Notes from December Meeting
Treasurer’s Report
Estelle’s – sidewalk café proposal before the Public Improvement Commission
Eva’s Tailors & Dry Cleaners – proposal for commercial parking in front of 605 Massachusetts Ave.
Election of officers for 2014
Other Business
Next Meeting?

21 attended – 8 represented Estelle’s, 1 represented Corner Café, & Sara Mitchell presided.
Carol Blair provided an update on South End Historic Apartments Renovations. Work is ramping up and further details will be available soon.
Neighborhood Clean-up Debriefing – Sara reported BPD provided hot chocolate, Sargent House cleaned and planted bulbs, 25 people participated, 70 bags were filled with leaves and trash, and 200 daffodil bulbs were distributed.
Corner Café: Ilknur Duman requested support before the Licensing Board to extend service to 12 pm and to maintain the 8 outdoor seats currently provided. Those in attendance voted to support Corner Café’s request before the city’s licensing board.
Estelle’s – a team of professionals representing Estelle’s described proposed sidewalk seating (10 tables/20 chairs) along Tremont St windows. Discussion that followed suggested possible benefits of activity on the sidewalk and also losses to pedestrians using the sidewalk. An alternative that would intrude less on the pedestrian experience and take advantage of sidewalk space owned by Estelles (on Massachusetts Ave) to provide tables for 4 seemed promising. While there was interest from members in the general idea of outside dining at this location, the meeting decided to deny the request for support without prejudice and to urge Estelles to return with a revised plan . A subsequent letter has itemized concerns and suggested particular modifications.
Nominations for CSANA’s January Election of 2014 officers – The Executive Committee has nominated Carol Blair for president. Sara Mitchell and Lloyd Fillion want continue serving on the board. Mark Carrig and Craig Lovewell also indicated an interest in serving.
South End Forum – Representing neighborhood associations throughout the South End, the Forum continues to work to improve the effectiveness of the city’s trash collection program. In an effort to improve conditions following snow, the Forum has also decided to support enforcement of city ordinances which prohibit saving on-street parking spaces.
Next Meeting – January 8, 2014

7 pm at Harriet Tubman House – 566 Columbus Ave

– Update on South End Historic Apartments Renovations
– Neighborhood Clean-up Debriefing
– Corner Café (502 Mass. Ave): Owner Mehmet Duman requests support before the Licensing Board to extend service to 12 pm and to maintain 8 outdoor seats.
– Estelle’s – proposed sidewalk seating along Tremont St windows
– Nominations for CSANA’s January Election of 2014 officers

Sara Mitchell presided, 21 others attended, including 9 to represent 3 businesses for zoning appeals.

Treasurer’s Report – Sandra reported in-kind contributions for our September event over $300.

Requests for support before the Zoning Board of Appeal
∙ South End Pizza – New owners, Nader & Nechatl Michael, proposed to extend business hours to 2 am. The applicant was asked, with reference to his request for support for a 2 a.m. closing, whether he would abide by a CSANA determination of different hours for any future application for alcohol beverages service. The applicant affirmed that he would abide by any restriction for alcohol closing time the CSANA decided was appropriate and the meeting voted to support 2 am closing.
∙ Fortune-telling/psychic readings at 502 Mass Ave – Attorney Eric Speed spoke for owner Sherry Frank, indicating the Psychic Readings studio has operated at this location for some years and was recently cited as a non-conforming use. The meeting voted to support adding fortune telling to allowed uses at this address.
∙ Estelles – Owner/Chef Brian Poe’s group proposed seasonal seating with 20 chairs and 10 tables to be surrounded by planters and chain fence, all within a 4.5 ft width of the Tremont St sidewalk against the restaurant wall. The meeting was inclined to support the proposal, but took no action pending a review of sidewalk dimensions and other fixtures located in the sidewalk (mailboxes, traffic control box, etc.)

Street cleanup and daffodil planting/give-away – Nov 23rd 9 am – 11 am
Victory Programs will flier the neighborhood twice to announce this event. In addition to brooms, bags, and shovels, the City is also providing 300 daffodil bulbs this year. Some of the daffodil bulbs will be planted in the beds of Chester Park and more will be made available to clean-up attendees. Boston Police have offered hot chocolate and snacks for volunteers. The meeting authorized up to $30 for coffee, if coffee donation is not found. Sara, Stephanie, Lloyd, Josh, Mark, Tasha, and Tom (Botte) are organizing this.

Requests for tree warden
Lloyd Fillion agreed to coordinate a request to Boston’s Tree Warden for new trees, removal of dead trees and trees pruning. If you are aware of a tree or location warranting such attention, please email info@chestersquareassociation.org

CSANA Election and social
Sara Mitchell passed out a piece that reviews our year’s progress and includes job descriptions for the four offices that will be filled with elections in January.

Next Meeting – Wednesday, Dec. 4