776 Summer Street - Phase Two Condon Kids Learn Life Lessons Through Boat Building
The massive project that is now commonly called “776 Summer Street” began its design, planning, and permitting exercises back in 2015. This project was spearheaded by two national development corporations, Hilco and Redgate. They formed a subsidiary organization entitled “HRP Group Team”, which then assumed full responsibility for the 776 Summer Street Project. Various plans, documents, and a “Letter of Intent” were submitted for approval to local authorities, beginning in 2017 and during the years since then.
The project is located on 15 acres – over 600,000 square feet – a large, four-sided lot on the Reserved Channel that extends along First Street to the east beyond M Street. For more than a century, this area was the home of the Edison Plant, which
was actually a multi-purpose source of electric power to many points in Greater Boston that eventually became obsolete.
Ground was broken in 2022 for “Phase One” of 776 Summer Street Project. At this point, the completed Phase One was essentially devoted to what the HRP Group Team calls “deconstruction”. Deconstruction is the carefully engineered dismantling of a site, in order to preserve the best parts of the original construction. Hilco has earned a national reputation for doing this successfully on many of its past projects. Note that Edison’s original Turbine Hall No. 1, with its strikingly arched front, has been preserved at 776 Summer Street. Eventually, this Hall will be converted into a multi-level marketplace housing a number of small vendors.
By Ginger DeShaney
In a remarkable hands-on experience, a group of Condon Community Center kids built a 10-foot row boat from scratch, learning not only the art of crafting a boat but also gaining valuable life lessons along the way.
These young builders – Jacob Davis, 11; Charlie Brea, 9; Naib Yohannes, 10; and Marcus Lacaussade, 11 – worked
tirelessly over the course of several weeks to build the boat they named the “Billy Allen” in honor of an amazing Condon coach who was promoted to a different community center. They even brought it to a boat show! Under the guidance of instructor Tim Smith from Community Boat Building, the kids learned how to safely handle tools, measure and cut materials, and assemble the boat piece by piece.
Continued on Page 5
The New White Stadium Proposal – a Project Critique
by Rick Winterson
The proposal to construct a new White Stadium in Franklin Park has become controversial. Rebuilding will take place on the site of the existing White Stadium, a facility that was originally meant solely for use by Boston Public Schools. The existing stadium has long been condemned as unsafe. It is now not used.
So, there’s no question the existing Stadium must be replaced. But what should take its place? Should it be a large new White Stadium that will also be the home of a professional women’s soccer team? Or should it be a smaller, less costly White Stadium that will serve only the athletic needs of Boston Public Schools (the BPS), its students, and the surrounding community?
South Boston Online has come to the conclusion that the new White Stadium should be small and used only by the BPS, its students, and the surrounding community. White Stadium
should not be available for any other use. We’ve listed below all of the reasons that support this conclusion.
Last year, “Boston Unity Soccer Partners LLC”, a professional sports business venture, and the City of Boston tentatively agreed to let “BOS Nation FC”, a women’s pro soccer team, use the proposed new White Stadium as their home field. The rebuilt stadium would be shared with Boston’s schools and would still be available for certain community events. Facilities would be stateof-the-art; they would be reserved for BOS Nation FC some 40 days per year. Boston’s Mayor Michelle Wu agreed to this. Earlier this month, she ordered the demolition of the existing Stadium to begin. Certainly, Boston is a “sportsloving” city, if there ever was one! Soccer is the most popular sport in the world; it would be a real treat to have more world-class athletics played around here, especially by a women’s team. But the Massachusetts Legislature has already approved a pro soccer stadium for the New England
Revolution (a men’s team), which would be located nearby in Everett. A partnership between the Revolution’s men’s team and the BOS Nation FC women’s team must be explored before going any further with pro soccer plans at White Stadium. Here are some figures. At first, the cost of the new White Stadium was to be shared equally – the initial estimate of $100 million was to be evenly split 50-50 between Boston and the BOS Nation FC pro team. However, the new Stadium’s estimated cost soon jumped to $200 million, with Boston’s share rising to $91 million – a figure now said to be over $100 million. Estimates of the cost for a smaller, less costly White Stadium – to be used only by Boston’s schools and students –have come in as low as $30 million. Obviously, all potential expenditures must be estimated more accurately. And the timing is inaccurate as well. BOS Nation FC has plans to begin their first pro soccer season next year, in March of 2026. But there’s no way (!) a stadiumsized construction project, even if approved and financed immediately, could be completed in the next 14 months by the City of Boston.
In addition to that, there’s a potential problem with using White Stadium as a site for professional sports. The Stadium is part of Frankin Park, a key segment of Frederick Law Olmsted’s original “Emerald Necklace” of Boston. Commercial use, even for a pro sports team, is likely to be illegal. Furthermore, the Stadium traffic
that’ll result from a pro sports team will create other problems in the surrounding neighborhood on game days. Also, the BPS has recently announced plans to rebuild and then reopen South Boston High School over the next few years. Football teams from the new South Boston High School will want to use White Stadium for both future games and team practices, as will many other Boston schools. A pro soccer team simply won’t fit into the new White Stadium, no matter how well it’s designed. Ask yourself this question. How would you react if Boston tried to construct a pro sports stadium at Castle Island next to the lagoon? Or on Dorchester Heights, next to the rebuilt Monument?
We fully realizes that a few arguments support a pro athletics future for White Stadium. However, the arguments in support of a smaller, student-oriented White Stadium are much more convincing, especially in future years. And this will cost Boston much less. There are still many, many questions about a new White Stadium. Opposition to a pro soccer team there has grown sharply, including from several elected officials and from a citizens’ group called “Franklin Park Defenders”, who will take this issue to trial in Superior Court on Tuesday, March 18. So, we ask that you please get on board and let your opinions be known, both to the BPS and to the City of Boston.
A rebuilt White Stadium should be exclusively for Boston’s schools and community. Thanks.
Continued from Page 1 Summer Street
Phase Two of the 776 Summer Street Project will begin very soon. It includes several buildings that are parts of the overall plans for the Project. The 15-acre site has now been broken down into six “blocks”. Blocks A and B are located on the property’s southern edge along First Street across from M Street. In Phase Two, these will become the sites for two residential buildings that’ll hold approximately 650 units, with parking and retail stores on the ground floors of A-B. A research and development facility is planned for Block C, the block on the corner of Summer
and First Streets. Finally, Phase Two will include a 240-room hotel on Block E in the middle of the Project’s property. Many
improvements to the public portions of the whole 15-acre site will be done in Phase Two as well. A virtual Phase Two public
information meeting is scheduled for Monday evening, February 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. If interested, call in to 833-568-8864 (toll-free).
Councilor Flynn Asks Homeowners to File for Property Tax Abatements by Feb. 3rd
With the February 3rd deadline rapidly approaching, and serious financial concerns from many residents on residential property taxes, Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is reminding homeowners to apply for property tax abatements. Property owners can file an abatement application if they believe their property is overvalued, disproportionately assessed, improperly classified, or eligible for a statutory exemption. For general questions on Tax Exemptions and Abatements, please call the Assessing Department at 617-635-4288 or email assessing@boston.gov.
Residents have two options to file for abatement in the City of Boston. Please note that residents can only file abatements for the current fiscal year and not for previous years. The Assessing Department has three months to review your application. To file for abatement by mail, residents can download the Personal Property Abatement application form and mail the completed version to Assessing Department, Room 301, 1 City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201. Similarly, if residents would like to apply in person, visit the Assessing Department in room 301 at City Hall to fill out the application.
Please note that residents must fill out the Asset Listing form if you did not file a State Tax Form 2/Form of List for Fiscal Year 2025, or you filed an incomplete State Tax Form 2/Form of List.
Councilor Flynn continues to advocate for additional property tax relief. He recently voted for a Home Rule petition offered by Councilor Brian Worrell to expand the elderly exemption, and expressed support for a proposal from Councilor At-Large Erin Murphy to increase the residential exemption. Moreover, he continues to advocate for tax relief or an additional exemption aimed at longtime residents that have owned for a considerable time in the city.
Unfortunately, instead of compromises, the City of Boston spent the better part of last year debating the administration’s plan and did not entertain any of the alternative proposals that many fiscal watchdogs and Councilor Flynn encouragedcutting the City’s spending with an 8% budget increase after hiring of over 300 employees, implementing a hiring freeze, tapping our surplus budget and rainy day funds of $1.3 billion, and reviewing over 70% dependence on property taxes long-term.
With falling commercial property values, over 70% dependence on property taxes, and over 50% of our land absorbed by large, nonprofit organizations in the PILOT program- Councilor Flynn continues to emphasize that we have long-term fiscal issues to address in our city. For these reasons, Councilor Flynn continues to advocate for a Blue Ribbon Commission on both Downtown office vacancies and our heavy reliance on property taxes.
“In my opinion, we should not be raising everyone’s property taxes, especially while we did nothing to cut city spending,” said Councilor Flynn. “I will continue to advocate for residential property tax relief.”
Additionally, the city provides nine different types of property tax exemptions. The filing deadline for these exemptions is April 1, 2025. Seniors 65 years or older who are not able to pay their property taxes may be eligible to defer their taxes to help them stay in their homes. The filing deadline for senior tax deferral is also April 1, 2025.
On tax exemptions, please note that the nine exemptions include criteria for eligibility. The city offers nine exemptions, including the blind exemption, co-op housing exemption, elderly exemption, hardship exemption, National Guard exemption, residential exemption, statutory exemption, surviving spouse, minor child of deceased parent, elderly exemption, and veterans exemption. To view the complete list of criteria for these exemptions, please visit www. boston.gov/assessing and click on the “property exemptions and abatements” icon.
For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 or Ed.Flynn@Boston.gov.
Continued from Page 1 Boat Building
“Their confidence and enthusiasm grew as the boat transformed from an abstract structure to taking on the shape of a skiff and finished into a usable and beautiful boat,” Tim said. “They fored a great working group of four distinct personalities and realized they could work together even if they were not best friends.”
Community Boat Building brings to life critical academic subjects and skills — math, science, social studies, spatial thinking, reading, and writing — with experiential learning opportunities for children in Boston Public Schools.
Marcus said the journey began with a frame provided to the group, who then transformed it into a fully functional boat.
“We started upside down,” Naib explained, “and after we put it all together, we flipped the whole boat over
and then we saw how it actually looked.”
For the group, that was one of the coolest moments.
“We learned a lot of stuff,” said Jacob. “It was tough but fun.”
Jacob wanted to create something in honor of his dad, Michael Davis, a police officer who recently passed away. “My dad was a great police officer and a great dad to me.”
Naib wanted to be involved because he wants to be an engineer, “and if you can build boats, you can build anything.”
The process was not without its challenges. “We got splinters but we were fine,” Jacob said, “we still kept going.”
And a saw blade broke at one point, but the group was undeterred and proud of what they built.
“You know that feeling where you finish building something, and then you have that feeling of accomplishment,” said Marcus, who helped build a boat in this program last year.
Hopefully the builders can look at their hands as being capable of great things, Tim said, especially in this digital age when devices dominate. “Even at their young age they are now more skilled with tools than many adults.”
The students all agreed that by getting these skills, they won’t have to pay
people to fix something in their future houses. They’ll be able to do it themselves.
The three-seat boat is back at Community Boat Building and will be painted red, white, and blue.
The boat will set sail this spring, and the builders already are looking forward to their maiden voyage.
Funds to Support Families who Lost Loved ones to Overdose
The support fund will distribute opioid settlement money to eligible Boston families
Mayor Michelle Wu, the City of Boston, the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), and Boston BullPen Project today announced the launch of the Family Overdose Support Fund at a meeting of the Nubian Square Task Force. This new support fund will provide up to $5,000 in financial assistance to Boston families who have lost an immediate family member to opioid overdose. The City and BPHC have committed $250,000 to the program, funded by multistate settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors. The City first announced the use of Boston’s settlement funds in May 2024, after a series of community meetings in which residents were
clear that a top priority should be delivering resources directly to families suffering from loss. Over the summer, the City and BPHC selected Boston BullPen Project to administer the fund.
Created after extensive public feedback, the support fund is designed to offset financial hardships families face after losing a loved one. Only one immediate family member per family can apply. The fund can cover one invoice up to $5,000, paid directly to service providers for the following eligible services:
Funerals, burials, or cremation services for the person who died from overdose
Clinical therapy or behavioral health support services for surviving family members
Childcare costs and/or child enrichment costs for a child who
South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade March 16th, Start
Time at 11:30
The South Boston Allied War Veterans Council (SBAWVC) proudly presents the 2025 South Boston Evacuation Day/St Patrick’s Day Parade on March 16, 2025 starting at 1130 a.m. at Broadway Station. SBAWVC has applied
lost a parent, guardian, or sibling to overdose (e.g., camp, afterschool programs, extracurricular activities)
Legal services to assist in applying for public benefits or resolve issues with the deceased family member’s estate or guardianship of children
Eligible applicants must:
Currently live in the city of Boston
Be seeking support for a family member who died of an opioid overdose within the past 2 years of submitting the Fund application
Be related to the deceased person by blood or marriage. This means, a spouse, parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, child, grandchild, or other members of the applicant’s immediate household, or a legal guardian.
More than 50 families will receive financial assistance through this program, and it will be assessed and revised over time. The Family Overdose Support Fund will be part of Boston BullPen’s Healing After Loss to Overdose (HALO) Initiatives, and all applicants, regardless of whether they will be approved or denied, will receive information about additional aid programs. The support fund is one of several investments from Boston’s share of the State’s opioid settlements. Boston will incrementally receive at least $22 million through 2038. The settlements follow years of litigation, including a suit brought by the City of Boston against drug makers and opioid distributors for fueling the opioid epidemic.
for permit to march along the traditional route up West Broadway to East Broadway and turn on P Street onto East 4th St to K St on to East 5th St up past Dorchester Height down Telegraph Street to Dorchester St ending in Andrew Square
We have worked with the Edgerly Family South Boston Boys & Girls Club and Senator Nick Collins and would like to Thank them for starting their events earlier to accommodate the earlier start time.
Information on the parade and events leading up to Parade Day organized by the South Boston Citizen Association can be found on our website: https://southbostonparade.
South Boston Catholic Academy News
Congratulations to Rea in the 4th grade at South Boston Catholic Academy on being selected a winner of the inaugural New Year’s Card Design Contest. With over 100 outstanding submissions from students across South Boston, artistic talents were on full display highlighting local landmarks with a festive design to celebrate 2025.
The 6th graders at South Boston Catholic Academy were able to build and design their very
own Enchanted Village. This class project is a unique blend of Creativity and Mathematics designed to engage students in real-world problem-solving. In this project, each 6th grade student constructed a model building of a winter village and applied key math concepts to analyze their structure. Outstanding job 6th Grade! A special Thank you to Ms. Katie Sieber, the 5th grade teacher, for helping the 6th graders with their Enchanted Village!
Decline in Overdose Deaths in Boston
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) announced promising new data showing a significant decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths from May to August 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, highlighting the continued decline in overdose deaths in Boston. From May to August 2024, opioid-related overdose deaths among Boston residents were down 39% overall, especially among Black and Latinx residents, who experienced a 56% and 28% decrease, respectively. While this new analysis is preliminary and represents only a portion of 2024, it offers an encouraging sign of progress.
“The use of evidence-based strategies, including increasing access to naloxone, decreasing substance use stigma, and expanding mobile outreach has played an integral part in continuing this promising trend,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health for the City of Boston. “To maintain this momentum, it is imperative that we continue to provide our communities with resources, support, and education to make lasting progress in the fight against substance use and overdose.”
According to BPHC’s Live Long and Well population health equity agenda, unintentional drug overdose is the leading cause of early death in Boston, and it disproportionately impacts Black and Latinx communities. Black and Latinx residents account for 40% of Boston’s total population, but from May to August 2024, they accounted for 52% of all overdose deaths.
As the Health Commission closely monitors the impacts of the opioid epidemic in Boston, it is also evaluating various factors that contribute to the decline in overdose deaths, such as increasing access to naloxone, an effective, easy-to-use medication that quickly reverses an opioid overdose. In 2024, the Health Commission distributed nearly 22,000 doses of naloxone across Boston, demonstrating the impact of evidencebased strategies and mobile outreach. The Health Commission also launched a campaign to educate the public about ways to protect loved ones from overdose and granted $1 million in funding to five community organizations to distribute naloxone, provide overdose education,
and link people to care. Recently, the City and BPHC installed four public health vending machines at existing harm reduction, homeless services, and medical program facilities across the city and eight indoor naloxone distribution kiosks. Those locations, as well as other places that offer free or over-the-counter naloxone, can be found using the map at boston.gov/naloxone. Organizations can also request free naloxone at that website.
BPHC works with community partners to be at the forefront of the City’s response to the substance use crisis. BPHC’s Recovery Services Bureau operates a continuum of care, spanning
outreach, harm reduction, treatment, and community-based programs.
The Bureau’s Post Overdose Response Team, comprised of harm reduction specialists and first responders, conducts in-person, home-based outreach following 911 overdose calls and offers support, education, and referrals to essential resources. In 2024, the team completed 285 visits, demonstrating the effectiveness of addressing the opioid epidemic through education and meeting people where they are.
The Health Commission has been steadily increasing prevention services throughout Boston by expanding
community outreach, housing and mental health services, harm reduction, and support groups. Harm reduction and treatment referrals are available through BPHC’s AHOPE and PAATHS programs. AHOPE offers lifesaving harm reduction services including syringe exchange; drug checking to identify the presence of fentanyl and xylazine; naloxone distribution; and screening for HIV, hepatitis, and other bloodborne illnesses that can be spread through intravenous drug use. contact the PAATHS program at 1-855-494-4057 or call 3-1-1. For more information, visit boston.gov/recovery.
Dear Taxpayer,
The City of Boston is updating its assessments in 2025. Within the same neighborhood, some people are up, and some are down. Here are some things you should know:
1. The previous two bills sent out were estimates based on the prior year tax rate and valuation. The tax bill you just received, and the next one in April, have to cover the increases for the whole year – which may result in a surprising jump. The bill you get next July will drop back to a level halfway between the current bill and the last.
2. Though municipal property tax rates increased marginally, in some communities there was a major jump in assessed valuations. While the citywide average home valuation increased 4.6%, the median home valuation increase was:
These assessments were determined unilaterally by the City of Boston’s Assessing Department and are one of the main reasons for increases between the 2nd and 3rd quarter local property tax bills.
3. If you believe your property was overvalued or your valuation increased disproportionately, you can seek a property tax abatement and request the City of Boston lower your taxes. Visit https://www.cityofboston.gov/assessing/search to view your property’s details.
The deadline to file a fiscal year 2025 real estate tax abatement application is February 3, 2025.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEAL / LICENSING HEARINGS
Please note that the ZBA board will call on members of the public to testify for each proposal; you can share your thoughts in that forum.
165 D ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1650690
Hearing Date 2/4/2025
Project Description: Applicant seeks to construct 2 story addition, change occupancy from retail
58 Baxter ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1649361
Hearing Date 2/4/2025
Project Description Erect new four story 6 unit residential building with garaged off street parking rear decks
295 W First ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1669854
Hearing Date 2/4/2025
Project Description: Submitting Zoning Refusal Erect four to six story mixed use residential building up 240 units on site above grade garaged parking 125 vehicles commercial space retail food service
232 W Third ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1674434
Hearing Date 2/25/2025
Project Description: Erect new single family dwelling
234 W Third ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1674435
Hearing Date 2/25/2025
Project Description: Erect new single family dwelling according to plans
701 E Second ST South Boston 02127
BOA App# BOA1677115
Hearing Date 2/25/2025
Project Description: Change occupancy from 3 unit bldg into 4 dividing Unit 1 first basement combined two separate units remaining on floor new B within existing space in No additions or building expansion Building is sprinklered per NFPA 13 Increasing number parking spaces 5 to 6
105 P ST South Boston 02127
BOA App# BOA1669115
Hearing Date 2/25/2025
Project Description: Amend scope work under issued Permit ALT1619411 to add shed dormer each side roof increase living space on third floor Create new rear deck level with exterior spiral staircase leading
64 Baxter ST South Boston 02127
BOA App# BOA1661505
Hearing Date 2/25/2025
Project Description: Add roof deck
674 to 676 E Broadway South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1658178
Hearing Date 3/4/2025
Project Description: Change occupancy from restaurant one residential units to three
32 Vinton ST South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1644826
Hearing Date 3/4/2025
Project Description: Confirm occupancy as 3 family Frame new addition bedroom with closet according engineer plans Remove reframe emergency stairs back house
546 E Broadway South Boston 02127
Appeal Type Zoning
BOA App# BOA1663313
Hearing Date 3/4/2025
Project Description: Change use from 1 apartment professional office body art establishment to seven residential units Interior renovation rear 4 story addition Reducing parking spaces 18 14 Combine two parcels into one parcel
bit.ly/40mThV3
Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864
Meeting ID: 161 695 0888
DESCRIPTION:
The 776 Summer Street Phase 2 Project encompasses key components of the PDA Master Plan, including the construction of two residential buildings on Blocks A and B (Including up to 636 units across Blocks A, B, and E) with parking and ground floor retail; a hotel/residential building on Block E and the 1898 Building, offering up to 240 keys, along with parking, amenities, and ground floor retail; a research and development building at Block C with associated parking and ground floor retail; and the implementation of Phase 2 site improvements, such as portions of Edison Plaza (formerly M Street Plaza), public realm enhancements on Summer Street, East First Street, and Thomas Edison Way, and supporting Phase 2 infrastructure.
Mail to: Phone: Email:
Zoe Schutte Planning Department
One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201
617.918.4311 zoe.schutte@boston.gov
bit.ly/3ZMyg7y Close of Public Comment Period: 2/17/2025
