Deja Vu - More claims that Allston rentals will be subject to city's laws

Mayor Menino Orders Inspectional Services Walkthrough of Allston Area with Heavy Student Population | City of Boston:

February 17, 2012 

Mayor Thomas M. Menino today announced that the City’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD), in collaboration with the Boston Police and Fire departments, has completed a three day code sweep of rental units located at Gardner, Pratt, Linden and Ashford Streets in Allston, an area heavily populated with students. ISD will again be in the area tomorrow at 12 PM to follow up with students, distributing pamphlets with information on rental housing resources and how to protect themselves from potential health and safety hazards. 

“Boston is home to thousands of students, and they all deserve a safe place to live,” Mayor Menino said. “We will not allow landlords to take advantage of students by neglecting their properties and putting people at risk. We also want to make sure that renters in Boston, particularly students, are aware of their responsibilities as tenants. We will continue to work with the student community as well as landlords to ensure a safe environment for everyone.”

Where have I heard this before? Oh, that's right we hear the same thing every year or two, usually in the fall when students return to Allston. I wonder if this time there will be more consistent follow through.


Here's effectively the same story from 6 years ago.

Landlords Who Take Advantage Of Students Targeted - Mayor Tours Off-Campus Housing - http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/9771985/detail.html

August 31, 2006

As thousands of college students descend on Boston, Mayor Thomas Menino promised to crack down on landlords who take advantage of students.

NewsCenter 5's Pam Cross reported that Menino said routine inspections of apartments usually rented to college students found trash, rats and other unsanitary conditions.
"It's one of the worst (apartments) I've seen, especially for a neighborhood," said Edward Kennedy, of Boston Inspectional Services. "There is definitely a rat infestation here as well."

"They have debris (blocking windows). Coming out of the window, you would trip over something," Menino said.

What type of housing would improve North Allston

While reading this story in today's Crimson about Harvard's plans for new housing in Barry's Corner (Barry's Corner Plans Worry Allston Residents) I thought back to the home-ownership post I wrote in 2008 regarding the ownership/rental mix for the new Charlesview housing.

During the public review of Charlesview the project was described as having apartments south of Western Ave and condo along Telford St on the north side of Western Ave. For many in the community who believe that more homeownership would be a good thing here, we looked forward to the construction of these condos.


But while construction of the apartments is moving ahead briskly, there is no activity relating to the construction of the condos which are now describes as being "Phase 2" of the project and, according to this Globe story, that "phase’s timing is market dependent" and who knows when or if that means it will be built.


So, getting back to Barry's Corner, the documents that I linked to in that 2008 post have been moved or deleted, and data from the 2010 Census is now available. 

But the story is still the same regarding two topics raised in the Crimson article - Allston has few families and few homeowners.

Allston: 13% owner-occupied housing units. Households with individuals under 18 years = 9%

Jamaica Plain: 44% owner occupied.  Households with individuals under 18 years = 23%

South Boston: 40% owner occupied.  Households with individuals under 18 years = 17%

Roxbury: 20% owner occupied. Households with individuals under 18 years = 35%

South End: 39% owner occupied. Households with individuals under 18 years = 15% 

Harvard's Housing Studies website explains that:

Strong and consistent evidence indicates that homeowners are more likely to: a) be satisfied with their homes and neighborhoods; b) participate in voluntary and political activities; and c) stay in their homes longer, contributing to neighborhood stability. 

Building small apartments in Barry's Corner will maximize Harvard's profit and will also move Allston in the wrong direction - further exacerbating our lack of families and homeowners.

Hopefully it will be possible to balance Harvard's goals for a money-making development of Barry's Corner with the type of housing that will also advance the housing and social goals of Allston.

Alford ask Mayor to remember Allston

Remember Allston - BostonHerald.com:

Mayor Tom Menino offered the correct incentive for Vornado Realty Trust to finally deal with its gaping problem downtown (Feb. 3). I hope he applies the same incentive to Harvard to complete its science complex, which is a 5-year-old, 5-acre, 50-foot-deep hole in our neighborhood.

The BRA has notified Allston that it will “discuss the planning and development of Harvard-owned properties from this point forward.” At this time — and after requests from the community — the BRA agenda still does not include a discussion of the abandoned science complex. Like with Filene’s/Vornado, I hope Menino will not issue more permits until Harvard has completed its science complex or at least shown a plan that would have parallel construction of the complex with any new development.

— Paul Alford, Allston

Gardner School featured in national report

Congratulations to Allston's Gardner Pilot Academy for being featured in this report by the Center for American Progress!

Lightening the Load - A Look at Four Ways that Community Schools Can Support Effective Teaching - http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2012/01/pdf/chang_wraparound.pdf

"The Gardner Pilot Academy in Boston, Massachusetts, also established an English language program for its students’ families that now serves 100 families. There

are five levels of classes, ranging from Basic Beginner to Advanced, offered on weekday evenings to accommodate the schedules of working adults. Classes are

free of charge, and child care is provided....

While only 25 percent of Gardner families attended parent teacher conferences in 1997, 98 percent of families participated in the 2010-11 school year"

New Balance's New Brighton plans

As I wrote 2 years ago about New Balance's potential expansion, the devil is in the details, and it will be a long time before the details of this plan are worked out. But the big ideas of offices, track and field, hockey, and hotel all sound pretty good. Especially if this spurs infrastructure improvements like a commuter rail stop (and it is hard to imagine a project of this magnitude without it) in the Everett Street / Market Street area it can be really great.

Boston Redevelopment Authority project website

New Balance's Letter of Intent to the BRA

2012 Kickoff Party - Charles River Conservancy Young Professionals

2012 Kickoff Party - Charles River Conservancy Young Professionals:

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
6:00pm until 7:30pm

Join us to help launch the CRC Young Professionals Group, dedicated to supporting the Conservancy's efforts and providing unique outdoor opportunities to interact with the Charles River in every season.

Enjoy delicious hors d'oeuvres from OM, enter raffles to win gift certificates from local restaurants and businesses, and learn about our first outdoor event: SNOWSHOEING in Herter Park on February 4th (hope for snow)! Kickoff attendees will receive a beautiful map of the Charles River Basin and parklands, as well as a special copy of "River Stories". All are welcome!

The CRC is a nonprofit citizens’ advocacy group dedicated to the renewal and stewardship of the Charles River Parklands.

Wentworth Students Redesign Allston/Brighton

Architecture Students Redesign Allston/Brighton Neighborhood : Wentworth Institute of Technology:

The Phoenix reviews Stone Hearth Pizza

On the Cheap: Stone Hearth Pizza - On The Cheap:

"There is no shortage of pizza joints in the greater Boston area, that's for damn sure. But Stone Hearth Pizza —with locations in Cambridge, Needham, Belmont, and, as of a few weeks ago, Lower Allston — is the front-runner for guilt-free, locally sourced pizza pies."

Congrats to Rep Moran on his new leadership role

"Via @statehousenews, House leadership changes: Rep. Rushing to whip, Moran to division chair and Michlewitz as Elex Laws chair "

An Allston Pledge for Harvard

Harvard created a "Kindness Pledge" for freshmen and an "MBA Oath" for business school graduates. In my article on page 10 of this Occupy Harvard publication I ask what Harvard might say in an "Allston Pledge".

http://occupyharvard.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/occupycrimson_pdf.pdf

State Senate Candidates Forum for the Second Suffolk & Middlesex district

Thursday, December 8

6:00 pm    Meet-and-Greet with the candidates & light refreshments (contributed by Athan's)
6:30 pm    Candidates Forum

Elks Lodge, 326 Washington Street, Brighton Center, parking at rear of building (enter lot from Winship Street)

Sponsor:    Brighton Allston Improvement Association

Moderator:    Michael Pahre, Editor, Brighton Centered Blog

On Tuesday, December 13, a special election will be held to fill the state senate seat vacated by Steve Tolman in the Second Suffolk & Middlesex district, which includes most of Allston and Brighton, parts of the Back Bay, Fenway and Cambridge, and all of Watertown and Belmont.  Join us to meet the candidates!

To check if you live in this district, visit www.wheredoivotema.com

Residential booming in Boston, but Harvard is quiet

The Globe reported yesterday on 5 new residential projects that would combine to create more than 1,400 new units of housing in Boston.

Two months ago Harvard seemed eager to move ahead with planning for new housing in Barry's Corner, and their consultant mentioned having more public meetings in October. But October came and went with no meetings and no news about how Harvard plans to proceed. Which is too bad, because if done right new housing and retail in Barry's Corner could be a great improvement to the area.

Another wave of apartment construction to hit Boston - The Boston Globe
Investors in multifamily housing developments are taking advantage of a fortuitous turn of events: rising rents, low vacancy rates, and interest rates below 4 percent - a combination that translates to unusually hefty profits.

"There has never been a better time in the last 40 years to develop a multifamily project in Boston" said George Fantini, chairman of the mortgage banking firm Fantini & Gorga.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino and other city officials said they are receiving proposals for new housing projects every day. “I have investors coming to me and saying, ‘What opportunities do you have? How can we be involved?’ ’’ Menino said. “I haven’t seen that in a while.’’

Renting To Four Or More College Students Is Illegal

A recent court ruling could have a significant impact on off-campus student housing in Allston, Brighton, and across the state.

The Toga Party Is Over: Renting To Four Or More College Students Is Illegal Lodging House | The Massachusetts Real Estate Law Blog

"...the Massachusetts Appeals Court ruled that renting to 4 or more unrelated students in one apartment unit is an illegal “lodging house” unless a special license is obtained.

...using the College Hill ruling, housing authorities, who want to crack down on unruly, crowded apartment dwellers, may seek to require lodging licenses for apartments occupied by 4 or more unrelated persons."

Yet another possibility for Harvard's vacant Allston land

I agree the the Mayor and others quoted in this story that kids on skateboarders shouldn't be messing up fancy granite fountains. So how about find some more appropriate place, like maybe on some of Harvard's property that is just sitting vacant?

Mayor tells skaters: Take board meetings elsewhere - BostonHerald.com:

Rondo, Pierce & friends coming to Allston

Rondo Hosts Boston Charity Classic Basketball Game:

Rajon Rondo will host the ”Boston Charity Classic” this Saturday at 6pm ET, with proceeds benefitting local Boston charities providing holiday meals and support to families in the Boston area.

Scheduled participants in the game include Rondo, Paul Pierce, Glen Davis, Marquis Daniels, Josh Smith, Kendrick Perkins, Rudy Gay, Leon Powe, Jeff Green, Kevin Durant, JaJuan Johnson, Jeremy Lin and Kyle Lowry among others.

Tickets will be available to the public on Tuesday, November 15th and can be purchased through the Harvard Athletics Box office either in person or via phone (65 North Harvard St. Boston, MA 02163 – 617.495.2211). Box office hours are 9:00am-5:00pm, Monday through Friday. Tickets are $50 for general admission, $100 for courtside seating, and parking is $10 at the arena.

Ed Portal expands into expiring space

Seems strange that Harvard is spending money to renovate a building that is supposed to be demolished in a couple years to build graduate student housing in Barry's Corner.

Ed Portal Builds New Annex | News | The Harvard Crimson:

Today's Callie Crossley Show

The Callie Crossley Show today featured an interview with two Harvard professors who would like to see researchers at Harvard and other Boston-area universities focus more of their research on issues directly relevant to the city.

"We kick off WGBH's "Where We Live" series with the city-university connection. Boston is home to some of the world's best research institutions and leading experts on urban issues such as poverty and crime. Though Boston is the perfect place to study societal issues, the city's scholars usually go outside greater Boston—opting to study cities like Lagos or Los Angeles. A new initiative out of Harvard University's Radcliffe Institute is aiming to change this. The goal is to have our universities collaborate with city officials to examine how the city works, how it fails, and the policy changes that can make this a better place to live."

Harvard School of Public Health Ponders Allston

If Harvard is still considering which schools might occupy the Science Complex on Western Ave, it will be many years before those decisions will be made, the planning completed, the buildings redesigned, and construction resumed.

School of Public Health Looks to Expand in Allston | News | The Harvard Crimson

With the recent approval of the Harvard Allston Work Team’s recommendations for Allston, the School of Public Health may now have a renewed hope for moving to the site of the formerly-planned Allston Science Complex....

Just as when Bloom was dean, those who work at the School of Public Health are divided on the possibility of moving to Allston.

But moving into Allston is not without its complications. The School of Public Health has had a presence in Longwood since 1913 and its own building in the area since 1923, a history that faculty members say complicates the possibility of moving.

Dockery says that, over the years, the School of Public Health has also developed “very strong connections” with the neighboring Medical School.

“I think we’re torn,” he says.

Professor Alberto Ascherio expressed a similar opinion in an email.

“Because of our close connections with the Harvard Medical School, I would prefer to remain in the medical area,” Ascherio wrote.

Kudos to Ray for the Well-Deserved Honor

Allston Park Renamed After Resident | News | The Harvard Crimson

Farm the Yard (or Allston)

Bill McKibben, a Harvard alum and founder of the climate change advocacy organization 350.org, revives the idea of having Harvard students do some agricultural labor.

Farm the Yard | Harvard Magazine Sep-Oct 2011: "If college is about supplying what’s missing, then it’s time to dig up a good chunk of the Yard and plant a garden."

While it is hard to envision more than a small "demonstration garden" in Harvard Yard, the Allston Farm is one of many interesting ideas for Harvard's underutilized land that is still waiting to come to life. Most of the field behind the Honan Library is now being put to good use as Library Park, but there is still a decent sized strip of field fenced off and unused along the park's north side. Or maybe it could go next to the Business School in a few years when Harvard tears down the old Charlesview.