SBTAP Draft Recommendations
by Rick Winterson
SBTAP (the South Boston Transportation Action Plan) has the mission to improve traffic of all kinds in the central area of South Boston. On Thursday, SBTAP presented an initial list of draft recommendations to accomplish this. Patrick
Hoey, the Neighborhood Planning Director from the BTD (Boston Transportation Department) gave the presentation. It is important to note that SBTAP’s recommendations do not apply to all of South Boston. The SBTAP area amounts to just about one-third of the total square footage in South Boston, and it’s bordered on the west by Old Colony Boulevard and Dorchester Avenue down to Broadway Station. It extends to the east between First Street, Ninth Street, and Day Boulevard all the way to Farragut Road. The entire Seaport District, the Andrew Square neighborhood, and Castle Island/Conley Terminal aren’t part of SBTAP at all. SBTAP deals with nine “corridor” roadways, especially East Broadway, West Broadway,
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City Councilor Ed Flynn
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and most of Dorchester Street.
The meeting, held at the Tynan School, opened at 6:20. Lydia Polaski, South Boston’s agent on the ONS (Office of Neighborhood Services) read a communication from Mayor Wu stating that the time for comments is being kept open and that bike lanes would not necessarily be authorized along Broadway, but on a side street instead. District 2 City Councilor Ed Flynn voiced his strong support of “Safety First” along Broadway, especially for pedestrians and at crosswalks.
The SBTAP presentation was broken down into “near term recommendations” that mostly dealt with safety, and a “longerterm vision” for the future. The need for better safety mostly deals with pedestrian traffic, especially at crossings. The longer-term vision will involve total redesign
of roadways following a full community redesign process.
A question-and-answer period followed the presentation by Patrick Hoey. It was heated to say the least. Issues included the problems with parking, and the continuing need for auto travel, especially along East and West Broadway. “Southie must drive!” became almost a slogan during the Q-and-A. Setting aside lanes specifically for bicycles was another arguing
point, perhaps influenced by six months of the Summer Street Pilot Project, where designated lanes for bikes, buses, and trucks were established. Perhaps the most valid questions had to do with loading and unloading trucks along Broadway, especially on West Broadway between E Street and Perkins Square. Many small businesses in South Boston require daily drop-offs and deliveries; these were not really addressed in the SBTAP
presentation last Thursday. Other than the need for safety upgrades, the East Broadway/ West Broadway/Dorchester Street complex of roads actually seems to work fairly well, even though there are frequent holdups and traffic jams. For your information, an Open House meeting on the Summer Street Pilot Program is scheduled for next Monday, July 8 (5 p.m. to 8) at the Tynan School. Please plan to attend.
Sen. Collins and Rep. Biele Announce Catholic Charities Nursing Program $1 Million Grant
Recently Catholic Charities Boston received the Senator Kenneth J. Donnelly Workforce Success Grant to support their Nursing Assistant and Home Health Aide (NA/ HHA) training programs. The grant total is $1 million. This program provides the free training annually to unemployed and underemployed program graduates to secure sustainable NA and HHA positions. Along with the free of charge training, the funding will allow the program to provide stipends for expenses to support many of the students experiencing hardship. The funding will also support workforce development in our communities. With the funds, Catholic Charities is able to hire additional staff, who will be conducting outreach and
enrollment in the community, job search, and placement support with the employer partners including Mass General Brigham, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Signature Healthcare. This additional outreach will address help address the national shortage of healthcare workers by increasing the number of qualified CBAs and HHAs.
“This funding is not only helping our community by giving our residents access to free highquality healthcare training, but also helping the Commonwealth’s workforce development. By recruiting members from within our community and connecting them with our local hospitals we are addressing the healthcare’s dire need for healthcare workers. I am proud to have supported this grant funding on the state budget because it will improve the quality of life for our residents, both those who are
in the training program and those who will be benefitting from the quality workforce it is producing.”
said Senator Nick Collins.
“The Labouré Center has a longstanding commitment to serving the community through educational and social services. This new funding will further enhance its capacity to deliver comprehensive training programs, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to secure
stable and rewarding employment in the healthcare field. I’m proud to support state funding that will help the Labouré Center in its mission to provide high-quality healthcare training and workforce development opportunities while helping individuals gain the skills necessary to thrive in the healthcare industry, addressing critical workforce shortages and improving community health outcomes.” said Representative David Biele.
by Rick Winterson
ASCA (the Andrew Square Civic Association) held a crucial meeting. This was necessary because a conflict on Memorial Day led to cancellation of ASCA’s May meeting, and because this meeting was the last one until the fall (FUTURE NOTE: ASCA’s next meeting: Monday, September 23, 6:30 p.m.). Upwards of 50 residents from the Square attended the meeting. Many of the issues discussed at the meeting were important for the entire South Boston community.
The new Dorchester Avenue Bridge connecting South Boston with Dorchester is still under construction. Since it spans both major “T” trackage and the Expressway, it is a “double bridge” that is being totally replaced. A progress report was given - the aim for completion is still this fall, perhaps as soon as September, but we’ll see.
BPD Station C-6 Capt. Joseph Boyle and Community Services Officer Sgt. Jeremy Fitten briefed the meeting on police issues. Sgt. Fitten listed recent incidents requiring police intervention. Unfortunately, drug problems have reappeared at “Mass/Cass” (where Southampton intersects with Atkinson). It’s not far from
Andrew Square Meets
here, so users and sellers have appeared at Andrew Station and around the Square. Capt. Boyle announced that 24-7 police coverage is now in place around the Square. City Councilor Ed Flynn emphatically voiced his concerns about the Mass/ Cass recurrence, too. At least one comment from the audience loudly stated that lenient judges are responsible for the recurring drug problems.
Haley Dillon Walsh from State Sen. Collins’s office detailed some of the local funding provisions contained in the currently proposed FY 25 budget. Among these will be funds for a badly needed upgrade of the MBTA’s Andrew Station superstructure. Lydia Polaski from ONS (the City’s Office of Neighborhood Services) encouraged everyone to attend the next (and final) Open House
about the Summer Street Pilot Program on Monday, July 8, at the Tynan School. Two members of what’s now being called “The ASCA Public Safety Committee” presented their recent actions and findings. Their efforts were remarkable, including photos of actual hazards as well as trash and filth. These are then used
to place pressure on offenders. Other South Boston civic groups might consider similar actions in their own neighborhoods. Finally, pending developments were addressed. First, a design group from Winn presented their preliminary plan for the McCormick Housing Project reconstruction. It’s impressive! A proposed development for 22 Mitchell Street was supported (19-4); another at 29-31 Jenkins was opposed (4-19). A third proposal for a nine-story project on D Street, with no automobile parking at all, was turned down almost unanimously (1-33).
The ASCA meeting closed after more than two very productive hours. Many of the agenda items will have an effect on all of South Boston.
Meeting chaired by Linda Zablocki and Pattie McCormick.
Capt. Boyle and Sgt. Fitten
actions.
We Salute American Patriots on This 4th of July A Grateful Nation Celebrates Freedom
“Wishing you a safe and happy Fourth of July!”
Congressman Stephen F. Lynch
“Happy Fourth of July and God bless America.”
David Biele, State Representative
Happy Independence Day. We pay tribute to those who fought for our freedom and future.
Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn & Family
“The Strenght of a nation lies in the home of its people” Happy Fourth of July
For Clerk of the Supreme Judicial Court for Suffolk County
Happy Independence Day!
May your day be filled with pride, joy, and gratitude for our freedom.
SOUTH BOSTON ONLINE
South Boston Artist: Dominique Nelson
By Carol Masshardt
Dominique Nelson, can turn an ordinary, imperfect, sun backed sidewalk into a stunning work of art. A twenty-five-year-old, life- long South Boston resident, she is an accomplished artist and teacher with a unique honesty and joy in who she is. The chalk drawings outside her East Broadway home near “H” are only the most obvious of the creations. She began drawing when her wise mother thought she needed to express more, and later at Boston Arts Academy and Mass. College of Art. If you know her mother, Luanne Litif, you will hear unmitigated, well-deserved pride and respect for a talented young woman who didn’t always have an easy course.
Dominique is currently the Foundations Director at Artists for Humanity, where she teaches while also developing her own art projects.
“It took me awhile to find my place,” she said. Although she is truly Boston through all of her education from the Perry School to Mass. Art, she had to work at finding the best match in friends and opportunity.
“I applied to the Boston Arts Academy for violin, but I think performing made me nervous, and I wasn’t accepted, but I was for art! I think I had a steadier hand for art. I also had to find friends in South Boston and did by branching out and
connecting with friends in different areas, so I could be seen for who I was.”
“I didn’t think I would be good enough to be an artist, but I came to realize I had a talent and just kept working at it. I started as a printmaker, and then went into multi-media. Seeing how different mediums can come together to create something new is what I love,” she said.
Art is more than creating in a studio for Dominique Nelson, though she takes great joy in that. It is about people and ideas and seeing others develop.
“I love gatherings, gatherings of different people and minds and talents. Maybe because I didn’t have it as naturally growing up, I have created it now and it is one of the things that draws me to Artists for Humanity. It gives kids the chance to develop their art and confidence and meet adult artis from all over the city. When I watch them, I also learn.”
As with many artists, pathways can be complicated. Dominique is unsure about focusing more on her own art, or art education, or a master’s degree, and then balancing a love of art with marketing and exhibiting. What she does know is that she is committed to art and Boston, and that her future will include both. Though she would be a certain success anywhere, there I something compelling to her about the streets and signs and people of this complex city.
“I could go somewhere else and learn different things, and other places probably could be easier, but my eye is always on the art side of this city. Right now, my political art is quieter, and I am at work on process, materials and seeing what I see. With the kids I see that they have “voice’ but are also vulnerable. They learn that they don’t have to know what they’re doing to create something good.”
Dominique Nelson has many people to thank, especially but not only, her mother, and brother, Jesse Cox, and teachers, Barrington Edwards, Randy Garber, and Catrina Coelho.
“Be sure to write about how proud we are of her,” said a neighbor several generations older passing by as we sat on Dominique’s stoop and talked about art. It is no small honor than to envision and create better things for the very streets on which you walk. Dominique Nelson is bound to contribute in more ways than perhaps even she can see.
(Her Instagram is @ Mxdmediaarts)
(Carol Masshardt can be reached at carolhardt@comcast.net
Artist Dominique Nelson
The South Boston Climate Workshop
Ameeting entitled “South Boston Climate Workshop” convened in the St. Monica Church Hall on Preble Circle. This event was the fifth in a series of eight workshops designed to help coastal communities in the Boston region plan for continued sea level rise and cope with more
severe storms. These have been arranged cooperatively by Chris Mancini, the Executive Director of Save the Harbor/Save the Bay (SH/ SB), and Mercy Robinson, who is the Executive Director of South Boston en Accion and also serves as South Boston’s liaison to the Metropolitan Beaches Commission (MBC) at the State House. So far, the five Climate Workshops that have taken place were held in Lynn/ Nahant, Revere, Hull, East Boston, and now in South Boston. The last three are planned during July in Quincy, Dorchester, and Winthrop.
The word “workshop” describes the get-together in St. Monica Hall accurately. Our State Rep. David Biele gave opening remarks that stressed the importance of continuing actions to protect beaches in and around South Boston. David emphasized
Summer Street Pilot Program Community Meeting
Monday, July 8
5:00 - 6:30 PM (Open House)
6:30 - 8:00 PM (Presentation and Q & A)
In Person at: Tynan Elementary School, 650 E 4th Street, South Boston For more information, please visit: https://shorturl.at/PY52m
As you know, the South Boston Elected officials and I have consistently expressed our opposition to the Summer Street Pilot Program due to concerns of potential negative impacts to operations at Conley Terminal and our city, state and regional economy, limiting foot traffic to our businesses in the South Boston Waterfront, and creating additional vehicular traffic and pollution.
You can provide your comments and feedback for the Summer Street Pilot to the Boston Transportation Department at this meeting and at transit@boston.gov.
I strongly encourage you to join us to share your feedback with the city, and please share this upcoming session with your families, friends, and neighbors.
Boston’s Climate
at
Monica Hall. It was convened by Chris Mancini of Save the Harbor/ Save the Bay. Rep. David Biele gave a few remarks on how important these meetings are becoming, and then the meeting’s attendees began the workshop’s project exercises
how fortunate we are to have so many top-notch beaches that are 100% clean. This was followed by a formal presentation about climate changes called “MBC Community Climate Workshop (Adapting to a changing South Boston coastline)”. Sea level rises stemming from global warming are the primary cause of changing coastlines in and around the City of Boston.
After the initial, overall presentation, the workshop broke down into “focus groups” to discuss what were called “Guiding Questions”. The focus groups spent significant time examining various ways to handle the rising sea levels, while still preserving local beaches. To close out the Climate Workshop, the focus groups reconvened into a main group to discuss solutions. When complete, recommendations from all eight Climate Workshops will be assembled and presented to the public. Furthermore, beach preservation efforts will proceed further into individual beach-and-shore communities in and around Boston.
Basically, five engineering approaches to sea level management and preservation
of beaches were examined. The first approach of the five is to simply relocate beaches and their buildings inland and higher up, to avoid the rising tides. “Beach nourishment” was the second approach, which means that additional piles of sand and beach sediments are kept standing by, to replace beach surfaces washed away by rising tides. The third approach, called “hardscaping”, is to emplace revetments or full sea walls as ocean barriers. Placing construction fill materials called cobbles to form a berm or a wall that shields inshore lands from wave action is the fourth approach. Finally, the fifth approach is adapting structures and even entire landscapes so that they become flood-proof. Each of these engineering approaches has strong and weak points, not least of which is the significant cost to install and renew many of them. Some of them are already in place at nearby locations, such as Duxbury Beach, Revere Beach, Salisbury Beach, and even South Boston’s Seaport District. The workshop’s participants were asked to evaluate each approach and to recommend other solutions as well.
South
Workshop meeting opened
6:00 in St.
Sr Babe Ruth Opens up the 2024 Season
The South Boston Sr Babe Ruth team began their 2024 campaign on the road at Balch Field in Norwood With a strong core of returning players from last year’s squad, the team has high hopes for the season.
Jerry O’Neil was back on the mound and went the distance striking out four batters on the night. Some untimely errors by the Southie defense gave Norwood a 1-0 lead in the second inning before adding runs in the 4th and 5th innings to take a 4-0 lead. The Southie bats finally woke up in the 6th inning as Stephen Flynn came around to score on a Jerry O’Neil fielders choice to cut the lead to 4-1. After Norwood added a run in the bottom half of the inning, Southie would jump on the Norwood relief pitcher and made things interesting when a Sean Findlen fielders choice and a Stephen Flynn double played runs to cut the lead to 5-3. Southie would then get the tying run to the plate, but the Norwood pitcher settled in to record the final strikeout and secure the victory for the home team. Ben Fennelly also added a hit in the game.
The home opener would take place on Wednesday, June 19th as Southie welcomed Wollaston to King Field. This game was a wild one from the onset as both teams battled tough field conditions and combined for 9 errors in the
game. Southie would take a 4-0 lead after 2 innings. Wollaston would then go on to plate 5 runs in the top of the 3rd inning before Southie evened things at five in the bottom on the inning. Both teams would plate 3 more runs each over the next two for a 8-8 tie heading into the 7th inning. Wollaston was able to push across 2 runs in the top of the 7th to take a 10-8 lead heading into the last half of the 7th inning. A Southie rally tied things up 10-10 but with the game winning run on 3rd, Wollaston was able to get the strikeout to preserve the tie.
Tristin Pecevich (fresh off a state championship with BC High) and Jerry O’Neil (4 RBI’s) were the offensive stars of the night with 3 hits each. Stephen Flynn, Rusbert Martinez, and Geno Juliano also collected hits.
The team hit the road again the following evening for date with Braintree. Geno Juliano got his first start of the season and battled through a hot sun and some early control problems to settled in and go the first three innings before Stephen Flynn came in from the bullpen. Southie and Braintree would trade 2 runs each
on the first inning before a 4-run second inning gave Southie a lead that they would not relinquish. Braintree fought back to make it a 6-5 game after 3 innings but Southie was able to plate 3 in the 4th and one in the 6th to preserve a 10-5 lead and earn their first win of the young season.
Ben Deardon had a big night in his first career Sr Babe game with a single and a double as well as a two hit night for Dylan Picard. Francis Perez, Geno Juliano, Flynn, O’Neil, Andy Nova, and Ronan Carlson all added one hit apiece.
Photo Credit: Colmn Gilroy @c.flics617
Yarn Displays” at Flaherty Park
Beautiful yarn art graces the fence at Flaherty Park at B and Bolton streets. The rainbow installation was handmade by mothers and grandmothers who generously donated their time and supplies. The red, white, and blue artwork commemorates the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Thank you to the makers who brought this pop of color to the neighborhood!
CITATION GIVING NOTICE OF PETITION OF CONSERVATOR
Ribbon Cutting on Improvements to Mother’s Rest Park
Mayor Michelle Wu joined Boston Parks Commissioner Ryan Woods, elected officials, and the Dorchester community on June 26 to cut the ribbon on improvements to Mother’s Rest Park at Four Corners. The event marked the completion of a $1.99 million renovation to revitalize the park, including the opening of a new children’s splash pad and community gathering space.
“We’re thrilled to unveil these beautiful new park features just in time for summer,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I’m grateful to the Dorchester community for their valuable feedback and commitment to ensuring Mother’s Rest Park is a place where residents of all ages can feel at home.”
Key features of the revitalized park include updated play areas for children ages 2-5 and 5-12, including new toddler, belt, and group swings, net twister, spinners, see-saw, and more. The park also includes a new splash pad with interactive water
play. New park amenities include cross-training equipment, tennis tables, amphitheater seating, and a community gathering space.
The park was designed by Deborah Myers Landscape Architecture and construction was completed by ANJ Construction. The project budget included $200,000 for design and $1.99 million for construction, made up of capital funding as well as a $52,000 donation from the Friends of Post Office Square.
“We heard loud and clear from the Four Corners community about
Virtual Public Meeting
295 W. 1st Street
JULY 9
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
Zoom Link: bit.ly/3Xg9MSQ
Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864
Meeting ID: 160 505 0364
Project Description:
The Proponent is proposing to construct a six (6) story mixed-use residential building (approximately 48’6” along West Second Street to 69’11” along West First Street) of approximately 226,000 gross square feet, with up to 252 residential units, public open space with active ground floor community and retail uses (at its “Yard on Second” concept), on-site and above grade garaged parking for up to 126 vehicles, bicycle storage and on-site amenities (the “Proposed Project”).
Mail to: Stephen Harvey
Boston Planning & Development Agency
One City Hall Square, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02201
Phone: 617.918.4418
Email: Stephen.j.harvey@boston.gov
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
the needs for this park, including water play for kids and space for fitness classes and spoken word performance,” said Commissioner Ryan Woods. “We’re thrilled that this $1.99 million investment hit the mark in delivering these features and we can’t wait to see the community enjoy the park for years to come.”
The design and development of Mother’s Rest Park were driven by community feedback collected during several public meetings and surveys beginning in the fall of 2021. Suggestions such as a new water play
area, a platform for spoken word performances, teen spaces including table tennis, and open space for fitness classes have also been incorporated into the final design. For more information, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505. Stay updated with news, events, and park improvements by signing up for our email list at bit.ly/Get-ParksEmails and following our social channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Virtual Public Meeting
Project Proponent: The Coastal Resilience Delivery Team of the City of Boston Planning Department
Project Description: The RLFMP Flood Mitigation Planning & Feasibility Study aims to refine coastal protection options developed through CRS South Boston and advance the Master Plan sustainability and resilience vision by developing a feasible and implementable stakeholder-supported solutions that protect against current and future coastal flooding that support marine industrial uses and ship-to-shore transfer of goods. The Study, initiated by the Coastal Resilience Delivery Team of the City of Boston Planning Department in Spring 2023, is provided technical support by a consultant team led by Arcadis. The project team, working closely with stakeholders including Massport, marine-dependent businesses and other tenants, and the Boston Marine Park Business Association to complete an existing conditions analysis; risk and vulnerability assessments, alternative district-scale coastal resilience strategies and alignments, seeks to present and solicit community feedback on preferred alternatives.
Mail to: Dolores Fazio
Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor
Boston, MA 02201
Phone: 617.918.6209
Email: Dolores.fazio@boston.gov
Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary
