Arts

JP Porchfest is July 7th: Get Ready for 170 Performances on 90 Porches!

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The 5th Annual Jamaica Plain Porchfest this Saturday will be more awesome than the previous four as it will include music, theater, dance, spoken word, storytelling, comedy, circus arts and a politicians' porch. "We have 90 generous porch hosts this year – that is, folks who offer their porches to performers. In some cases, people perform on their own porches, but they often welcome others," said Mindy Fried, co-organizer with Marie Ghitman and Eli Pabon. "And in many cases, porch hosts simply offer their porches to whomever we assign to their porches, of course taking into consideration their available space, and if they have any special requests." Click on the map of porches to see a description of all of the performances (courtesy JP Porchfest).

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From the Community

Egleston Farmers’ Market Kicking Off Season at Wake Up the Earth Festival

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The Egleston Square Farmers’ Market will kick off its spring season on May 5th during the annual Wake Up the Earth Festival and open at its regular Egleston Square location the following Saturday on Germania Street. The neighborhood is looking forward to the excitement of the 2018 market. "I love how the Egleston Square Farmers' Market creates a destination in the neighborhood on Saturday mornings. I enjoy starting my summer weekends off with a trip to the market where I'll often pick up fresh produce and fish, hear about what else is growing in the fields, and find a tasty treat while catching up with a few neighbors,” said Jamaica Plain resident Kim Szeto. Vendors are also eager for the market to start up again to connect with the community.

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Boston Public Library

A Taste of African Heritage Cooking Classes

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If you haven’t heard of the African heritage diet, it’s time you introduced yourself. Learn all about the traditional foods of the African diaspora in Oldways’ A Taste of African Heritage classes, coming to the Egleston Branch of the BPL in February. In this Oldways-created cooking class, you’ll learn how to prepare the spices and herbs, leafy greens, whole grains, beans, tubers, fruits, and vegetables that have sustained Africans and their descendants for generations. At the end of the six-week series, you’ll be armed with information and recipes that will allow you to bring the African heritage diet into your own kitchen. The class is free of charge, and will meet Saturdays, 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., from February 10 to March 17.

Development
Rendering of ground floor for 3353 Washington St.

JP Neighborhood Council’s Letter Opposing Variances for 211 Green St.

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City Hall went against the recommendation of the JP Neighborhood Council, an elected advisory group, to approve variances for a controversial development at the corner of Washington and Green. Here is the text of the May 4 letter from the JPNC to the ZBA:
Christine Araujo, Chair

Board of Appeal 1010 Massachusetts Ave.,

4th Floor Boston, Massachusetts 02118

Re: 211 Green Street, Ward 11, BOA675434

Dear Ms. Araujo:

At the April 2017 meeting of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council, held Tuesday, April 25, the Council members voted 9-3-0 to request the Board of Appeal to DENY ALL EIGHT VARIANCES SOUGHT FOR THIS PROJECT because:

1. The appeal for this project does not satisfy the requirements of Article 7, §7.3 of the Boston Zoning Code for the granting of variances;

2. This project was approved by the BPDA before the final draft of Plan JP/Rox was prepared by the agency and approved by the BPDA board.. The developer seeks variances for a site where under current zoning, residential housing is forbidden and the height is excessive; while at the same time requesting the increased height granted in the final draft of Plan JP /Rox without achieving the affordability required by it.

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Development
Rendering of 3353 Washington St.

Six-Story, 45-Unit Building Divides Residents, Neighborhood Board

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[Editor's note: Since the original posting, we've added context around a quote from the chairman of the JPNC Zoning Committee.]

A plan by the neighborhood's best-known landlord for a six-story development at Washington and Green failed to win approval — or suffer disapproval - from a narrowly divided neighborhood advisory group. Last month marked two years since Mordechai Levin started talks with the city to raze four existing buildings and erect a residential development with retail at 3353 Washington St. Current plans call for a 68-foot tall building with five stories plus rooftop mezzanines. In zoning terms, it's a six-story building. However, Architect Deb Katz and her team have set back the rooftop elevations to reduce the "perception of massing."

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