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.
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
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"
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:
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,
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 longBring 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.
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.
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
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
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.
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