SBOL_08_17_2023

THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

SOUTH BOSTON ONLINE

VOLUME XIX- ISSUE 74

Bike Delivery Pilot Progam SBHC Honoring Councilor Michelle Wu. “This bike delivery ayor Michelle Wu Michael Flaherty and the Boston pilot will support restaurants

M

Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n Department (BTD) announced the launch of Boston Delivers, an e-cargo bike delivery pilot program, to serve local residents and businesses. This service will make deliveries to and from local businesses in Allston and the surrounding area. Instead of motor vehicles, packages will be delivered by electric cargo bikes.

The program will launch in midSeptember and run for at least a year, with the goal of supporting local businesses, reducing pollution, easing traffic congestion caused by the expansion of delivery services, and improving street safety.

“The way our small businesses and residents use our city’s curbs has changed over the last few years, and we’re launching Boston Delivers to explore how to make our streets flow more smoothly and safely for everyone,” said Mayor

with an affordable, green, and convenient delivery option while reducing congestion on our streets.”

“The growth of car-based delivery services has negatively impacted our streets by adding congestion and increasing unsafe and illegal parking,” said Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Chief of Streets. “This pilot will help us explore alternatives by offering convenient delivery options that support neighborhood businesses while keeping our streets safe and moving.”

“Kudos to the Boston Transportation Department, where vision, persistence, and creativity have created an innovative pilot program which will generate goodwill and good data,” said City Councilor Liz Breadon. “We are very proud of Allston’s local businesses, including its abundant Continued on Page 2

The South Boston Health Center, along with elected officials honored Councilor Michael Flaherty for all of his work towards creating better health care for all residents of Boston.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

Continued from Page 1

Bike Deliveries

restaurants which feature cuisines from all over the world. AllstonBrighton residents are ready to make this green transportation program a great success.”

The rise of delivery services following the pandemic has led to more congestion outside local businesses and double parking in bus, bike, and vehicle travel lanes.

This has led to more conflicts among pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles, which has increased the potential for serious injury. Boston Delivers aims to improve safety on our streets by reducing the size, speed, and environmental impacts of delivery vehicles.

The City will subsidize the delivery costs for up to eight businesses, making delivery costs more affordable for local businesses, with funds from Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s (MassCEC) Accelerating Clean Transportation for All (ACT4All) Program (funded

by MassCEC and the Department

of Energy Resources). This program will also help businesses provide a delivery service where they may not already offer one. Additionally, the city is contributing about $345,000 towards the pilot program. The majority of this is labor costs, along with outreach and translation services and equipment.

“The Boston Delivers program will address two issues that we’re facing in Allston, pollution in the neighborhood and congestion on our streets,” said Alex Cornacchini, Executive Director of Allston Village Main Streets Association.

“This service will provide some much needed relief on both fronts, all while helping out our local businesses community. We’re very fortunate that the BTD has chosen Allston as the pilot neighborhood for this initiative.”

“We would like to participate in the Boston Delivers pilot because it seems like an easy way to support cleaner air and job opportunities for those without a car,” said John Kim, owner of OliToki, a Korean fusion restaurant in Allston that

will be participating in Boston Delivers. “Also, we see a lot of bike and e-bike deliveries in other major cities, and we feel that adding more ways to get food into people’s hands should ultimately benefit both restaurants and customers.”

W hile some businesses have already been selected, Boston Delivers is seeking more businesses in the Allston area to participate in the program. Those interested in participating in Boston Delivers can go to boston. gov/boston-delivers to fill out the interest form and learn more.

“As a business that makes and delivers healthy, fresh meals throughout the City of Boston, we understand congestion and recognize its impact on the residents of the City. And as a business that cares about climate protection, we are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint,’ said Richard Caines III, Director, Sales and Marketing at City Fresh Foods. “The Boston Delivers pilot program is very innovative and gives companies like ours an opportunity to learn more about how e-bikes can be successfully integrated into business operations.”

This pilot program has several key learning objectives that will help pave the way for the operation of e-cargo bikes for delivery. These key learning objectives are: •

Identify the policies, programs, and regulations that need to change to allow for e-cargo bike delivery in the City of Boston; • Test infrastructure changes needed to accommodate e-cargo bike delivery, including but not limited to e-cargo bike delivery zones, staging and sorting areas, parcel lockers, and other lastmile logistical needs; • Measure the benefits of e-cargo bike delivery, including its impact on environmental, safety, and economic metrics; • Understand the costs and

feasibility of e-cargo bike delivery for different types of businesses; • Communicate to delivery service providers that the City of Boston is ready for delivery services to utilize e-cargo bikes.

“Through our farm share progra m, A BHC is rea lly looking forward to partnering up with Boston Transportation Department’s Boston Delivers team as we intersect two key needs in our communit y: equitable access to food and t ra nspor t at ion,” sa id Je ssi Rubin, Allston Brighton CSA, organized by Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative, who is participating in Boston Delivers.

“The electric cargo bike pilot presents an important opportunity to both learn best practices regarding sustainable, env iron ment a l ly friend ly local deliveries, which has an exploding demand in both urban and suburban neighborhoods, while also reducing vehicle miles traveled by single-occupant vehicles – a key recommendation of Met roC om mon 2050,” said Marah Holland, Senior Transportation Planner at the Metropolitan A rea Planning Council. “It’s the epitome of ‘smart growth,’ and we’re looking for ward to opportunities to expand to other neighborhoods and municipalities across Gr e a t e r B o s t on .”

Boston Delivers will serve as a case study for The Urban Freight Lab at The University of Washington to help inform worldwide efforts to encourage deliveries on e-cargo bikes.

The Boston Tra nsportation Depa r tment ha s pa r tnered with Net Zero, a leading final mile logistics provider, to carry out the pilot. Net Zero will provide and manage the f leet of e-cargo bikes and related equipment, make the deliveries, a nd ma nage the logistics.

More i n for m at ion on Boston Delivers can be found on boston.gov/boston-delivers.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

3

Crafts in the Park

by Rick Winterson

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he City of Boston’s Parks and Recreation D e p a r t m e n t conducted an Arts & Crafts Workshop in City Point’s Medal of Honor Park at M Street.

Specifically, this Workshop was held outdoors (of course), on one of the blue oval tables to the rear of the Lori A. Miller “Tot Lot”.

For a couple of hours, perhaps as many as thirty or forty young folks gathered at the Arts & Crafts table. They came and they went– some of them more than once – under the watchful eyes of parents and caregivers. Pippa was one of South Boston’s young people who told us how much she enjoyed the morning’s hands-on craft work.

Everyone in the joyful and

enthusiastic crowd truly had a good time, while learning that craftwork can be designed and made from many materials. In

this case, the materials provided by the Parks and Recreation Department included synthetic and moldable clay, brightly

colored pipe cleaners, and a full spectrum of Crayola felttipped crayons.

Thanks for an enjoyable morning activity.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

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Youth Leadership Through Art in Unique Collaboration

Ricardo with photo of his sneaker design

By Carol Masshardt

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here are texts and courses on leadership, but Spoke, the popular Summer St. gallery and programs, with Boston Housing Authority, had other ideas. What if youth living in Boston Public Housing or Section 8 housing offered their voices about who they are, where they live, and what they see as possible? What if this started with a group of emerging leaders, from 15-21, working with Director of Programs at Spoke, Autumn Cole, to share their stories, create art that is meaningful to them, and to talk about it? And then, how would it be if these very people, and others like them, became powerful agents of change through advocacy, communic ation, tea mwork, and the creation of new ways of thinking about public housing?

Brennyzel, photoshop

focusing

on

On an August afternoon, the scene at Spoke could be that of any advanced art workshop.

The youth distinguish it and with a focus that is hard to interrupt.

Brennyzel, from the South End, an entering senior in high school, was working on a transfixing photo of his neighborhood, transforming it, and adding text, seemingly unaware of the beauty he created.

“Yes, this is a good thing. I have become much more open-minded. I socialize better and know ways to lead. I do consider myself an artist.

I never did before,” he said. “It’s 100 percent important for housing people to know our thoughts.”

R icardo, slightly older, has created some remarkable re-designs of sneakers, and is eager to continue to develop his products, but has been busy with the program and another job.

“We build something at Spoke and then move it on to BHA. It is a good idea. Will it change a culture to include our perspective?

Realistically, maybe, but hopefully, yes,” he said. “More conversation and more action are needed.”

Originally from Cleveland, and previously working at the Museum of African American Arts, Autumn Cole, knows something about how art and youth work, and trusts in a process that is less linear than some, and more inspired than most.

“I am amazed all the time of what these kids can do, and what happens when people listen, and they learn to speak about their perspective,” she said. “They start with hearing from Michael Dowling and L’Merchie Frazier, (established leaders at Spoke and well-regarded artist and advocates,) and then they start exploring who they are and doing hands on kinds of things. Now they are working with a professional photographer and learning how to use photoshop.

Its good for thinking, creating, and a skill they bring forward.”

In addition to talking with BHA representatives, they are engaged in art projects at some Boston Public Housing

Autumn Cole, Director of Programs at Spoke sites, including the Archdale Development in Roslindale. The goal is to identify youth representing every BHA development in the city, but logistics of transportation, as always, have been a challenge.

In this rare partnership, others are brought in, and creative energy surrounds the space.

Professional photographer, Hakim Raquib, described his experience.

“I’m impressed with how quickly they learn. I started them with real photography knowing they would get hooked on digital, which they did. They are doing lovely stuff and it is fun for me to learn about their perspective. It is always both ways. They learn and are producing, and I change, too,” he said.

Autumn Cole keeps a steady eye on the lives before her, the

production of art and the leadership and communication that emerges.

Her wish is for the youth “to know they have options and how big the world is.” It seems this may well be happening in more ways than can be imagined as the group works together as artists and engaged advocates. She said she sometimes misses the context of history she had previously, but perhaps she is part of something that will make Boston history deeper, more inclusive, and creative.

(Some of the work can be seen at the Spoke Gallery with a reception at 6PM on August 17th and continuing in early September. Carol Masshardt can be reached at carolhardt@comcast. net and can connect you to Spoke if you wish to become involved.

Spoke building

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THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

5

South Boston to Get TOAST

by Rick Winterson

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hen the New Year of 2024 arrives in South Boston, so will a restaurant technical service firm named “Toast”. If you have difficulty remembering that business name, just picture its corporate emblem – a glowingly outlined slice of toasted pan bread, which even has indentations at the proper spots.

Toast is planning to move here next year in the first quarter of 2024.

Toast is a public company.

It was founded eleven years ago in Boston by Steve Fredette, Aman Narang, and Jonathan Grimm. It currently has about 4,000 employees worldwide and annual revenues of more than $3 billion ($3,000,000,000).

Brief ly stated, Toast provides complete management and optimization systems, programs, and software to all kinds of restaurants, from drive-through windows to “reservations required” establishments. And Toast is both profitable and growing rapidly.

Until the first half of this year, Toast occupied interior space in the 401 Park Drive multi-story business complex, where they had grown to approximately three full acres (130,000 interior square feet).

However, it hasn’t always been easy sailing – the pandemic took its toll.

In 2020, Toast had to lay off half of its employees because the entire restaurant industry had been so drastically weakened. But Toast grew back, although not as dramatically as before the pandemic. Late in May, Toast announced they were not renewing their lease at 401 Park Drive and were proposing to move into 100,000 square feet of space at 333 Summer Street in South Boston.

The comparison between the address where Toast was and where they are going now is interesting.

The building at 410 Park – a.k.a “The Landmark Center” – was originally known as the Sears Roebuck and Company Mail Order Store, where bargains could be purchased in person using Sears catalogs. Lifelong Bostonians simply called it “the Sears building”. Its architectural design, including its 200-foot tower, was an example of “art deco” in the 1920s, which is totally and completely out of fashion these days.

In contrast, the yellow-brick 333 Summer Street building was once a Fort Point textile mill, which had been converted to business offices. The sign in front that now reads “LogMeIn” will be changed to “Toast” in January. In addition to flexible work areas, 333 Summer offers its tenants a gym, community

The east wall of Toast’s new home, showing more floors beneath street level.

The newly rented South Boston home-offices-to-be of Toast at 333 Summer. spaces, and even a basketball court.

Numerous restaurants, potential clients for Toast, are located in the nearby Seaport District.

Furthermore, the site is certainly in a transportation hub. There’s easy access to Logan Airport. South Station and North Station are within

walking and MBTA ride distances.

The good ol’ “T” Bus No. 7 goes right by the front door, and then out to City Point or into Downtown Boston. And the rent at 333 Summer Street, at least for now, is somewhat lower than on Park Drive.

Welcome to South Boston.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

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Massport’s Community Summer Jobs Program Celebrates 2023 Season

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he Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) is celebrating another year of its Community Summer Jobs Program, which has supported thousands of local students through partnerships with community organizations. This year, 30 organizations received $650,000 in grant funding to support nearly 280 seasonal jobs.

The annual program is designed to help civic and social service agencies by providing funds to hire youth workers in Masspor t’s neighboring com mu nit ies includ ing Bedford, Cha rlestow n, Chelsea, Concord, East Boston, Lincoln, Revere, South Boston, Wint hrop, a nd Worcester.

Wit hout t he assistance of M a s s p o r t ’s C om mu nit y

Photo Caption: Students participating in Massport’s Community Summer Jobs Program at South Boston Neighborhood House in South Boston Summer Jobs Program, many loca l orga nizat ions wou ld not be able to offer affordable summer programs to local residents. Since 1991, over 9,000

local students have gained valuable work experience in various jobs, such as camp counselor, of f ice assistant, ma i ntena nce worker a nd

lifeguard, paid for by the grant.

“Massport is proud to partner wit h and support the great work of local nonprofit groups and community organizations,” said Massport CEO Lisa Wieland. “These summer jobs mean much more than a paycheck – they provide a great opportunity for young people to learn impor ta nt life sk i l ls a nd gain professional, hands-on e x p er ienc e w h i le g iv i ng back to their communities.”

The 2023 program supported the following local organizations:

Charlestown Boys & Girls Club Charlestown Community Center Chelsea Boys & Girls Club Chelsea Public Works Community Action for Safe Alternatives (CASA) Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc. (CAPIC) Condon Community Center East Boston Social Centers East Boston YMCA Martin Pino Community Center McDonough Sailing Center Paris Street Community Center Piers Park Sailing Center Revere Recreation Department Salesian Boys & Girls Club South Boston Boys & Girls Club SB Neighborhood House Tynan Community Center

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THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

7

GrubStreet Holds 2023 Summer Open House

by Rick Winterson

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imply but accurately stated, GrubStreet is a modern “Center for Creative Writing” located in the South Boston Seaport District.

Now at 50 Liberty Drive in one of Joe Fallon’s Fan Pier buildings, GrubStreet is the nation’s largest creative writing center. It offers unique mentoring for original writing of many kinds. GrubStreet was originally founded in 1997

by Eve Bridberg, who also taught there. From just off downtown Boylston Street, GrubStreet moved to the South Boston Seaport in 2019, weathering the pandemic and finally reaching its 25th anniversary last year. During that quarter century, GrubStreet’s workshops grew from eight students in its first year to 10,000 in 2022, including over 1,000 teen-aged (13- 18) writers. By now, GrubStreet’s reputation extends

nationwide, and even world-wide.

Last Wednesday evening, GrubStreet held its 2023 Fall Open House and Showcase 8/9. The entire creative writing center space inside 50 Liberty Drive was open for walkarounds, including classrooms, the Porter Square Bookstore (Boston Edition) on the ground floor, and the new “fabulist” Café. The Cafe provided the GrubStreet Open House with an elegant hors-

d’oeuvres buffet. Picture windows overlooking Boston Harbor made for excellent background views.

Nearly a hundred potential authors and GrubStreet patrons attended. The GrubStreet staff and mentors talked with everyone who came and counselled those interested in pursuing improvements to their creative writings. GrubStreet memberships and classroom registrations were

quickly conducted on the spot. The evening’s activities closed with short readings from their own works by four award-winning, published authors living in the Boston area.

The name “GrubStreet” comes originally from London, England. During the 1800s, Grub Street in London was part of a poor neighborhood that was home to hack writers, unsuccessful poets, small bookstores, freelance journalists, and low-volume printers and publishers.

But it was also home (for a while) to famed English authors such as Samuel Johnson and Alexander Pope – Grub Street’s literary overtones still continue into the 21st Century.

GrubStreet in South Boston moved to the Seaport District five years ago; it has now become a permanent part of our cultural scene.

More information about GrubStreet and its creative writers’ programs can be found at programs@grubstreet.com

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THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

Giants in the Reserved

A Library Presentation In addition to a huge number of fine books and recordings, the South Boston Branch Library at 646 East Broadway presents many other activities. These range from children’s play/learning sessions to lectures and films for adults. Last Thursday at 5:30 the Branch Library presented a screening of “The Anonymous People” by filmmaker Greg Williams. The film dealt with living well after trauma and substance abuse is encountered. A worthwhile discussion by the viewing audience followed. Branch Librarian Jane Bickford and her Library Staff invite you to attend and take part in future activities, which are always listed prominently in advance inside and outside the Branch Library.

These days, the Reserved Channel has become an even greater center for significant maritime traffic. In addition to the much larger docking cranes at the Conley Terminal, which now handle post-Panamax container ships like the Madeira, note the huge passenger liner “Caribbean Princess” at the Flynn/Black Falcon Terminal. It holds 3,150 passengers, as well as seeming to dwarf the container ship on the south side of the Channel.

Virtual Public Meeting

Virtual Public Meeting

232 A Street IAG Meeting September 5, 2023 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Zoom Link: bit.ly/232A-0905 Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 840 2261

232 A Street September 11, 2023

Zoom Link: bit.ly/232A-0911

6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 882 6000

Project Proponent:

Project Proponent:

Tishman Speyer

Tischman Speyer

Project Description: The Proposed Project will construct a single-building 455,050

Project Description:

gsf lab/office/R&D development located at 232 A Street on G8

The proposed project will construct a single-building 455,050

parcel of 100 Acres Planned Development Area plus waterfront park on adjacent G7 parcel along Fort Point Channel.

gsf lab/office/R&D development located at 232 A Street on G8 parcel of 100 Acres Planned Development Area plus waterfront park on adjacent G7 parcel along Fort Point Channel.

Close of Comment Period: 9/20/2023 mail to:

phone: email:

Nick Carter Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 617.918.5303 nick.carter@boston.gov BostonPlans.org

website: bit.ly/232-astreet

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

Close of Public

mail to: Nick Carter Boston Planning & Development Agency

Comment Period:

One City Hall Square, 9th Floor

9/20/2023

Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.5303

website:

email:

bit.ly/232-a-street

nick.carter@boston.gov

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

SOUTHBOSTONONLINE.COM

B

including generous hea lth, dental and retirement benefits as well as paid vacation. With pools located in almost every neighborhood of Boston, working at a BCYF pool is a great way to ser ve your communit y.

Interested candidates must be at least 18 years old and should bring the following: at least two references, contact information we can follow up on, a state ID or license, and A merican Red Cross Lifeguard Certification. Proof of Boston residency will be required later in the application pro c e s s.

We re c om mend signing up at this link: bit.ly/ B C Y F L i f e g u a rd H i r i n g Eve nt .

However walkins are welcome.

If you are interested and can’t stop by, more information about lifeguarding at BCYF as well as the link to apply can be found at Boston/gov/BCYF-Aquatics.

BCYF Mason Pool is located at 159 Norfolk Ave in Roxbury.

Parking is available next to the

Virtual Public Meeting

617 Dorchester Ave f/k/a 20 Boston St 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

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Lifeguard Hiring Events

oston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF) is hosting two free lifeguard hiring events on Wednesday, August 23 from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Monday, August 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the BCYF Mason Pool in Roxbury. Any Boston residents with valid lifeguard certification who are interested in working as a lifeguard at a BCYF pool are invited to attend one of the events.

The lifeguard hiring events will combine all the necessary steps to become a lifeguard for a City of Boston pool in one location. These include a swim evaluation, skill evaluation, inter v ie w, a nd paper work processing. Full-time and parttime positions are available as well as Head Lifeguard positions.

BCYF lifeguard positions start at $22/hour and all lifeguards, even those who work part-time hours, are eligible for all the benefits available to City of Boston employees,

September 12, 2023

THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

Zoom Link: bit.ly/617DotAve Toll Free: (833) 568 - 8864 Meeting ID: 161 861 2374

Project Proponent: Mark Little Project Description: The information at this meeting is crucial to you as a City of Boston resident, and stakeholder. Interpreting services are available to communicate the content of these documents at no additional cost to you. If you require translation services, please contact the following: Tyler.C.Ross@boston.gov. The meeting is scheduled for 9/12/2023. Please request interpreting services no later than 5 days before the meeting date.

Meeting of the general public to review the proposed 617 Dorchester Ave project in South Boston. Please note that this is a Public Meeting. The meeting will begin with a 30-minute presentation of the project by the development team, followed by 45-minutes of public Q&A. This meeting will focus on 617 Dorchester Ave, South Boston by the BPDA. mail to: Tyler Ross Boston Planning & Development Agency One City Hall Square, 9th Floor Boston, MA 02201 phone: 617.918.4214 email: tyler.c.ross@boston.gov

website: bit.ly/617DorchesterAve

BostonPlans.org

@BostonPlans

Teresa Polhemus, Executive Director/Secretary

pool or on nearby streets or it’s a short walk up Proctor Street from any of the buses that serve Massachusetts Avenue.

The City of Boston is working across departments to renovate several city-owned pools following years of disinvestment.

Over the last 3 months, the City has reopened the BCYF Paris Street Pool in East Boston and the BCYF Hennigan Pool in Jamaica

Plain. The BCYF Paris Street Pool reopening was the result of a $10.2 million investment. More pools will be reopened in the coming months and this hiring event is seeking lifeguards to help staff them and other BCYF pools.

Lifeguard recruitment and pool renovations are part of Mayor Wu’s Swim Safe initiative, a commitment to support Boston residents’ safety around water.

Rep. Biele Helps Pass $375 Million Bill for Roads and Bridges City of Boston to receive over $14.9 million to invest in roads Recently, State Representative David Biele joined his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature on Thursday passed a bill that includes $375 million in bond authorizations for transportation needs across the state, including $200 million for the state’s Chapter 90 program, which provides municipalities with a reliable funding source for transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs. Under the legislation, the City of Boston is scheduled to receive over $14.9 million for local roadway, bridges, and infrastructure improvements.

This legislation also authorizes $175 million in programs that will support various transportation-related projects. This includes $25 million for each of the following: the municipal small bridge program; the complete streets program; a bus transit infrastructure program; grants to increase access to mass transit and commuter rail stations; grants for municipalities and regional transit authorities to purchase electric vehicles and the infrastructure needed to support them; funding for pavement and surface improvements on state and municipal roadways; and new funding dedicated to additional transportation support based on road mileage.

“I am proud to work with my colleagues in the Legislature to provide resources for improvements to roadways and brides in the City of Boston and across the Commonwealth,” said Rep. Biele. “This comprehensive piece of legislation highlights a commitment to improving our transportation system in the allocation of historic funding levels for municipal projects, providing local governments the tools they need to take on both maintenance tasks and invest in local infrastructure.”

The bill was signed into law by Governor Maura Healey.

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THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023

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