Almost a year ago, Harvard announced a self-imposed 1 year moratorium on purchasing new property in Allston. According to today's Crimson, "Harvard does not intend to purchase more real estate in the neighborhood in the coming months".
At the same time, I'm not sure that it makes sense for Harvard to pat itself on the back too much for having "cleaned up the Citgo station". The new paint is nice, but forgive me for not being impressed by the state of this 1/2 acre property that Harvard has owned for 3 years.
Reminder: Allston bridge & transportation meeting tonight
6:00 @ in the Gardner School auditorium (30 Athol St)
Learn more about the upcoming reconstruction of the Western Ave & River St bridges and how we can have a better neighborhood in which to walk, bike, and drive.
Learn more about the upcoming reconstruction of the Western Ave & River St bridges and how we can have a better neighborhood in which to walk, bike, and drive.
Now is not the time for premature speculation
MCB's Moveout Paints Uncertain Future for SCRB and Allston Science Complex The Harvard Crimson
“It is premature to speculate on what departments or programs may or may not be settled into Allston and when,” wrote Faculty of Arts and Sciences spokesman Jeff Neal in an e-mailed statement.
“The general understanding is that Allston will someday come alive, but now it’s quite vague,” said MCB Executive Director Susan H. Foster. “We just are living for today.”
Lowe's meeting tonight - an incomplete and unfair playing field
The BRA is hosting another meeting about the proposed Lowe's tonight - 6:30 at the Jackson Mann.
If you want to read up on the proposal before the meeting, the Draft Project Impact Report is posted here. But the DPIR is a 687 page, 42.5 MB file. There is no way any Allston/Brighton resident in their spare time could ever come close to reading and analyzing the whole thing. Pretending that we can really have a fact-based discussion about the impacts of this project (such as transportation) does a disservice to the entire process. How much of the 206 page transportation section have you read?
Think this will be a net job creator and economic engine? Or will it take business away from the many businesses in Brighton that sell similar products? Has anyone with any expertise and independence studied this important question?
In other communities, developers have agreed to fund an independent study conducted by and for the community. Even Harvard agreed to fund a $150,000 independent study in exchange for the Phase One wavier from the State. This waiver allowed Harvard to proceed with the Science Complex construction without review of a master plan for what they thought would be the rest of their Allston build-out.
And all of this would be so much easier, less contentious, and more meaningful if the BRA had followed through with this idea for a neighborhood planning initiative. It sounded great 3 years ago, but then it silently vanished leaving us to these ad-hoc and uninformed debates.
If you want to read up on the proposal before the meeting, the Draft Project Impact Report is posted here. But the DPIR is a 687 page, 42.5 MB file. There is no way any Allston/Brighton resident in their spare time could ever come close to reading and analyzing the whole thing. Pretending that we can really have a fact-based discussion about the impacts of this project (such as transportation) does a disservice to the entire process. How much of the 206 page transportation section have you read?
Think this will be a net job creator and economic engine? Or will it take business away from the many businesses in Brighton that sell similar products? Has anyone with any expertise and independence studied this important question?
In other communities, developers have agreed to fund an independent study conducted by and for the community. Even Harvard agreed to fund a $150,000 independent study in exchange for the Phase One wavier from the State. This waiver allowed Harvard to proceed with the Science Complex construction without review of a master plan for what they thought would be the rest of their Allston build-out.
And all of this would be so much easier, less contentious, and more meaningful if the BRA had followed through with this idea for a neighborhood planning initiative. It sounded great 3 years ago, but then it silently vanished leaving us to these ad-hoc and uninformed debates.
Allston-Brighton Neighborhood Planning Initiative - Boston Redevelopment AuthorityIn 2007, the Boston Redevelopment Authority (“BRA”) held a series of
community workshops and meetings for the Allston-Brighton Neighborhood Planning Initiative ("ABNPI")...The ABNPI is a planning effort that will address various planning issues south of the Turnpike... The ABNPI will result in a report prioritizing short-term and long-term recommendations and serve as a guide for the City of Boston.
Oak Sq in today's Globe
It was a lovely day in Oak Square today with many dozens of kids and families starting the Little League baseball season with a parade and then picnic in the park next to the Oak Sq Y. Much more depressing is the story in the Globe about what Oak Sq has lost.
An ache at the core of old Oak Square - The Boston Globe
An ache at the core of old Oak Square - The Boston Globe
Allston Residents React to Purcell’s New Post - What is a "good tenant"?
Paul Berkeley raises an important point - what makes a "good" tenant? From the perspective of a generic landlord or generic neighbor one could list a variety of attributes that could be considered "good". When the specific conditions of Harvard and Allston are considered, those lists could be further refined.
Also, different definitions of "good" might arise from considering the situation more broadly. For example, an over-saturation of any one type of tenant might not be "good", even though each individual tenant when considered in isolation might be "good".
Allston Residents React to Purcell’s New Post The Harvard Crimson
Also, different definitions of "good" might arise from considering the situation more broadly. For example, an over-saturation of any one type of tenant might not be "good", even though each individual tenant when considered in isolation might be "good".
Allston Residents React to Purcell’s New Post The Harvard Crimson
"Great Appliance Exchange" not so great
What they say:
Patrick-Murray Administration Will Launch "Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange" Thursday, April 22
Starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Earth Day, federal stimulus-funded rebate program will reward consumers who trade energy-guzzling appliances for new, super-efficient models
What really happens:
Website (http://masssave.com/residential) hasn't worked since 9:45. Gives error:
Patrick-Murray Administration Will Launch "Mass Save Great Appliance Exchange" Thursday, April 22
Starting at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Earth Day, federal stimulus-funded rebate program will reward consumers who trade energy-guzzling appliances for new, super-efficient models
What really happens:
Website (http://masssave.com/residential) hasn't worked since 9:45. Gives error:
403 - Forbidden: Access is denied.Phone # (877-MA-SWAP-1) is constantly busy
You do not have permission to view this directory or page using the credentials that you supplied
Harvard's indirect Allston approach
Harvard made yesterday what seems to be a major administrative change that will influence the future of Allston and Brighton where a few thousand people live alongside Harvard's many acres.
Allston learns about this presidential appointment because I got a Google Alert about a blog post from Tennessee that publishes an internal email from a Harvard Dean. I wonder if anyone at Harvard thought an email to residents of Allston and Brighton might be appropriate.
Considering that no such neighborly notice was sent, either it never crossed Harvard's collective minds to proactively and publicly share this news, or it was considered and decided not to be done. Either way, seems a shame.
Allston learns about this presidential appointment because I got a Google Alert about a blog post from Tennessee that publishes an internal email from a Harvard Dean. I wonder if anyone at Harvard thought an email to residents of Allston and Brighton might be appropriate.
Considering that no such neighborly notice was sent, either it never crossed Harvard's collective minds to proactively and publicly share this news, or it was considered and decided not to be done. Either way, seems a shame.
Mahoney's - bigger and better
Great to see Mahoney's on Western Ave doing business on its expanded site. More room for more plants and more customers.
William Dawes and his horse coming to Allston
American patriot William Dawes will ride through Allston on Monday morning and will stop at the Hill Church on N Harvard St at 10:00.
Honan Fellows - Thanks!
Thanks to the Honan Fellows, West End House Boys & Girls Club, and Allston Brighton CDC for yesterday's cleanup of the Lincoln Street Green Strip. It looks great!
Is State Violating Bridge Repair Law?
Below is a link to a great post about the State's planned reconstruction of the River St, Western Ave, and other bridges. Should the State repair only the bridge's structural deficiencies? Should the roadways and approaches to the bridges also be considered? How can we avoid ending up with bridges that are structurally sound but functionally obsolete?
Is State Violating Bridge Repair Law? Steve Miller's Blog
Is State Violating Bridge Repair Law? Steve Miller's Blog
State Senate Unofficial Election Results
State Senate Unofficial Election Results (Middlesex, Suffolk, & Essex) « Cambridge Civic Journal Forum
Flaherty wins big (%-wise) in Allston/Brighton, but 293 votes isn't much of a prize. (I think he had almost 293 lawns signs in A/B).
Flaherty 293
Simmons 61
DiDomenico 41
Albano 36
Benzan 33
Hill 8
Flaherty wins big (%-wise) in Allston/Brighton, but 293 votes isn't much of a prize. (I think he had almost 293 lawns signs in A/B).
Flaherty 293
Simmons 61
DiDomenico 41
Albano 36
Benzan 33
Hill 8
Online auction to support the Pine Street Inn
Sports tickets, restuarant gift certificates, golf, art, and much more, all at reasonable prices.
Bid to support the many programs of the Pine Street Inn.
Pine Street Inn - Auction Items - BiddingForGood Fundraising Auction
Bid to support the many programs of the Pine Street Inn.
Pine Street Inn - Auction Items - BiddingForGood Fundraising Auction
Flaherty wants a recount
Claiming "evidence of voting irregularities in Everett", Tim Flaherty is calling for a recount of the votes from yesterday's State Senate primary.
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