From the Community

Laird Receives Coldwell Banker International Diamond Society Award

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Martin Laird of West Roxbury, a sales associate affiliated with the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Jamaica Plain, has been recognized with the Coldwell Banker® International Diamond Society award. This distinguished honor is awarded to the top 11 percent of approximately 87,000 sales associates worldwide in the Coldwell Banker® system. Laird will be honored during a special celebration and reception on April 30 at the State Room in Boston. Invited guests will enjoy food, music and dancing, as well as spectacular views of Boston’s skyline. Each year, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage recognizes the work of exceptional sales associates and sales teams through its distinguished awards program.

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Neighborhood Life

Owners of Notorious Apartment House Hire Super, Agree to Add Cameras

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The owners of one of the neighborhood's most notorious buildings have met with cops and taken steps to curb suspected drug use and other problems.

That's the word from police officers who discussed progress on the long list of complaints about a corner apartment house at 3116-3122 Washington/87 School streets. For more than two years, police and community groups have worked to improve the property. As officers reported during an April 1 meeting of the neighborhood's "Problem Properties" watch group, police and resident Michael Reiskind met with property owners Chris and George Stamatos on March 11. The meeting, convened at the Area E-13 station house, included Sgt. Beth Leary and Officers Carlos Lara and Carlos Martinez.

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Screen grab of Storify stream for the 2015 State of Our Neighborhood forum.
Neighborhood Life

As It Happened: ‘State of Our Neighborhood’ 2015

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The fifth annual "State of Our Neighborhood" forum took place Thursday at the Kennedy School. This year's gathering focused on affordable housing. The format was designed to get specific commitments from politicians who represent JP on City Council and on Beacon Hill. More than 200 people attended the event, which was organized by JP New Economy Transition. [View the story "As It Happened: 'State of Our Neighborhood' 2015" on Storify]

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Screen grab from video by Heather Goldin of the 2015 State of Our Neighborhood, Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015
Neighborhood Life

Jamaica Plain For Whom?

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Did you miss Thursday's "State Of Our Neighborhood" forum? Here's the first of two videos to give you a flavor of the fifth annual event. Emcee Malia Lazu framed it this way: "This year the State of Our Neighborhood is asking a question: Jamaica Plain for whom? Is it us? And are we ready to fight for it?"

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Neighborhood Life

Prostitution, Drugs Said to Plague Washington Street Apartment House

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For more than two frustrating  years, a neighborhood group charged with tackling eyesore buildings has monitored alleged prostitution and drug use at a four-story apartment house in Egleston Square. The property, at 3116-3122 Washington St. and 87  School St., is a perennial source of consternation at the Problem Properties Committee. The group is chaired by Michael Reiskind and Liana Poston, the latter on the staff of Rep. Liz Malia, D-Jamaica Plain. Representatives from Boston Police District E13 and Inspectional Services also attend.

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This section of Forest Hills at the corner of Ukraine Way and Hyde Park Avenue, known as Parcel U, is slated to be home to 121 housing units, 90 parking spaces and retail space.
Development

City Board Approves 124 Housing Units at Forest Hill’s ‘Parcel U’

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At its meeting Friday the Boston Redevelopment Authority board voted in favor of a 124-unit development Hyde Park Avenue between Ukraine Way and Walk Hill Street. The development, termed "Parcel U" because it's one of several pieces of MBTA land surrounding Forest Hills, will be built in three phases between 2015 and 2017. It will have a line of row houses along Hyde Park Avenue and a 65-unit, five-story apartment building at Ukraine Way. Urbanica Design is the architect. Urbanica and the Community Builders are the development team.

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Development

City Sends Plan for 20 Condos at Washington and Green Back to Developer

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The Boston Redevelopment Authority said a planned development with 20 condos and commercial space at 3371 Washington St./197 Green St. had divided community opinion. They've asked developer Walter Craven to rework the design. One way to judge the neighborhood's attitude toward the project is reading the "comment letters" the city received in response to the current plans. Of the sixteen comment letters received, ten were in support, although some of those ten were not from residents of the neighborhood.

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Development

Bulldozing in Forest Hills, Building in South Huntington

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The Commons at Forest Hills Station is in the tear-down phase. Demolition by RSG Company from Lowell of the old NACA office. Credit: Richard Heath

After the community meetings are over and zoning approvals given, the real work begins. Demolition of Forest Hills Commons began earlier this month and the site was cleared in two-three weeks. RSG Demolition from Lowell is doing the work. Steve Guerette is the owner and supervisor.

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From the Community

Rental Housing Association Names 225 Centre St. as Community of Excellence

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Peabody Properties, Inc. – a Braintree-based, full-service real estate firm managing in excess of 10,000 housing units located primarily in New England – today announced that two employees and one property recently received awards at 14th annual Rental Housing Association Multifamily Conference and Expo. Each year, through a special award ceremony, the Rental Housing Association (RHA) – an organization representing owners and managers of more than 100,000 property units across the Commonwealth – honors the achievements of real estate professionals and recognizes superior communities. At this year’s awards ceremony, Leasing Agent Alyson Walsh received the Leasing Consultant Professional Achievement Award, in recognition of her effective closing skills, commitment to customer service and role as a team player. Since joining Peabody Properties in 2008, Walsh has successfully leased six properties including 225 Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, Barstow Village in Hanover and The Hayes at Railroad Square in Haverhill. Joining Walsh among the award recipients was Regional Property Manager John McKee, who received the Regional Manager Professional Achievement Award.

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A view of the proposed 3521-3529 Washington St. project looking north along Washington (to the left) and east along McBride.
Development

McBride Street Development Green Lit Over Neighborhood Council Objections

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A mammoth project along the rapidly-changing Washington Street corridor won approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority on Thursday night. Neighbors had pushed for and gotten key changes to the design for 132 residential units with retail and a four-story self storage facility at Washington and McBride. The development at the former Flanagan & Seaton Motor Car Co. has been in the works since 2010, when it looked quite different from the proposal that passed the Redevelopment Authority's board on Thursday night. The city says the $80 million project will create 242 construction jobs.

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