200,000 in grants to fund community-generated bicentennial programs focused on parks equity and spatial justice. The Olmsted Now Committee of Neighborhoods consists of Andrew Sharpe, Authentic Caribbean Foundation; Anita Morson-Matra, Baldwin in the Park; Ambar Johnson, Livable Streets Alliance; artist Barrington Edwards; Biplaw Rai, Comfort Kitchen; Jay Lee, Franklin Park Coalition/City of Boston; John Linehan, Franklin Park Zoo/Greater Grove Hall Main Streets; Karenlyn Bunch, Greater Grove Hall Main Streets; artist Karen Young; Nakia Hill, 826 Boston/City of Boston; Paul Willis, 826 Boston; Pat Spence, Urban Farming Institute; Shavel’le Olivier, Mattapan Food & Fitness; and Kay Savage, Mattapan Food & Fitness. “Last year was a moment for all of us to collectively reimagine how parks and public space could meet Olmsted’s legacy ideals NOW: how greenspace could be truly open and accessible to all, where all feel they can fully belong, express and be.

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History

What Is Jamaica Plain’s Most Beautiful Building? Here Are Your Answers

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Jamaica Plain News asked people for their thoughts on what they feel is the most beautiful building in Jamaica Plain. Beauty is subjective, right? And the answers varied from the Loring-Greenough House to beautifully painted Victorian houses, a 12-sided home, and many others. We have to give props to GBH's Jeremy Siegel for the idea. And here are your answers, starting with a lovely home.

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Animals

5 Proposed Design Concepts To Be Revealed During Arnold Arboretum Entrance Improvement Meeting on Jan. 21

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The Arnold Arboretum will display five proposed concepts for its entrance improvement project at a Jan. 21 meeting. The Arnold Arboretum is hosting an open house for the project on Jan. 21 from noon to 3 pm at the Weld Hill Research Building (1300 Centre St., Roslindale). Landscape design firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates will be present to discuss the project, and the five proposed concepts for five entrances, and provide feedback on the designs.

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Business

What Do You Want to See In This Empty Centre Street Storefront?

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Centre Street commercial spots don't stay empty for long. But this one at 753 Centre St., has been empty for almost three years. Optical Designs moved from the location in February 2020, and no other business has moved into this commercial location located across from Dunkin' at the corner of Centre and Thomas streets. So what would you like to see go in this location? If it's a restaurant, renovations would need to be made to create a kitchen.

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City Services

Next Flaherty Playground Renovations Plan to Include Dog Area at Feb. 7 Meeting

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So far the plans to renovate the Flaherty Playground have not included a dog area. But after hearing from residents through an online survey and public meetings, it has been made clear to Boston Parks and Recreation personnel that a dog area is desired. With that in mind, a single plan that incorporates that feedback heard thus far, particularly with a dog area, which hadn't been incorporated into designs before, will be presented at the next community meeting about the playground's renovations. The meeting will be held on Feb. 7 at 6 pm and can be attended via Zoom at this link bit.ly/Flaherty4.

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