New City Council Committee Assignments
Talking Politics - New Council Assignments: "Jerry McDermott may be the biggest winner; he loses Utilities but gets Ways & Means -- which Consalvo cannot be happy about losing -- and Financial Services/Community Investment"
Allston Master Plan Met with Frustration
Allston Master Plan Met with Frustration - Community members clash with University
Tempers flared and questions remained unanswered at a fiery meeting of Allston residents and Harvard officials last Wednesday.
The meeting marked the first discussion with Allston residents since the University released a robust 50-year plan earlier this month for its fledgling campus across the Charles River.
Allston resident Matthew Snyder expressed frustration with the University’s response.
“I come to these meetings for answers. And I didn’t get any,” Snyder said.
“I think there’s a huge disconnect between the community of Allston and Harvard,” he added.
Tempers flared and questions remained unanswered at a fiery meeting of Allston residents and Harvard officials last Wednesday.
The meeting marked the first discussion with Allston residents since the University released a robust 50-year plan earlier this month for its fledgling campus across the Charles River.
Allston resident Matthew Snyder expressed frustration with the University’s response.
“I come to these meetings for answers. And I didn’t get any,” Snyder said.
“I think there’s a huge disconnect between the community of Allston and Harvard,” he added.
Pete Sampras to play tennis in Allston
The Outback Champions Series News
Pete Sampras, one of the best tennis players in the history of the storied game, will be coming back to play competitive tennis very soon. However, fans won't be seeing him on a court trying to stop Roger Federer from breaking his Grand Slam singles record. Instead, he will be playing in tennis' senior circuit for players over 30.
Sampras let his intentions be known in an interview with AP. He said his first match back will be in the Outback Champions Series tournament scheduled for May 2-6 in Boston at the Boston University Agganis Arena on Comm Ave in Allston.
Pete Sampras, one of the best tennis players in the history of the storied game, will be coming back to play competitive tennis very soon. However, fans won't be seeing him on a court trying to stop Roger Federer from breaking his Grand Slam singles record. Instead, he will be playing in tennis' senior circuit for players over 30.
Sampras let his intentions be known in an interview with AP. He said his first match back will be in the Outback Champions Series tournament scheduled for May 2-6 in Boston at the Boston University Agganis Arena on Comm Ave in Allston.
Allston Village Main Streets annual meeting & networking night
The Allston Village Main Streets Annual Meeting and Networking night
Thursday, February 8
6 - 8 p.m.
The Kells 161 Brighton Ave
Learn about what is happening in Allston Village and meet Mark Hayes, our new police captain. Cash bar & FREE FOOD from Allston Village's newest restaurants.
Thursday, February 8
6 - 8 p.m.
The Kells 161 Brighton Ave
Learn about what is happening in Allston Village and meet Mark Hayes, our new police captain. Cash bar & FREE FOOD from Allston Village's newest restaurants.
Hub's grades are in
Hub's grades are in - The Boston Globe
A new program, Boston About Results, was launched last summer to provide the mayor, and citizens, quantitative measures of how well the city is providing the services it promises. This Globe article looks at the results and publishes the "report cards" for several City departments.
A new program, Boston About Results, was launched last summer to provide the mayor, and citizens, quantitative measures of how well the city is providing the services it promises. This Globe article looks at the results and publishes the "report cards" for several City departments.
The City That Never Walks
The City That Never Walks - New York Times
An interesting op-ed piece in today's Times. Brings to mind the many ways that our neighborhood could be more pedestrian and bike friendly on Western Ave, N Harvard, Cambridge St, from our homes to the river, and throughout the area.
An interesting op-ed piece in today's Times. Brings to mind the many ways that our neighborhood could be more pedestrian and bike friendly on Western Ave, N Harvard, Cambridge St, from our homes to the river, and throughout the area.
Residents seek details of Harvard development plans - The Boston Globe
Residents seek details of Harvard development plans - The Boston Globe: "'We need to know exactly what they want to do and when they plan to do it,' said Representative Michael Moran , who represents most of North Allston. 'My district also includes Boston College, and I can tell you everything they plan to do over the next 15 years. We don't have anything near that specificity with Harvard. These things need to be worked out before they put a shovel in the ground.'"
CSX rail tracks for sale
Rail tracks for sale - The Boston Globe
THE PATRICK administration has been handed a major opportunity to improve the commuter rail network in eastern Massachusetts. The CSX railroad corporation wants to sell its rail lines west to Worcester, south to Fall River and New Bedford, and north to Somerville...
A state takeover would allow the MBTA to expand service by shifting from a one-track to a two-track operation. It would also provide land for construction of a commuter rail station near the proposed Harvard campus in Allston...
But it sounds as if CSX is phasing out its freight service to the rail yards in Allston, and, if that's the case, it will not need rail lines in eastern Massachusetts...
THE PATRICK administration has been handed a major opportunity to improve the commuter rail network in eastern Massachusetts. The CSX railroad corporation wants to sell its rail lines west to Worcester, south to Fall River and New Bedford, and north to Somerville...
A state takeover would allow the MBTA to expand service by shifting from a one-track to a two-track operation. It would also provide land for construction of a commuter rail station near the proposed Harvard campus in Allston...
But it sounds as if CSX is phasing out its freight service to the rail yards in Allston, and, if that's the case, it will not need rail lines in eastern Massachusetts...
How many new Allston residents & how much new open space?
At the Harvard Task Force meeting and in other presentations, Harvard is talking a lot about the new open space in their 20 and 50 years plans for North Allston. What hasn't been discussed as much how many new students would be living here. These two issues really can't be separated, so here is a view of the whole picture.
Harvard's 20 year plan proposed 1.4 million square feet of new housing in North Allston. This is 800,000 sq ft of undergraduate housing, 350,000 sq ft of graduate housing, and 250,000 sq ft of Business School housing.
How many people would live in 1.4 million square feet of housing? Harvard estimates that there will be 590 beds in the 350,000 square feet of graduate housing. That is 600 sq ft per bed. How many people sleep in each bed is another question, but I will assume it is 1 for the sake of this estimating exercise.
1.4 million square feet of housing & 600 sq. ft per person = 2,300 additional Allston residents.
On average, Boston has 7.4 acres of open space per 1,000 residents. (Allston/Brighton is well below that, with 4.8 acres per 1,000.)
If new open space should be created at the same time new residents are added at the 7.4 per 1000 ratio, that means that 17 acres of new open space should be created to accompany the 2,300 new Allston residents that Harvard plans to add.
Harvard's press release that accompanied the 50 year plan announces an intention to "create more than 30 acres of new open space". In the 20 year plan there are 3 acres of open space in Rena Park and an unspecified amount of open space that burying Soldiers Field Road and a Science Courtyard would create.
(The estimates of square footage of housing to be constructed comes from page 16 of The Plan for Harvard in Allston executive summary. The 250,000 sq ft of Business School housing is an estimate based on the 500,000 sq ft mentioned as part of a "Harvard Business School Academic and Housing" line item.)
More information about open space in Allston/Brighton is in the Boston Open Space plan. The Allston/Brighton portion of that plan is here.
Harvard's 20 year plan proposed 1.4 million square feet of new housing in North Allston. This is 800,000 sq ft of undergraduate housing, 350,000 sq ft of graduate housing, and 250,000 sq ft of Business School housing.
How many people would live in 1.4 million square feet of housing? Harvard estimates that there will be 590 beds in the 350,000 square feet of graduate housing. That is 600 sq ft per bed. How many people sleep in each bed is another question, but I will assume it is 1 for the sake of this estimating exercise.
1.4 million square feet of housing & 600 sq. ft per person = 2,300 additional Allston residents.
On average, Boston has 7.4 acres of open space per 1,000 residents. (Allston/Brighton is well below that, with 4.8 acres per 1,000.)
If new open space should be created at the same time new residents are added at the 7.4 per 1000 ratio, that means that 17 acres of new open space should be created to accompany the 2,300 new Allston residents that Harvard plans to add.
Harvard's press release that accompanied the 50 year plan announces an intention to "create more than 30 acres of new open space". In the 20 year plan there are 3 acres of open space in Rena Park and an unspecified amount of open space that burying Soldiers Field Road and a Science Courtyard would create.
(The estimates of square footage of housing to be constructed comes from page 16 of The Plan for Harvard in Allston executive summary. The 250,000 sq ft of Business School housing is an estimate based on the 500,000 sq ft mentioned as part of a "Harvard Business School Academic and Housing" line item.)
More information about open space in Allston/Brighton is in the Boston Open Space plan. The Allston/Brighton portion of that plan is here.
Crowds blast Harvard plan at Wednesday meeting
Crowds blast Harvard plan - Allston/Brighton TAB: "Nearly 200 people, many sporting “Harvard You Need to Do Better” stickers on their lapels, packed into the Honan-Allston library Wednesday to learn about Harvard’s Allston expansion plans, and to express both feedback and frustration with the university’s recently released 50-year Institutional Master Plan."
Rivera declines to accept post as Boston school superintendent
Rivera declines to accept post as Boston school superintendent - The Boston Globe
Mayor Thomas M. Menino scrambled back to Boston last night from the nation's capital, outraged after a much publicized deal to sign Manuel J. Rivera as school superintendent collapsed without notice.
Mayor Thomas M. Menino scrambled back to Boston last night from the nation's capital, outraged after a much publicized deal to sign Manuel J. Rivera as school superintendent collapsed without notice.
Is Harvard thinking generously about its plans for Allston?
Here is a what a major Harvard arts benefactor said when Harvard was planning a new art museum for Cambridge a few years ago. That project was not built due to community opposition, but I think the sentiment is just as applicable here in Allston.
"If a museum of modern art is built on that site, I hope that Harvard will think big and generously about it. Let the museum have breathing room. When the Fogg was opened in 1895, a blueprint existed that showed how it might one day expand onto the adjoining site, where the Carpenter Center went up instead in 1963. The Fogg has suffered from being hemmed in by the Carpenter Center. I would be terribly disappointed if that happened at the river site. The Sackler and the Busch-Reisinger Museum in Werner Otto Hall are not what they ought to be, and even when new they weren't. Let's not do something typical of so many Harvard projects and make a building that isn't what it ought to be."
http://www.harvardmag.com/nd99/jhj.riverfront.html
"If a museum of modern art is built on that site, I hope that Harvard will think big and generously about it. Let the museum have breathing room. When the Fogg was opened in 1895, a blueprint existed that showed how it might one day expand onto the adjoining site, where the Carpenter Center went up instead in 1963. The Fogg has suffered from being hemmed in by the Carpenter Center. I would be terribly disappointed if that happened at the river site. The Sackler and the Busch-Reisinger Museum in Werner Otto Hall are not what they ought to be, and even when new they weren't. Let's not do something typical of so many Harvard projects and make a building that isn't what it ought to be."
http://www.harvardmag.com/nd99/jhj.riverfront.html
Scoping Determination for Harvard Science Complex
This document has been posted on the BRA's website. There are two versions.
- Scoping Determination with Comments, 4 MB file, 164 pages
- Scoping Determination without Comments, 0.2 MB file, 19 pages
- Scoping Determination with Comments, 4 MB file, 164 pages
- Scoping Determination without Comments, 0.2 MB file, 19 pages
Immigrant sentenced in bribery case
Immigrant sentenced in bribery case - The Boston Globe: "A federal judge sentenced an undocumented immigrant who operated an Allston cleaning company to five years in prison for harboring other undocumented immigrants and bribing an immigration official. US District Judge Morris E. Lasker also ordered Jose Neto, 40, to forfeit to the government a multifamily residence he owns in Allston"
Property liens eyed in trash crackdown
Property liens eyed in trash crackdown - Local & Regional - BostonHerald.com
City councilors are expected to pass a home-rule petition today to put liens on the properties of those with unpaid trash fines, a move that comes days after the Herald reported Boston has not collected $3.4 million in code violations.
“I like the idea of getting tough on scofflaws and collecting money,” said City Councilor Jerry McDermott, who represents student-heavy Allston-Brighton. “Under the current system, it is too easy for landlords to say if no one is making them pay, why pay?”
City councilors are expected to pass a home-rule petition today to put liens on the properties of those with unpaid trash fines, a move that comes days after the Herald reported Boston has not collected $3.4 million in code violations.
“I like the idea of getting tough on scofflaws and collecting money,” said City Councilor Jerry McDermott, who represents student-heavy Allston-Brighton. “Under the current system, it is too easy for landlords to say if no one is making them pay, why pay?”
Harvard discusses moving Med School researchers to Allston
Harvard discusses moving researchers - The Boston Globe
Several influential department heads at Harvard Medical School are discussing the possibility of moving hundreds of researchers and staff from the Longwood medical area to Harvard's emerging campus in Allston.
The proposal under discussion, though still in very preliminary stages, could shift nearly half of the people now occupying the iconic quadrangle at the heart of the medical school -- up to 70 professors and 500 to 700 staff members -- to a new 1-million-square-feet building in Allston.
Several influential department heads at Harvard Medical School are discussing the possibility of moving hundreds of researchers and staff from the Longwood medical area to Harvard's emerging campus in Allston.
The proposal under discussion, though still in very preliminary stages, could shift nearly half of the people now occupying the iconic quadrangle at the heart of the medical school -- up to 70 professors and 500 to 700 staff members -- to a new 1-million-square-feet building in Allston.
Cambridge Town Gown Presentations - Feb 6
Here's a chance to learn more about how Harvard and other universities cooperate across the river in Cambridge.
Town Gown presentations will take place at the Tuesday February 6 Planning Board meeting which begins at 7:30. The meeting will take place at the Cambridge Citywide Senior Center at 806 Massachusetts Avenue.
For more information contact Cliff Cook, Planning Information Manager, Cambridge Community Development Dept, ccook@cambridgema.gov, 617/349-4656.
The 2006 Cambridge Town Gown reports from Harvard, MIT, and Lesley are online.
Town Gown presentations will take place at the Tuesday February 6 Planning Board meeting which begins at 7:30. The meeting will take place at the Cambridge Citywide Senior Center at 806 Massachusetts Avenue.
For more information contact Cliff Cook, Planning Information Manager, Cambridge Community Development Dept, ccook@cambridgema.gov, 617/349-4656.
The 2006 Cambridge Town Gown reports from Harvard, MIT, and Lesley are online.
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