Neighborhood Life

Ongoing Drilling From Construction on Lamartine Street Frustrating Neighborhood

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The noise from continual drilling at a construction site on Lamartine Street has frustrated the neighborhood for more than 12 weeks, many residents report. https://twitter.com/jacobturcotte/status/1530213027181633540

The construction is to create four separate buildings with three units each at 279 Lamartine St., according to a building permit provided by Inspectional Services Department (ISD). The site is layered with puddingstone, which can only be removed either by using explosives or chipping away with a hammer bit. "Unfortunately, the second method can be disruptive, but is the only feasible manner in which to remove the subsurface elements that are present, hence the need to change the hours of operation," said Lisa Timberlake, ISD spokesperson. Construction began on January 16 (Martin Luther King Jr. Day); hours of operation were altered in June, when the city reduced work hours from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Decibel levels are exempt from the city's noise ordinance on construction sites inside the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to city personnel.

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Business

Chase Redoing Storefront After Renovations Out of Character Rest of Area

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Jamaica Plain residents, business owners and neighborhood associations banded together questioning the process that allowed Chase Bank to make unpermitted renovations to its new Centre Street location. Led by a triumvirate of licensed architects, who were either chairpersons or members of the former Jamaica Plain Centre/South Main Street's Design Committee, the permit process was doubted. After doing their own research, Ed Forte, Michael Epp, and current Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council member Gert Thorn, learned that Chase Bank was doing work that required a design review, which had not taken place. They also felt that the renovations, specifically the metallic-look, was out of character of the area of 701 Centre Street. The trio wrote to a plethora of city departments, city officials, and elected officials, to voice their concerns.

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Business

Recreational Marijuana Dispensary/Social Justice Museum Proposed for Old Milky Way Site

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A recreational marijuana company with an empowerment philosophy has proposed opening a dispensary/social justice museum in the long vacant old Milky Way space on Centre Street. "Core Empowerment intends to open the city of Boston's first high quality retail cannabis establishment and social justice museum/education center," said Tomas Gonzalez, one of the four owners of Core Empowerment, LLC to Jamaica Plain News via email. Gonzalez grew up in Jamaica Plain, previously ran for Boston City Council and was recently the deputy director for the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services. He currently lives in Hyde Park. Gonzalez said the business would be in the lower level of 401A Centre St.

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