Gardner School gets pilot status
A two-year impasse was broken Wednesday as the Boston Public Schools and the teachers union reached an agreement on a three-year proposal regarding pilot schools. In Brighton, this is cause for celebration, as the Thomas Gardner Elementary School on Athol Street has long awaited pilot status.
Harvard to build stem-cell center in Allston
Harvard to build stem-cell center in Boston's Allston section - Boston.com
Harvard University plans to build a 500,000 square foot complex for stem cell research and other science initiatives in Boston's Allston section. Harvard has chosen a German architectural firm, Behnisch Architects, and a site for the complex, which will house the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Several other cross-departmental science initiatives also will be housed at the site on Western Avenue, east of the intersection at North Harvard and next to the studios of public radio and television broadcaster WGBH. Harvard hopes to break ground on the new building in 2007. In other related developments, Harvard will soon propose an alternative site to Charlesview for their possible relocation. The new potential site tries to address criteria set forth by Charlesview.
Behnisch Architects were the architects for the new Genzyme building in Kendall Square.
Harvard University plans to build a 500,000 square foot complex for stem cell research and other science initiatives in Boston's Allston section. Harvard has chosen a German architectural firm, Behnisch Architects, and a site for the complex, which will house the Harvard Stem Cell Institute. Several other cross-departmental science initiatives also will be housed at the site on Western Avenue, east of the intersection at North Harvard and next to the studios of public radio and television broadcaster WGBH. Harvard hopes to break ground on the new building in 2007. In other related developments, Harvard will soon propose an alternative site to Charlesview for their possible relocation. The new potential site tries to address criteria set forth by Charlesview.
Behnisch Architects were the architects for the new Genzyme building in Kendall Square.
City wants violators to sweat small stuff
City wants violators to sweat small stuff - The Boston Globe
Bostonians may be used to getting slapped with fines for illegal parking. But bad behavior will soon cost city residents, too. Armed with new citation books, police are to begin issuing tickets for scores of transgressions of city ordinances: from loud, late-night parties and improperly stored trash to posting handbills in certain public places and using laser pointers in public. The tickets, carrying fines of $10 to $300, are the latest in a series of crime-fighting moves mounted by the city, as officials seek solutions to a wave of violent crime.
Bostonians may be used to getting slapped with fines for illegal parking. But bad behavior will soon cost city residents, too. Armed with new citation books, police are to begin issuing tickets for scores of transgressions of city ordinances: from loud, late-night parties and improperly stored trash to posting handbills in certain public places and using laser pointers in public. The tickets, carrying fines of $10 to $300, are the latest in a series of crime-fighting moves mounted by the city, as officials seek solutions to a wave of violent crime.
Allston-Brighton break-ins on the rise
Allston-Brighton break-ins on the rise - The Daily Free Press: "Residential break-ins in Allston-Brighton are on the rise along with the crime rate because of the growing number of students seeking housing in these areas"
In Allston, Paper packs in a new crowd
In Allston, Paper packs in a new crowd - The Boston Globe
Story about changes in the Allston music scene at Harpers Ferry and O'Brien's.
Story about changes in the Allston music scene at Harpers Ferry and O'Brien's.
How big is 1,000,000 square feet?
Some estimates of Harvard's plan for expansion in Allston have mentioned creating one million square feet of new space. How much is that? This shows the footprint of a million square foot building based on various building heights. Some of this space could be built underground, and Harvard is going to build several buildings, not one, but hopefully this provides some context.(click to enlarge image)
A flimsy fence makes for irate turnpike neighbors
BostonHerald.com - News & Opinion: A flimsy fence makes for irate turnpike neighbors
Allston residents are blaming the penny-pinching Turnpike Authority for building a flimsy fence blown down during last weekend’s blizzard instead of the stronger wall they wanted between their neighborhood and the roadway in the first place.
Allston residents are blaming the penny-pinching Turnpike Authority for building a flimsy fence blown down during last weekend’s blizzard instead of the stronger wall they wanted between their neighborhood and the roadway in the first place.
Violent Crime Rising Sharply in Some Cities
Violent Crime Rising Sharply in Some Cities - New York Times
Nationally, the homicide rate peaked in 1991, declined steadily after 1993 and has remained essentially flat since 1999. But in the first six months of 2005, according to preliminary statistics from the F.B.I., the number of homicides nationwide rose 2.1 percent, with the greatest increase, 4.9 percent, in the Midwest. Yet many cities have seen far steeper increases. In Boston and San Francisco the number of homicides last year was at its highest in a decade.
But the police also blame lax sentences and judges who they say let suspects out on bail too easily..."We have people who've done two, three, four, five shootings who are back on the streets," said Kathleen M. O'Toole, Boston's police commissioner. "Unless we have bail reform, unless these impact players with multiple gun arrests are kept off the streets, we won't reverse this problem."
Nationally, the homicide rate peaked in 1991, declined steadily after 1993 and has remained essentially flat since 1999. But in the first six months of 2005, according to preliminary statistics from the F.B.I., the number of homicides nationwide rose 2.1 percent, with the greatest increase, 4.9 percent, in the Midwest. Yet many cities have seen far steeper increases. In Boston and San Francisco the number of homicides last year was at its highest in a decade.
But the police also blame lax sentences and judges who they say let suspects out on bail too easily..."We have people who've done two, three, four, five shootings who are back on the streets," said Kathleen M. O'Toole, Boston's police commissioner. "Unless we have bail reform, unless these impact players with multiple gun arrests are kept off the streets, we won't reverse this problem."
St. E's to Close Adult Day Care
TownOnline.com - Local News: Center doors slammed: "Disappointed residents at a community meeting last week protested St. Elizabeth's taking away a senior day-care center that is scheduled to close April after 20 years of serving the neighborhood."
Harvard-Allston Task Force Meetings
Harvard-Allston Task Force meetings will be held every SECOND MONDAY and FOURTH WEDNESDAY of each month through November, 2006. The exceptions are Wednesday, March 1, and October 11 and 23, which are the second Wednesday and fourth Monday of the month. Planned meetings are as follows:
Monday, February 13
Wednesday, March 1
March 13 and 29
April 10 and 26
May 8 and 24
June 12 and 28
July 10 and 26
August 14 and 30
September 11 and 27
October 11 and 23
November 13 and 29
All meetings are scheduled to be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Honan-Allston Library, 300 North Harvard Street.
Meeting dates, time, and location are subject to change.
Monday, February 13
Wednesday, March 1
March 13 and 29
April 10 and 26
May 8 and 24
June 12 and 28
July 10 and 26
August 14 and 30
September 11 and 27
October 11 and 23
November 13 and 29
All meetings are scheduled to be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Honan-Allston Library, 300 North Harvard Street.
Meeting dates, time, and location are subject to change.
Menino mounts new push for WiFi
Menino mounts new push for WiFi - The Boston Globe: "A campaign to build a wireless data network in Boston picked up momentum yesterday as Mayor Thomas M. Menino said he would mount an effort to spread wireless Internet access across the city."
Harvard Business School raises $598m
Harvard Business School raises a record $598.7m - The Boston Globe
Harvard Business School has raised nearly $600 million in a multi-year capital campaign that will fund student financial aid, faculty recruitment, technology initiatives, new global research centers, and building projects on the school's campus along the Charles River.
And for campus renewal, it raised $85.7 million, compared with a goal of $80 million.
The story doesn't mention that HBS is in Allston, but this will be another interesting piece of Harvard's activity here.
Harvard Business School has raised nearly $600 million in a multi-year capital campaign that will fund student financial aid, faculty recruitment, technology initiatives, new global research centers, and building projects on the school's campus along the Charles River.
And for campus renewal, it raised $85.7 million, compared with a goal of $80 million.
The story doesn't mention that HBS is in Allston, but this will be another interesting piece of Harvard's activity here.
Allston & Brighton Need More Voters!
Did you know that Allston and Brighton come in LAST in voter participation in Boston?
Only 46% of our residents are registered to vote. This is the lowest % in Boston. The citywide average is 60% and some communities have more than 70% registration.
Only 24% of our registered voters actually voted in last November's election. This is also the lowest % in Boston. The citwide average was 36% and some communities were as high as 48%.
So only 11% (7,139 out of 65,561) of the residents of Allston and Brighton voted last fall. In places like South Boston and West Roxbury more than 30% of residents voted. How much better would our community be if our turnout matched the city average of 21%?
How to register to vote in Boston
Map of Boston showing wards and city council districts
Mass Vote election information
Only 46% of our residents are registered to vote. This is the lowest % in Boston. The citywide average is 60% and some communities have more than 70% registration.
Only 24% of our registered voters actually voted in last November's election. This is also the lowest % in Boston. The citwide average was 36% and some communities were as high as 48%.
So only 11% (7,139 out of 65,561) of the residents of Allston and Brighton voted last fall. In places like South Boston and West Roxbury more than 30% of residents voted. How much better would our community be if our turnout matched the city average of 21%?
How to register to vote in Boston
Map of Boston showing wards and city council districts
Mass Vote election information
Allston activist rewires meaning of 'town meeting'
Allston activist rewires meaning of 'town meeting'
BU's Daily Free Press does a nice story about Allston Brighton 2006.
BU's Daily Free Press does a nice story about Allston Brighton 2006.
Zoning Board of Appeal hearings - Feb 7
The nofitication of these hearings today just came in the mail yesterday, so there isn't much we can do to support or oppose any of these, but in any case, here are today's Board of Appeal hearings for Allston and Brighton:
14 Linden Street
Conditional Use variance to change occupancy to allow a private club serving alcohol
29 Sutherland Road
Variance to change occupancy from 3 family to 4 family
79 Brighton Ave
Change legal occupancy from 2 family to 3 family. Legalize existing first floor unit and extend into basement.
14 Linden Street
Conditional Use variance to change occupancy to allow a private club serving alcohol
29 Sutherland Road
Variance to change occupancy from 3 family to 4 family
79 Brighton Ave
Change legal occupancy from 2 family to 3 family. Legalize existing first floor unit and extend into basement.
2006 Summer Job Registration
Boston Youth Fund: Information for 15-18 year olds to register for summer jobs through the city
Nearly snowless city still needs a sweep
Nearly snowless city still needs a sweep - The Boston Globe: "Appalled by the piles of potato chip bags, pizza boxes, Dunkin' Donuts cups, and general grit and grime he has been seeing day after day, Councilor Jerry P. McDermott of Brighton says the city needs a serious cleanup."
Boston City Council video on-line
City Council Video Library
Watch city government in action!
In the Feb 1 hearing you can watch debate about guest permits for resident parking areas and many other Council hearings that will be coming up.
Watch city government in action!
In the Feb 1 hearing you can watch debate about guest permits for resident parking areas and many other Council hearings that will be coming up.
Overdevelopment - Coming soon to your neighborhood?
Allston-Brighton TAB: Neighbors ask, is it legal?
Owners of the yellow one-family house at 28 Adamson St., Allston, are trying to sell the parcel, with a permit pulled Jan. 10 for five, three-bedroom units, a move that goes against the Allston zoning code.
"This person is deliberately taking advantage of what they hope will be a zoning loophole to make money," said local lawyer and neighbor Cathi Campbell at a community meeting on Saturday.
The lot is zoned three-family and can house only three units, but the developers plan to get around this requirement by building a three-story row house with five condos inside.
Owners of the yellow one-family house at 28 Adamson St., Allston, are trying to sell the parcel, with a permit pulled Jan. 10 for five, three-bedroom units, a move that goes against the Allston zoning code.
"This person is deliberately taking advantage of what they hope will be a zoning loophole to make money," said local lawyer and neighbor Cathi Campbell at a community meeting on Saturday.
The lot is zoned three-family and can house only three units, but the developers plan to get around this requirement by building a three-story row house with five condos inside.
Deval Patrick wins big among delegates
Patrick wins big among delegates - The Boston Globe
Story from the Globe about yesterday's Democratic caucuses and here is a more local point of view.
"Ward 21 (Brighton/Allston) we had 14/18 delegates for Patrick and 2 alternates for Patrick. This was the direct result of Patrick's ward 21 organizers getting a strong turnout and being very well organized. "
Story from the Globe about yesterday's Democratic caucuses and here is a more local point of view.
"Ward 21 (Brighton/Allston) we had 14/18 delegates for Patrick and 2 alternates for Patrick. This was the direct result of Patrick's ward 21 organizers getting a strong turnout and being very well organized. "
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