Notes from March 2, 2016 Meeting

BPD report: crime is down. Tip for building managers: wood astragals (covering gap between double entry doors) should be secured with screws. Burglars easily pry off astragals fastened with finish nails to card the lock.

Proposals for development between Massachusetts Ave and Melnea Cass Blvd may interest/concern our neighborhood in a variety of ways, including loss of trees and open space, loss of parking, and increased population and activity (with consequent loads on infrastructure and environment). Ben volunteered to contact Northeastern University, a significant player in the area closest to CSANA, to invite them to our meeting.

Concerning a South End Forum proposal for a moratorium on new social services in the South End, CSANA agreed as follows:

  • We want to support programs and services already part of the neighborhood.
  • We can support expansion of existing services.
  • We need to require coordination between services and programs.
  • New services should be sited in other neighborhoods.
  • Programs must be supported by medical community in some way (MGH, etc.)

SE Forum also proposed a security camera rebate (City of Boston to subsidize cameras installed on private property). CSANA voted rebates should only be granted in case of financial need.

Sam Chambers (Mayor’s Office) reported

  • Northampton St is actually not a truck route. We are invited to petition BTD to restrict trucks on the street.
  • BTD is reluctant to try to ban air brakes on Mass Ave, because it’s a state road.
  • BTD has determined that visibility of stop signs on Shawmut Ave is adequate. We should work with BPD on enforcement.
  • Boston Shines clean-up will take place April 29/30. City will provide tools upon request.
  • BTD has agreed to sign Comet Place for one-way traffic, entering from Northampton and exiting to Shawmut.
  • Sam will contact code enforcement concerning accumulated trash in the alley behind 505 Mass Ave.

Douglass Williams hopes to open new restaurant Mita (“generosity” in Italian) in late June.  We voted to provide letters of support for a full liquor license and for outdoor seating. We asked Douglass to bring seating plan to next meeting.

CSANA Agenda – March 2, 2016 – 7 pm @ Hampton House, 155 Northampton St

Report from City Hall (Street cleaning, stop sign compliance, Comet Place, truck traffic & engine braking)
New restaurant – Douglass Williams will ask our support for full liquor license and renewal of patio license.
Development – (5 community meetings in one week!) As density and levels of activity explode, what do we need to preserve and enhance quality of life? More space for tricycles, bicycles, pedestrians, trees; …?
No More? South End Forum offers specific language to stop siting service agencies for people on the margins of society in the South End, and to require other neighborhoods to host these critical services.
Police Report & Graffiti

Notes from Feb 3 Meeting

After considering possibilities for the Alexandra, the meeting voted the following: “CSANA would endorse the restoration of the Alexandra Hotel as a boutique hotel for the neighborhood with community engagement opportunities”

Considering safety concerns and the recommendation of abutters, we agreed to request Boston Transportation Dept sign Comet Place for one-way traffic entering from Northampton St and exiting to Shawmut Ave.

Charlotte Fleetwood, Boston Transportation Dept, presented Vision Zero, a program to eliminate fatalities on Boston’s streets. She described a number of measures that might be quickly implemented to make streets safer for driving, walking, and cycling. To add your concerns to the map, go to Visionzeroboston.org.

New restaurant at Tremont & Mass Ave: Douglas Williams envisions a neighborhood restaurant, “Italian influenced/American executed”.At our March meeting, he’ll ask our support for a full liquor license. He hopes for a May 1st opening.

Responding to South End forum’s question – given that the South End has more than its share of services for those on the margins of society, shouldn’t new services must be located in other neighborhoods? we tend to agree that it is time for others to step up. But we also support these services and, before voting a position we need to see specific language proposed for the Forum vote. We also considered what could be done within our own neighborhood, and committed to reaching out to strengthen relationships with organizations here within the Chester Square Area.

Sgt. Taxter distributed a detailed accounting of recent BPD activity; noting that engaging with your phone may make you/your phone an easy target. To assist in neighborhood watch efforts, he also described a common illegal/drug transaction (a “meaningless ride” where a person gets into a car and gets out nearby).