Ward 21 Democratic Committee endorses Albano for State Senate

The Ward 21 Democratic Committee recently interviewed all Democrats running for State Senate and voted to endorse Michael Albano.

Please remember to vote on Tuesday

A new look for the Science Complex site

Harvard Plans to Beautify Allston Construction Site The Harvard Crimson

Western Ave & River St bridge ABNNF meeting - April 27

The reconstruction of the Western Ave and River St bridges will be the largest infrastructure project in our neighborhood since the construction of the Mass Pike. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to improve transportation and recreation for people walking, riding bikes, and driving. Interesting ideas are being proposed such as the addition of pedestrian/bike underpasses in this Globe op-ed by Renata von Tscharner, the founder and president of the Charles River Conservancy.

Please join us on April 27 from 6:00-8:00 at the Gardner School auditorium (30 Athol St) for a meeting with LivableStreets, the Charles River Conservancy, and others to discuss these important projects.

State Senate candidates raise $300,000

MassBeacon.com takes a look at the fundraising by the Middlesex, Sufffolk, & Essex Senate candidates.

Mansfield murder update from UHub

No bail for man charged with Allston murder Universal Hub

Harvard construction meeting on Wednesday

The next Harvard Construction Management Sub-Committee meeting will be Wednesday, April 7th, at 6:00 PM in the cafeteria of 114 Western Avenue (former WGBH building)

Possible homicide on Mansfield St last night

So I guess this is why I saw a cop walking on Lincoln St this morning between Mansfield and Franklin Streets.

DEATH INVESTIGATION AT 7 MANSFIELD STREET :

Last night around 11:58PM, officers from District D-14 (Allston) responded to the area of 7 Mansfield St. for a male that was assaulted. While en route, officers were advised that someone had been stabbed.

On arrival, officers observed a male victim lying on the ground suffering from apparent stab wounds. The victim was transported to the Beth Israel Hospital where he was pronounced.

Boston Police Homicide Detectives are actively investigating the facts and circumstances of this incident. Community members with information regarding this matter are urged to call Homicide Investigators at (617)-343-4470. Individuals who wish to provide information anonymously may do so by calling the CrimeStoppers Hotline at 1-800-494-TIPS or texting ‘TIP’ to CRIME (27463). The Boston Police Department is interested in your information, not your identity. The identity of individuals providing information anonymously will be strictly protected.

How Harvard & BC are planning and reorganizing

http://www.agcmass.org/event.cfm?evnt_id=1134

Insiders Insight Redux

During this tremendous downturn, colleges and universities have been busy planning and reorganizing their operations. Hear what they have been doing to streamline their processes and how this will affect the way construction business may be done in the future.

Presenters:

Pamela Delphenich, Director of Planning, MIT

Nancy May, Vice President for Facilities, Northeastern University

Maureen McDonough, Esq., Director of Program Administration for the Allston Development Group at Harvard University.

Mary Nardone, Associate Vice President for Capital Planning and Construction, Boston College

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

8:00am - 10:30am
$90 Members, $120 Nonmembers
Seaport Hotel, Boston

Cape Ann Fresh Catch sign up time

If you are interested in signing up for 3 months of the freshest fish that you can buy, and you are willing to make a quick trip to Cambridge once a week to pick it up, now is the time to visit the Cape Ann Fresh Catch Community Supported Fishery website and sign up for the Spring season.

Senate candidates pledge to be Allston-Brighton advocates

TAB story about last week's ABNNF Senate candidates forum

Senate candidates pledge to be Allston-Brighton advocates - Allston-Brighton, MA - Allston/Brighton TAB

Harvard Getting More Rational?

Allston Construction Pause Imposes Space Constraints on Harvard Science Schools The Harvard Crimson

But current efforts to make better use of the University’s property holdings have led some to question the original need for the Allston science building, especially as Harvard has already constructed two large laboratory buildings over the past decade—The New Research Building [525,000 square feet, completed in 2003] in Longwood and the Northwest Science Building in Cambridge [530,000 square feet, completed in 2008].

“Looking back on Allston... the mentality seemed to be ‘if you build it, they will come,’ and maybe we’ve in some sense moved back to a more rational plan,” [Timothy Mitchison, deputy chair of systems biology] said.

Union Admits That It’s in Schenectady

This NY Times article is a month old but the subject - a college trying to be a better neighbor and part of a better community - is a timeless one.

The story mentions that Union ranked 2nd on The Princeton Review's list of 20 schools with “strained town-gown relations” (Holy Cross was the only Massachusetts school listed). Princeton Review also list 20 schools where they think town-gown relations are great - Olin College of Engineering and Stonehill are the MA representatives.

Union, a liberal arts college that enrolls about 2,100 students, has also nudged the revitalization along by buying and restoring more than two dozen ramshackle houses across from its campus. It purchased a struggling Ramada Inn, turning it into a new dorm, and transformed a polluted site into new athletic fields.

A group of 16 students who are part of an independent study project led by an economics professor, Harold Fried, plan to open a combined boutique and coffeehouse downtown this year.

Good for Professor Fried! Note that this is not a story about Union dipping into its endowment (which was $292 million as of December 31, 2008 - approximately 1% of Harvard's endowment) to undertake massive capital construction projects that caused pain and suffering for the school. To the contrary, those 16 students might learn something interesting from their project that could complement nicely what they learn from a textbook like Principles of Microeconomics by Harvard Professor N. Gregory Mankiw.

What little Union has done in Schenectady can, of course, be a model for what Harvard can do in Allston.

If one of the 66 professors in Harvard's Econ department or someone at the Business School (which has 228 full-time faculty) wanted to, don't you think they could lead a project with a group of students to open a little business on Western Ave?

State Senate candidates in the area

If you missed the ABNNF forum last week or just want to see more of the candidates, they will be at The Red Line (59 JFK St, Cambridge) on Wednesday, March 31 from 7:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Networking Social & Evening with State Senate Candidates « The Fab Empire - Boston Fab

Faust Seeks Allston Trust

It is great to read in today's Crimson that Harvard President Faust wants to "work for a common solution because we all share a desire to have [Allston] be the most wonderful community and the best set of neighbor relations and the best context for all of us to live together."

I do wonder how she expects this to happen. It was nice that she and other Harvard leaders had breakfast with those of us on the BRA's Task Force. That was more than a month ago, and I wonder what Harvard thinks the next step is on the road to "the best set of neighbor relations". Seems like a good opportunity to repeat this great quote that I posted recently on the subject of trust:

"I’d say that trust is about reciprocity. About establishing a pattern of communication and then cooperative volleys that get coated by emotional and moral commitment."

New owners propose projects at St E's

A new Cancer Center and a new Ear-Nose-Throat Center lead the list of new projects planned for St E's by new owners Cerberus Capital Management.

Planned improvements at Caritas hospitals - Boston.com

State Senate Forum video

Thanks to all the candidates and neighbors who joined us last night for this event!

State Senate Candidates Forum from harry mattison on Vimeo.

Amazing Boston statistic of the day

City Hall’s weak compromise passes up millions in savings - The Boston Globe

"This year alone, city employee health insurance costs will top $275 million, making it the city’s second-largest budget account after the schools."

Harvard leases former 'GBH building

For 5 years to the Earthwatch Institute

Vacant Allston Property Leased | The Harvard Crimson

BPL community meeting at the Honan(?) library

Monday, April 5 from 6-7:30 there will be a meeting at the Honan Library to discuss the BPL budget.

Strange to have the meeting in North Allston, 2.5 miles from the Fanueil Library which is the one that many people think is on the verge of being closed. People who live near the Honan might be less inclined to take an evening to discuss the potential closing of the Fanueil which would have little direct impact on them.

A meeting in Oak Square would likely be much more popular.

April 7 there will be an online chat at www.bpl.org

More info
http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/pdfs/Library.pdf

Where is the Middlesex, Suffolk & Essex Senate boundary?

The district includes North Allston, North Brighton, and Union Square. In the map created with the MassGIS application it is labelled "Anthony Galluccio", the former Senator for this district.

Will Harvard campaign for Allston?

We will learn a lot about Harvard's future in Allston when it "identifies projects and themes that Faust said she hopes will excite donors".

"According to Faust, major capital campaigns are beneficial for the University not only because they raise funds but because the force administrators to set priorities"

University Plans Capital Campaign The Harvard Crimson

Brooks & Blond on our Broken Society

Sometimes I think NY Times Columnist David Brooks is nuts, like when he states that our government is too transparent.

Other times, I think he is so right. Case in point is Thursday's column about rampant skepticism and contempt and dysfunction in modern society. He quotes the British writer Phillip Blond who wrote:

"We are a bi-polar nation, a bureaucratic, centralised state that presides dysfunctionally over an increasingly fragmented, disempowered and isolated citizenry."

Maybe it isn't quite that bad, but his ideas for reform sound like good ones:

• passing zoning legislation to give small shopkeepers a shot against the retail giants
• reducing barriers to entry for new businesses
• revitalizing local banks
• encouraging employee share ownership
• setting up local capital funds so community associations could invest in local enterprises
• rewarding savings
• cutting regulations that socialize risk and privatize profit
• reducing the subsidies that flow from big government and big business.
• reduce the power of senior government officials and widen the discretion of front-line civil servants
• decentralize power, giving more budget authority to the smallest units of government
• funnel more services through charities
• increase investments in infrastructure, so that more places could be vibrant economic hubs.
• rebuild the “village college” so that universities would be more intertwined with the towns around them.
  

I'm not holding my breath waiting for Harvard to realize that it can be both a global research university and a "village college", but it is all something worth thinking about.

Thanks to Rep Capuano for voting Yes

During my entire career I have been fortunate to have health insurance through my employers. So I have never had to worry about getting insurance or being dropped by my insurer. Just by staying employed I have had the benefit of regular and major health care whenever I or my family has needed it.

The idea that insurers can revoke a sick person's policy is revolting, and I appreciate Rep. Capuano supporting the health care reform bill to end abuses like this and help us move towards a more just and compassionate social policy.

Blue Mass. Group:: My Decision on Health Care by: RepMikeCapuano

Have a doughnut with the Mayor

Ringer Park, 9:30-10:30 on April 26

http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/pdfs/coffee2010.pdf

Upcoming zoning hearings

33-47 Quint Avenue: Create off street parking for twenty-nine vehicles

25 Goodenough Street: Erect a roof over existing walls, allow use as storage for construction equipment, and continue use as storage for towed vehicles.

141 Nottinghill Road: Create off street parking for two vehicles

269R Everett Street: Demolish existing garage and erect a new garage

http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/pdfs/allstonbright.pdf

Does owning Allston make Harvard (or Allston) happier?

Derek Bok, the two-time president of Harvard, has just published a new book that asks "How might happiness research affect government policy in the United States--and beyond?" If happiness research should be applied to federal governments, let's also apply it to the governance of large corporations. How can Harvard shape its own policies and use its position in Allston and Brighton to maximize happiness in both the Harvard and Allston/Brighton communities?

If decision makers at Harvard spent a few minutes pondering 'What policies in Allston would produce the greatest happiness?', would Western Ave look the way it does?

Your questions for the State Senate candidates

Next Thursday (March 25), the candidates running in the State Senate special election to represent parts of Allston, Brighton, and several Boston-area towns will meet in a forum at the Gardner School from 6:00-8:00. What issues would you like to hear them discuss?

South Everett St cleanup on Saturday

Emerald Necklace Martial Arts is organizing a spring cleanup on the south Everett St slope (near Braintree Street) this Saturday at noon. More info is at Sensei Jason Gould's Ultimate Black Belt Test: Karate Students Plan "Spring Cleaning" Project in Allston Neighborhood

Art revolution opportunities in Allston

Local artist Dushko Petrovich think aloud in today's Globe about the possibilities for the arts in Boston. Harvard has done a lot of thinking about the arts at Harvard and below are some interesting ideas from Mr. Petrovich about how those ideas could be put into action.

How to start an art revolution - The Boston Globe

What if Harvard established a fine arts degree, offering teaching positions to internationally known artists and providing their students warehouse studios in Allston?

For a relatively small investment, the university could convert some of its holdings in Allston into a program that would bring in world-class artists (with their ambitious students), make better use of its soon-to-be-unified museum system, and put the school on par with Yale and Columbia universities, which already have highly influential masters of fine arts programs. This would not only transform a neighborhood and raise the cultural profile of the school, it would be exactly the kind of gesture that could rouse the city’s other players into action.

What if one of the universities helped the ICA secure a satellite location in a cheaper neighborhood, the way New York’s Museum of Modern Art runs the dynamic P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Queens? Imagine ICA Lower Allston.

Someone flew the coop?

A bird of a different feather joined the sparrows that usually visit our backyard

Another bridge railing

I was riding my bike over the Longfellow bridge and thinking about the Western Ave & River St bridges and alternate designs for the sidewalk and railings.

Longfellow, which is beautiful bridge, uses the configuration shown below that could also be used on the re-built Western and River St bridges - a strong barrier between the road and sidewalk with an artistic railing on the other side of the sidewalk.

As part of the Longfellow reconstruction that will start next year and is a "signature component" of the same Accelerated Bridge Program that will rebuild the Western & River St bridges, "the bridge's ornate pedestrian railings will be restored or replicated". Western & River have solid concrete walls instead of ornate pedestrian railings, and their reconstruction is the perfect opportunity to replace them with something more beautiful.

Activity at Harvard's CITGO

In the 2 1/2 years since Harvard bought the Western Ave CITGO station there hasn't been much good happening there, though a year ago it seemed that Clover Food Lab might move in and Harvard told us last summer that we might be on the verge of something.

Now, in what is hopefully a sign of much more to come, a contractor has been working on the building for the past couple days. The walls are freshly painted white and maybe something productive will happen there sooner rather than later.

River St/Western Ave Bridge meeting #2

Tonight MassDOT is hosting another meeting to discuss this important project. The meeting is just across the river from Allston at Cambridge's Morse Elementary School (40 Granite Street) at 6:30.

Sunday trip to Brighton for Gov Patrick

Governor Patrick was in Brighton yesterday for a house party hosted by Ambassador Charles Stith.

A/B Landlords in Boston’s "dirty dozen"

Boston will soon be able to put liens on property tax bills to force payment of violations issued by Inspectional Services. Maybe these landlords will decide to clean up their act now that the fines are more enforceable.

Meet Boston’s dirty dozen - BostonHerald.com

Samia Properties of Brighton, which owes $14,850 for 104 tickets

Landlord Joseph A. Ciliberti of Florida, whose multiple properties in Allston were hit with 203 tickets for which he owes $23,040.

Thanks to Rep Capuano

1) For sponsoring the Active Community Transportation Act to create a competive grant program with $2B to help communities build biking and walking networks

2) For filing the Shareholder Protection Act to require a shareholder vote before corporate funds can be spent on political activity.

In Harvard Can We Trust?

Rebuilding trust was a key topic at the meeting last week between the Harvard Allston Work Team (faculty appointed by President Faust) and the Harvard Allston Task Force (Allston & Brighton residents & business owners appointed by Mayor Menino). If you are interested in a discussion of trust, where it comes from, and how to create it, this Opinionator conversation between David Brooks and Dick Cavett is a good read. Brooks's definition below seems like a pretty good one with some relevance to the Harvard/Allston relationship.

In What Can We Trust? - Opinionator Blog - NYTimes.com

"I’d say that trust is about reciprocity. About establishing a pattern of communication and then cooperative volleys that get coated by emotional and moral commitment."

http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Break-Laws-Follow-Short-Termism/dp/0470227540
http://www.rulesandlaws.com/

http://www.amazon.com/Trust-Francis-Fukuyama/dp/0029109760

Allston 'work team' story in today's Crimson

Allston Work Team Seeks to Develop Allston Campus Despite Construction Halt | The Harvard Crimson

Meet the State Senate candidates - March 25

Boylston St is no Western Ave but...

Banker & Tradesman reports that a low-rise hotel on Boylston St (a Howard Johnson rather similar to the Days Hotel in our neighborhood that abuts Western Ave, Everett St, and Soldiers Field Rd). Replacing the HoJo on this 1.4 acre parcel is a proposed 350,000 sq ft of hotel, residential, and retail in two 12 story buildings.

Granted, Western Ave doesn't have the cachet of Fenway Park that they have over on Boylston St, but we do have the river and Harvard nearby which should be worth something. But these days Boylston has the momentum and Western Ave has a stalled Science Complex.

Upcoming zoning hearing

72 Nomantum Street - Change the legal occupancy from a two-family dwelling to a three-family dwelling, legalizing the basement unit.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/pdfs/allstonbright.pdf

Springtime starting on Everett St

My trip to Everett St this afternoon found beautiful color on a witch hazel and dozens of spring bulbs working their way up through the soil. Thanks to the many volunteers - neighborhood adults, kids from the Gardner school and West End House - who help plant the bulbs last fall we should have an explosion of color in a few weeks.

Decker drops from state Senate race

Even after her withdrawal, there are several Cambridge-based candidates likely to split that segment of the vote.

Cambridge city councilor Decker withdraws from state Senate race - Cambridge, Massachusetts - Cambridge Chronicle

Science Complex construction management meeting on Wednesday

The next Harvard Science Complex construction management meeting is Wednesday, March 3 at 6:00 at 114 Western Ave (former WGBH building)

Subway tows

A warning to maybe spare some others of the fate that befell a friend last week. The Subway on Western Ave will tow your car, even if their parking lot is otherwise empty and there is no demand for the parking spaces.

Allston Village Main Streets Annual Meeting

Want to find out what AVMS has been up to for the last year? Have ideas for the future? Come to the Allston Village Main Streets Annual Meeting and enjoy tasty free eats from Uno's!

Wednesday, March 3
Uno Chicago Grill - 1230 Comm Ave
6:30-8:30
Announcements, New Board Members, New Businesses
Free refreshments by Uno Chicago Grill.

Some New Balance thoughts

To start at a high level, I think New Balance presented a great vision last night for redevelopment for Guest Street between Market Street and Everett Street. Turning that area into a more lively, interesting, and active area would be great. Having New Balance become more of a neighbor with a greater investment in our neighborhood can only be a good thing. Attracting mutually beneficial infrastructure improvements like a commuter rail stop would also be great.

Long term, New Balance presented a lot of big ideas including:

• New office space for New Balance
• A 125-room hotel
• A 2 acre park
• A commuter rail stop
• New on and off ramps connecting to the Mass Pike
• An athletic facility for sports like indoor soccer and lacrosse
• An ice skating facility with two separate skating surfaces (there was some discussion about how the Skating Club of Boston would like to move from their current site on Western Ave (so they could sell it to Harvard??) but want a new facility with 3 ice surfaces)
• 600 construction and 3,000 permanent jobs

Obviously the timing and funding of many of these pieces is highly uncertain. The only piece that New Balance seems to be somewhat able to do in the near future are the new office building and park.

As the devil is in the details, I was most concerned with their ideas for access to the Pike. Some kind of ramp connecting Lincoln Street and the Pike seems highly questionable, and I am inclined to agree with other neighbors who commented last night that adding new ramps and overpasses could exacerbate the "scar" that the Pike already creates across our neighborhood. As someone who lives North of the Pike, I wonder about a plan that seems to create positive new development south of the Pike and supports it by building more highway-related roads on the north side of the Pike.

Tim McHale noted at the meeting last night our community's desire for a more residential stability and more homeownership, and the retail/office/residential mix of the future phases is an important question, but maybe one that doesn't need to be fully answered now because these future phases are not exactly right around the corner.

If New Balance does build a new office building, I hope that its will be more public and urban. The current New Balance complex is 535,000 sq ft of office space with 30,000 sq ft of retail below the parking garage (the Bally gym and New Balance outlet). But on the north side of Guest Street, the large office buildings are pushed back from the sidewalk and the first floor offers no public use. The large cafeteria is upstairs on the 2nd floor, and the building and Guest Street would, in my opinion, would have been better served by public restaurants and other retail on the ground floor instead of the office-park type building that was built.

I also learned last night that it was New Balance who renovated the charming old factory building at 38 Everett Street that is now the Warrior & Brine Outlet Store for lacrosse, soccer and hockey equipment.

Considering all the unknowns, I'd summarize my thoughts that more New Balance in our community is a good thing. If NB has office buildings at either end of Guest Street they will be pretty motivated to improve the area around and between their buildings.

Other coverage from last night's meeting from the Globe, Herald, and Mike Pahre

Stay dry at the ABNNF potluck tonight

Get out of the rain and come to the Gardner school tonight at 6 to meet neighbors, have a good time, and eat some great food!

Harvard's PEAR & Universities in Partnership

A friend of a friend recently introduced me a Harvard Medical School program called PEAR - The Program in Education, Afterschool, and Resiliency. PEAR does great research and applied work to help children have more productive and enriching lives. Periodically they conduct sessions on the web where experts present information about their work and viewers can ask questions through a text chat.

On February 2 PEAR ran a webinar titled "Universities in Partnership: Strategies for Education, Youth Development, and Community Renewal" and you can watch a replay of it here.

Presenters included Ira Harkavy from University of Pennsylvania and a some of the key concepts discussed were:

• The deep, extensive, and substantive level of engagement that universities and communities can have
• The difficulty of growing up in urban environment caused by factors including crime, violence, poverty, and high dropout rates
• The challenge to marshal all of the potential resources to make a difference
• A decade ago it was radical to think of a university/community/school partnership, now they are much more common
• The concept of a "democratic partnership" with a democratic and civic emphasis that works with a egalitarian, transparent, and and collegial process

Google's relationship with Mountain View

Ford / Detroit
Google / Mountain View, CA
Harvard / Allston

Three huge corporations with immense power to control the destiny of their surrounding communities. This story in today's Times raises questions relevant in Allston and Mountain View about corporations turning inward & outward, community engagement, and creating a community feeling beyond the office and campus walls.

Google and Mountain View Recast Company-Town Model - NYTimes.com

“The main reason Ford put money into the Detroit Symphony Orchestra is to make it plausible to recruit executives to Detroit,” Professor Davis said. “It was a human-resources move as much as it was philanthropic.”

But the technology companies that grew amid the striking scenery and balmy weather of the Bay Area have not felt the same imperative. As they grew, they turned inward, putting their resources into employee perks like stock options and free lunches.

“Generally speaking, the high-tech companies in Silicon Valley are not as engaged in contributing to their local communities,” said Larry Stone, the Santa Clara County tax assessor.

The most controversial Google plan so far is its possible expansion into the North Bayshore area, including residential towers of up to five stories. These would increase population density, and possibly traffic, in an area that has little of either. The proposal’s viability, in turn, rests in part on the long-term planning decisions now before the City Council.

Sean Safford, a professor who studies organizations and markets at the University of Chicago, noted that Google was replicating traditional company-town practices by placing housing for its employees near its headquarters.

“It will be so interesting to see how much of their human resources strategy is about creating a community feeling that goes beyond the offices,” Mr. Safford said. “Sometimes when you’re competing for workers and prominence, there’s a need to stick your chest out and say, ‘We’re the big dogs in town.’ ”

Fund libraries with public, not private funds

Maybe in a crisis the Boston Public Library system needs an emergency bailout from the private sector. But that should not be the long-term solution to funding the libraries. A public library system cannot be subject to the whims of private donations and the generosity of a Liberty Mutual or Fidelity that may be here one year and gone the next. This is especially for libraries which have large fixed costs (buildings, staffing, etc.) that cannot be easily expanded and contracted on a yearly basis.

Boston needs to figure out how to create a sufficient and dependable revenue stream to fund our libraries and keep them open and accessible to all residents of Boston.

In crisis, Boston libraries need better board, more private funds - The Boston Globe

Decker resolution on Western Ave/River St bridge projects

Cambridge City Councilor and State Senate candidate Marjorie Decker has sponsored the following council order asking MassDOT and other agencies to work with Cambridge and Boston residents and to include planning for access to the river and the surrounding parkland.

We need a State Senator who will get involved in issues like this, and I will contact DOT to find out which candidates submitted comments on this project.

WHEREAS: It has come to the attention of this City Council that there is a
construction project on the bridges at both Western Avenue and River Street that
will affect the residents in both Cambridge and Boston; and

WHEREAS: There are various local and state agencies involved in the project
and the residents of the surrounding areas are entitled to meet with any and all
of those agencies to discuss the project and stay informed; now therefore be
it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report all steps
the city is taking to ensure resident and city input is heard at the outset of
this project and throughout; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report what
additional steps are being made to comprehensively address, in addition to the
bridge renovations, what is being done to the pedestrian and bicycle access ways
and to the parklands surrounding the river; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report a schedule
of any and all of the opportunities for meetings with the various state agencies
involved in this project; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to
the City Council on this matter.

BRA approves 20 units on Greylock Rd

Banker & Tradesman

"The project, a condominium complex that will produce 20 units, two of which will be designated as affordable housing, and will be located at 17-23 Greylock Road in Allston."

Lowe’s still wants Brighton site

Sure will be interesting to see how this progresses. Commeters at the Globe site seem particularly excited because Lowe's may be ready to build now, but we have no idea how much of the New Balance proposal is also ready to build in the short term. To me it is hard to find much to be excited about in a big, ugly, duplicative home-improvement warehouse.

Lowe’s to try again for Hub store, but New Balance also has plans for Brighton site - The Boston Globe

Allston Civic Association meeting agenda

February 17 @ 6:30P.M. Honan Allston Library

The proponent of a large Billboard on Camb/Lincoln St will return to show a scaled drawing of the board in relationship to the building on Camb. St.

Quint Ave. A proposal to create parking next to the church.

Parking Discussion: Allston/Brighton has been targeted by cab companies and commercial vehicle owners as a place to store their vehicles overnight. Many leave their personal vehicles in the same spot during the day so our streets are being used 24 hours a day to accommodate the parking needs of businesses that are located outside of our town, and outside of our city. A discussion about where this is happening and what can be done about it will be held.

You are invited to the ABNNF potluck dinner

The Allston Brighton North Neighbors Forum (ABNNF) invites all neighbors to a community potluck dinner in the Gardner School auditorium (30 Athol St) on Thursday, February 25 at 6:00.

Please join us for this fun and casual opportunity to meet new friends and see familiar faces in a social setting.

As a general guideline, plan to bring food according to your last name:
A-F: Drinks
G-M: Appetizer/Salad
N-S: Main Dish
T-Z: Dessert

Or bring anything you'd like - all contributions are welcome. If you know you're coming and/or bringing something, please RSVP to john.eskew@gmail.com

Bridge comments

Here are the comments that I sent to the Mass Department of Transportation regarding last week's River Street & Western Ave bridge meeting. If you have ideas for this important project, you can send then to Stephanie.Boundy@state.ma.us.
Western Ave River St Bridge Comments - Harry Mattison

New Balance meeting postponed

New Balance Guest Street meeting snowed out : Allston Brighton Tab Blog

Like everything else in Boston, this meeting is not happening because of the impending snow.
New date is 2/24 @ 6:30.

No School on Wednesday

The City's Snow Information and Advisory Program - City of Boston

Update: 2/9/10, 10:00pm
Boston Public Schools has announced a school closing for Wednesday, February 10. The City of Boston has declared a snow emergency, effective 8:00am Wednesday. A parking ban will be in effect.

Free H1N1 shots

At the Gardner School until 5:00 today

View from the Western Ave bridge

I was sitting in traffic yesterday on the Western Ave bridge and took this photo of the "view" such as it is. We should definitely do better when rebuilding it.

Hole in Allston letter to the Editor

Colleen McGuire is getting frustrated and write about it to the Globe - Hole in Allston - The Boston Globe

For more beautiful bridges

There are many important subjects to consider after Wednesday's meeting on the reconstruction of the Western Ave and River St bridges. (The presentation from the meeting can be downloaded here). Safe bridges that are accessible and accommodating for transportation and recreation are a must. For this post, I'd like to consider how the bridges look, what people can see from them, and how to make pedestrians safer.

According to the Charles River Master Plan, these bridges were the subject of a 1923 design competition to create bridges that would be "worthy expressions of the best that a cultured community can create." While I appreciate the graceful arches of the bridges when they are viewed from a distance, it is hard to find anything beautiful about the bridges when one is on the bridge.



With this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild and reconsider these bridges, it seems appropriate to rethink both how the bridges look and function. The bridges won't be rebuilt entirely as part of this project, but there will be extensive reconstruction and some portions of the bridges will be completely rebuilt.



One possibility is to add a barrier between the roadway and the sidewalk. This would protect pedestrians by preventing cars in an accident from ending up on the sidewalk. It would also make it possible to use a railing instead of a wall between the sidewalk and the water, as is done on the Mass Ave Bridge a couple miles away. Children who are not tall enough to see over the existing wall would particularly enjoy the view through the railing, especially when watching rowers and other boats below.

In any case, after 87 years I think it is again time to consider what might be "the best that a cultured community can create."

Charles River bridge underpasses

The first meeting about the River St & Western Ave bridge reconstruction is tonight at 6 at the Honan Library, and the Charles River Conservancy has some interesting ideas in this poster about how bridge underpasses could improve our safety and enjoyment of the river.

http://thecharles.org/projects/underpasses/Poster-Underpasses-2010jan12.pdf

Allston on Chronicle this Friday

Friday's show (7:30 on Channel 5) will take a look at stalled development projects in Allston and elsewhere in Boston.

Friday, February 5: Arrested Development

More on the New Balance proposal

Seems to me that what New Balance is proposing would do a whole lot more to improve the neighborhood than a big box home improvement store ever could.

Companies vie for Brighton site - BostonHerald.com

Upcoming zoning hearing

65-67 Surrey Street - Erect a one story addition in rear. Remove and replace second floor stair and decks.
http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/pdfs/allstonbright.pdf

Brighton Landing proposal described at Brighton Centered

Mike Pahre posts some information about the large development being planned for alongside the Mass Pike between Stop & Shop and New Balance. A public meeting is being held at on February 10 at 6:30 on the 2nd floor at 20 Guest Street.

From what I know about this proposal, I think it could be great. Obviously some major transportation improvements would be needed, and this project could help move forward the construction of a commuter rail stop. The Mass Pike improvements could be good in their own right, and also take some load off the River Street / Doubletree traffic nightmare.

The Guest St / Braintree St area could be a lot more than it is today and hopefully this will be a step in the right direction.

LivableStreets handout for Wednesday's bridge meeting

Wednesday at 6:00 at the Honan Library is the first public meeting about the State's planned project improve the Western Ave and River St bridges. The great people at LivableStreets have created this handout that suggests some key points to consider making if you attend the meeting.

Upcoming zoning hearing

Harvard Real Estate Allston (for Mahoney's Garden Center) - 449-451 Western Ave - Remove and replace three sides to existing greenhouse and erect a 15,750 square foot addition to building.

Cambride Councilor Decker announces bid for State Senate

http://www.marjoriedecker.com/news/1-latest-news/122-decker-announces-senate-candidacy.html

Decker Seeks State Senate Seat The Harvard Crimson

Harvard curator: Allston not in my professional lifetime

I don't think anyone knows with certainty how and when Harvard will move forward in Allston, but here's one opinion from someone with enough knowledge to make a career decision based on it. Based on her estimate and that, at 43 years old, she probably has 20+ years left in her professional lifetime, it could be 2030 before Allston sees any Harvard art.

Allston Delay Prompts Museum Curator To Leave Harvard The Harvard Crimson

With the plans for Harvard’s new contemporary art museum in Allston currently up in the air, Harvard Art Museum’s curator of contemporary art Helen Molesworth will leave Harvard to become the chief curator at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston, ICA officials announced earlier this month.

“It’s become clear that the University has a very, very long-term plan for Allston. It won’t happen in my professional lifetime,” she said.

Ciommo continues as Ways & Means Chair

Thanks to Adam Gaffin for being the only source I know of to regularly cover news of the Boston City Council.

Yet another candidate for State Senate

Cambridge lawyer eyeing Galluccio's state Senate seat - Cambridge, Massachusetts - Cambridge Chronicle

"Benzan’s name will join a slew of other contenders vying for the post, such as Charlestown lawyer Dan Hill, Cambridge lawyer Tim Flaherty, Cambridge City Councilor Marjorie Decker, son of former state Sen. Sal Albano of Somerville Michael Albano, and former Galluccio chief of staff/ Everett City Councilor Sal DiDomenico"

Another State Senate candidate

Progressive Democrat Michael Albano Enters Senate Race - Cambridge News Weekly

Farewell Urban Ring (we hardly knew you)

Over the past few years, those of us who attended Harvard Master Plan and related meetings were told about an Urban Ring bus rapid transit system would be a major piece of the transportation system that would move thousands of people a day between Harvard Sq, Allston, Longwood, and elsewhere.

A couple years ago, the Globe wrote that:

"But maybe the biggest hope for Urban Ring supporters is this: Harvard University wants in, and if there is one institution that has the big money needed to make things happen in these parts, it's Harvard. With its plans to expand into Allston, Harvard has proposed a new stop, called West Station, on the existing commuter rail line in Allston and would like to reconfigure old Urban Ring plans to have Allston, and West Station, included."

On Friday, Jeffrey Mullan, CEO of MassDOT, wrote in this letter that while the State may move forward with bits and pieces of the Urban Ring plan or other projects in the same areas,

"MassDOT's current financial condition prevents it from building the Project in its entirety in the foreseeable future - and the MBTA's current financial condition makes it financially unable to operate it"

While we are waiting for Harvard to resume construction

Last week the Globe asked for our ideas about what might be done with Harvard's empty property in Allston. Tracy Jan writes about these in the Globe's "The Quad" column:

• BMX bike trail park
• Rock-climbing walls
• Go-cart park
• Amusement park
• Minatute golf, mobile BBQ or other "restaurants" (suggested by yours truly)
• Harvard/Allston community garden
• Tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, four square, and dodge ball
• World's largest public skating rink

Movie Night at Harvard Ed Portal Tonight

Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Movie starts at 6:30 p.m. & is 95 minutes long
175 North Harvard Street

Bring friends and family to watch the DreamWorks animated movie “Monsters vs. Aliens” shown in Blu-Ray. Enjoy some popcorn and good company and watch as an eclectic and entertaining group of monsters combat a group of aliens to save the world from destruction.

http://www.monstersvsaliens.com/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0892782/

Help Change Congress

Today's Supreme Court decision threatens to open the floodgate for more money to pour into the accounts of the representatives who should represent the interests of the citizens in their districts.

Please watch this video and support the important work of Change Congress.

Upcoming zoning hearings

21 Greylock Road - Demolish existing structures, combine lots and erect a twenty unit residential building with parking

1304-1312 Commonwealth Ave - Replace eight foot chain link fence with a new ten foot plastic fence.

24 Melton Road - Extend living space into the attic, erect two skylight windows and renovate

More info at http://www.cityofboston.gov/ons/pdfs/allstonbright.pdf

VPs in Harvard's Skating story

Interesting that two Harvard vice-presidents are quoted in this Harvard Gazette story about ice skating in the old VW dealer on Western Ave. Is Allston so prominent these days on the administration's radar screen?

River St & Western Ave bridge meeting - Feb 3

The MassDOT Highway Division is hosting a meeting about the reconstruction of the River Street and Western Avenue bridges.

We all know these bridges and the areas around them are overwhelmed with auto traffic and horrible for bicyclists and pedestrians. Hopefully the strong advocacy of our community and others can encourage the major re-design that is needed.

The meeting has been scheduled for February 3 at the Honan-Allston Library, 300 North Harvard Street from 6 PM to 8 PM. More info is at http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/calendar/massdoteventdetail.aspx?id=138

Please remember to

VOTE

Allston update from The Crimson

The Harvard Crimson reports on some optimistic and pessimistic views on what might happen with Harvard & Allston.

Allston in Globe photos of 2009

Such as photogenic neighborhood! The Best Boston Globe photos of 2009 has 15 photos and two of them are from Allston - Brighton Ave and Harvard Stadium.

Looks good on paper

A reminder from the Globe editorial this morning that even when a university master plan looks good it is the results, not just the plan, that really matters.

"In 2006, [Northeastern University] secured approval from the Boston Redevelopment Authority to build three new dormitories with the capacity to house a total of 2,800 students. But the university made good on building just one of those dorms for 1,200 students. Architectural plans for the 600-student dorm on St. Botolph Street are gathering dust. And a proposed dorm on the site of a Gainsborough Street garage is on indefinite hold."

Petco Unleashed coming to Allston

Petco Unleashed has signed a lease to open a store in the new building at 226 Harvard Ave. Can't imagine how this can be good news for Jim Gentile's Pet Shop just a block away.

Creative destruction on Western Ave

It is a special day when there is something good to say about something happening on Western Ave, and I am glad that today is one of those days. Mahoney's Garden Center, which has been a generous friend to our community, is almost finished demolishing the small building on Soldiers Field Road behind the Mahoney's store.

This demolition will make Mahoney's much more visible and accessible to Soldiers Field Road and will allow them to greatly increase their selection.

Skating Away

To Harvard's credit, they have found a good use for one of their empty buildings. During the next few months, the former Volkswagen dealer on Western Ave (next door to Flint Cleaners) is being transformed into an indoor skating rink.

The Mayor is coming to cut the ribbon on Friday, and more information and hours of operation are available here.

Globe seeks your ideas for Harvard Allston property

Tracy Jan (tjan@globe.com) at the Globe is Seeking your ideas for Harvard's Allston property for a future story.

Faneuil St gunshot this morning

Boston Police Dept. (Boston_Police) on Twitter

"FIREARM DISCHARGE: 89 Faneuil St in Brighton, SWAT Team discharged at pit bull while conducting search warrant for armed robbery suspect."
tweeted about 2 hours ago

Great Allston time-lapse videos

Something fun to watch on a cold Sunday posted to YouTube a few months ago by flavorseal

Brighton arrest, may be related to recent robberies

BPDNews.com: Armed Robbery Suspect of Tedeschi’s in Brighton Arrested

Program Helps Sharpen Small Business Skills

Nice story about BU Sociology Professor Daniel Monti and InnerCity Entrepreneurs helping small business owners in and around Boston grow their companies.

Program Helps Sharpen Business Skills of Those Already in Business - NYTimes.com

WCVB hopes for "constructive action by Harvard"

Nice to see WCVB Channel 5 joining us in hoping that 2010 brings something better to North Allston and North Brighton than 2009 did.

Your ideas for ABNNF greening projects in 2010

During the last couple years, the ABNNF has planted trees, shrubs, groundcover, bulbs, and more on the Everett St slope and at the Gardner School playground. While these plants are hibernating under a blanket of snow, it is time to apply for grants and plan projects for the new year. Where in our neighborhood do you think we should continue with similar projects? Please leave your suggestions as comments to this post.


Gardner School students planting bulbs on Everett St

North Allston will probably have a new State Senator soon

Galluccio ordered to prison for one year - The Boston Globe

"State Senator Anthony D. Galluccio today was found in violation of the terms of his probation and was sentenced to one year in the Middlesex House of Correction. He was led out of the courtroom in handcuffs."

Text of today's Inaugural address of Mayor Menino

Inaugural address of Mayor Menino - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe

Looking for results at Boston About Results

Harvard Professor Ed Glaeser writes in today's Globe that "Transparency is the cure for those fifth-term blues" and that the Boston About Results website "is a significant Menino innovation that provides easy-to-use data about city services".

I've written in the past about the impressive scorecards used in New York City to measure how well NYC does things like keep the streets clean, so after reading Glaeser's op-ed I took a look at the Boston About Results website to see the reports that the City is publishing for each department.

Honestly, I don't see much "big innovation" over at Boston About Results. When I think about the results that I hope we are getting from the School Department, Public Works, Transportation, and Inspectional Services, it is mostly about how much our kids are learning and quality of life issues about street cleanliness and snow shoveling, potholes, and rats.

Glaeser writes that "when I checked “Boston About Results,’’ the link to the education performance page was broken". I am surprised that in the 16 or so hours since the story went on-line nobody has bothered to fix this link that is supposed to provide the "FY09 Annual Performance Report" for Boston Public Schools but instead reports that "Sorry, you have reached a nonexistent page on the City of Boston's webserver."

For departments whose links do work, I don't see much that tells the voters, citizens, and taxpayers of Boston about the results that we are getting from our City government. "Big Innovation" might be the ability to enter a zip code, ward/precinct, or street address, and get relevant information about "results" that are local to your home or business. Instead, Boston About Results gives only citywide data.

I thought it was admirable when Boston announced a goal to plant 100,000 street trees by 2020, but the Parks Department report doesn't tell much about our progress towards that goal. Sixty trees were planted between July 1, 2009 and September 30, 2009. The goal for this period was zero. What does that mean? Was there some emergency that necessitated planting trees when the City planned to plant none? Where in the City were they planted or how many of them were planted in Allston and Brighton? The PDF doesn't tell us. Are we on track to meet the 2020 goal? How clean and safe are Smith Field and Ringer Park?

Do you see "Big Innovation" in these reports that I am missing? (Admittedly I didn't have the time today to review every report in detail).

Gov: No free land for Smith, Legislature tries again

On November 18, the Massachusetts House and Senate unanimously passed bill #4356 to lease State property on Western Ave to the Joseph M. Smith Community Health Center "for construction of a new community health center building of approximately 40,000 square feet and related parking" for the next 50 years for $1.

But on Novemver 24, Governor Patrick vetoed this bill and proposed an amendment, writing that

"The needs of this valued community center to expand must be balanced against the needs of the Commonwealth, including protecting the public fisc. Requiring the state to lease extremely valuable property for $1.00 per year does not strike that balance.
Accordingly, I am returning this bill for amendment to avoid any violations of the anti-aid amendment and to provide a fiscally responsible transaction."

Earlier this week, the House rejected the Governor's amendment and adopted a new amendment that reads:

“SECTION 6. Consideration for the lease of the property described in section 1 shall be no less than fair market value for comparable rentals by the commonwealth. A lease agreement entered into pursuant to this act by or on behalf of the commonwealth shall provide that, in lieu of the payment of rent, the lessee shall provide students at a community college or state institution of higher education with opportunities to gain clinical experience in nursing and other medical fields by working with clients of the lessee, on such terms and conditions as the division of capital asset management and maintenance and lessee deem appropriate.”

Next this new amendment will go to the Senate and then possibly back to the Governor.