Finances: 2015 income (monetary donations) totaled $400 and expenses totaled $1052.47, mostly for events and plantings in the park. Treasurer requested help for future decisions regarding petty cash expenditures (up to $150). Several volunteered for a task force to explore possibilities for fundraising.
Crime: BPD’s crime report noted many of the incidents were likely preventable. Remember to lock home and car doors, have packages delivered to safe location, and never leave valuables in car. Learn more at safety meeting – last Monday of the month, 6 pm, District 4.
Comet Place: BPW has added Comet Place to the street sweeping list. Also, BTD has indicated a willingness to install one-way signs.
Truck Traffic: BTD indicates Northampton St is a designated truck route. We’ve asked “where is it written” so that we can consider rerouting truck traffic from Northampton St. We’ll also look at deterrents for engine-braking by trucks on Mass Ave.
Election: Officers for 2016 are President, Carol Blair; Vice-president, Bud Larievy; Secretary, Miren Urrutia; Treasurer, Sara Mitchell; Michael Rodriguez, asst secretary.
Nearby Development: Hamilton Company has increased the number of “affordable units” in their proposal to build 45 units on Frederick Douglas Green (150 Camden, currently zoned for 9 units). NU has proposed a 20-story dorm between Tremont & Columbus (10 Burke St, where 2013 master plan shows 6-8 stories).
Proposed garage: on Northampton St, behind 561 Mass Ave – discussion included concerns included about height of wall, size and color of garage door, and whether recent construction leading to existing conditions was approved by Landmarks Commission.
Alexandra Hotel: We’ll work with interested parties to assemble a vision for restoration/renovation and reuse and invite buyer to collaborate for planning and approvals. A boutique hotel or condos? A roof-top restaurant?
Next Meeting: February 3
Click on “minutes”, above, for full report on meeting
Chester Square Neighbors 
Thanks, I am quite interested in your financial situation. Please count me into your plans.
The Alexandra development is a once in a generation (or longer?) opportunity for this corridor and neighborhood to improve. The significance of getting this gateway property right cannot be over stated. My belief is that we want to see the property take on a new and multi-faceted life. I worry that if it goes 100 percent condo (or office), the neighborhood will have been cheated of a space that everyone can take pride in. I’d much rather see a boutique hotel that also has restaurant, coffee and bar space (think second comings of Toro and Jaho). I’d like to see the lobby of such a space be activated by opening up to neighbors and offering free wifi and the aforementioned coffee service. To make the economics of the development work, I suspect hotel pricing would need to be $195-275 per night and it would need to offer close to 70 rooms. Northeastern, BMC and neighborhood visitors would account for most of the room occupancy.
Doormen and staff for the hotel would keep the neighborhood safer by providing a new level of vigilance on the street. Naturally, the silverline stop on the Northwest corner of Mass and Washington would need to be moved.
Just scratching the surface here (and, admittedly, a lot of wishful thinking) but look forward to more discussions about this project in the near future.