Elections

JP Neighborhood Council Election: Nomination Papers Available March 2; Election April 28

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All 20 Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council seats are up for grabs in the upcoming election on April 28th, and nomination papers are available starting March 2nd. The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) consists of 20 members: 5 at-large councilors, and five from three different geographical areas. Each council term runs for two years and the chair of the council is chosen by the other council members. Residents age 16 and older can be elected to the council, as can business owners and directors of nonprofit organizations within JP are also eligible. The council serves as an "advocate and ombudsman for Jamaica Plain residents, organizations and business people," according to the JPNC's by-laws.

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From the Community

Fix That Old Bike, Computer or Toy at Jamaica Plain’s 3rd Fixit Clinic on Jan. 27th

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At Jamaica Plain’s 3rd Fixit Clinic this Saturday anyone is welcome to bring their broken household things and learn how to assess, disassemble and repair them instead of tossing them in the trash. The clinic is scheduled for Saturday, January 27th from 10 am to 1 pm at the Jamaica Plain Branch Library at 30 South Street. This is a free event organized by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council's Environment, Parks and Energy Committee. It's an all-ages, do-it-together activity where people bring their broken household things and learn how to assess, disassemble, and repair them instead of sending them to landfill. At both of our events held last summer and fall, we had over a dozen “fixers” helping more than 30 neighbors diagnose and fix toys, jewelry, telephones, computers, printers, lamps and many other things.

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Development

MassDOT Oakdale Street Parcel to Remain Community Garden; Four Parcels Sold

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Several parcels put up for public bidding by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) were recently purchased with affordable housing required as part of some of the purchases. MassDOT held a public meeting in June 2017 to provide an overview of seven parcels and present a draft for proposal requests. After several public meetings to solicit feedback the bid guidelines and parcels were altered. MassDOT incorporated several revisions that the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) asked for, as well as from public feedback, according to an email to Jamaica Plain News from Carolyn Royce, chair of the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council Housing & Economic Development Committee. The parcel at 8 Oakdale Street was not put up for bid and will remain a community garden said Royce, and four parcels ended up being sold.

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Business

Tonight & Sept. 26th: Community Meetings About Proposed Medical Marijuana Dispensary

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There will be a community meeting tonight hosted by a medical marijuana company wanting to open a dispensary on Hyde Park Avenue. The company is also scheduled to speak at the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council's Sept. 26th meeting. The Massachusetts Patient Foundation (MPF) will be holding a meeting tonight at 6:30 pm at Brassica Kitchen + Cafe (3710 Washington St.). MPF is proposing a dispensary at 54A Hyde Park Ave that would be roughly 1,500 sq.

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Boston Public Library

JPNC Fixit Clinic

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Come join your neighbors at this free event. You bring your broken items, and we’ll provide the tools and volunteer coaches with expertise fixing a wide variety of things, including:

Bikes and skateboards

Clothing and fabric items

Computers and phones

Toys and wooden items

Small kitchen appliances

Small electrical devices

Jewelry

Lamps and anything else!*
Pre-register at http://goo.gl/qTzh9J

* Carry in only: no oversized items. Also, no firearms, gasoline engines, or other dangerous items.

If you are interested in volunteering as a Fixit Coach, please contact jpnc.fixitclinic@gmail.com

Fixit Clinic is an all-ages, do-it-together activity where people bring their broken household things and learn how to assess, disassemble, and repair them instead of sending them to landfill. For more information, go to www.fixitclinic.org.

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council

Jamaica Plain Fixit Clinic

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Do you have household stuff in
need of repair? Don't trash it, fix it! JP FIXIT Clinic

When:  Thursday, July 27, 5:30­–7:30 pm

Where:  JP branch of the Boston Public Library, 30 South Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Come join your neighbors at this free event. You bring your broken items, and we’ll provide the tools and volunteer coaches with expertise fixing a wide variety of things, including:

Bikes and skateboards

Clothing and fabric items

Computers and phones

Toys and wooden items

Kitchen appliances

Small electrical devices

Jewelry

And anything else!*

Pre-register at http://goo.gl/kwVNlv

* Carry in only: no oversized items. Also, no firearms, gasoline engines, or other dangerous items.

Fixit Clinic is an all-ages, do-it-together activity where people bring their broken household things and learn how to assess, disassemble, and repair them instead of sending them to landfill. For more information, go to www.fixitclinic.org.

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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Rendering of proposal for 25 Amory St.
Real Estate

Neighborhood Group to Consider 44-Unit Affordable Rental Complex

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Development is always big news in JP. And the Zoning Committee of the JP Neighborhood Council sees virtually every proposal of consequence. The neighborhood group meets Wednesday to consider two projects. The largest is a proposal from the JP Neighborhood Development Corp. to build 44 units of affordable rental housing at 25 Amory St.

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Real Estate
Rendering of previous proposal for The Gate, 5 McBride St.

Plan for Old James’s Gate Property Returns to Neighborhood Committee

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One of the most-watched real estate developments in a neighborhood full of them returns to public debate this week. The former James's Gate site at 5 McBride St. will be on the docket Wednesday when the JP Neighborhood Council's Zoning Committee meets. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at Farnsworth House, 90 South St., just a block from the abandoned pub. Proponents are pitching a four-story mixed-use building that would have 11 residential units and commercial space on the ground floor.

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Paul Byrne of The Gate, right, gestures toward Jose de la Rosa (white shirt) during a committee meeting of the JP Neighborhood Council on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016.
Business

‘The Gate’ Aims for New Year’s Opening in Eggie

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A reincarnation of James's Gate could swing open as soon as January, according to Paul Byrne, manager and owner of the proposed pub. "The Gate," as the new venue would be called, would open in the Egleston Square space occupied for the last four years by Coco's Lounge at 3171 Washington St. A neighborhood board voted unanimously to support the project at a hearing Tuesday. Byrne, a fixture in JP restaurant circles, co-owned James's Gate with Christy Page. The two parted ways over the abrupt closure of the McBride Street landmark a year ago in September.

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