Community Health & Environment

Abutters Skeptical on Improvement Plan for Bartlett Place [Video]

Design engineers from Boston Public Works received a mixed response from North End residents on Tuesday night to conceptual plans improving Bartlett Place. The $110,000 project will include basic sidewalk repairs and street resurfacing with the potential for street furniture and park-like amenities.

The City is prepared to do more than clean up and repairs in the public space at the Salem and Parmenter Street intersection. However, there was little consensus from attendees on what would work. Bartlett Place has been what one attendee called, “the neighborhood dumpster.”

The video below captures the presentation and discussion from the meeting.

Video Index:

00:00 Public Works Presentation
11: 20 Proposed Design
13:50 Discussion

3 Replies to “Abutters Skeptical on Improvement Plan for Bartlett Place [Video]

  1. Thanks for posting this, Matt.

    I really wanted to attend, but I didn’t want to get anyone sick so I stayed home.

    Very valid points brought up during the meeting and it will be interesting to see how this progresses, especially the drainage issues and the trash. I think the seating (permenant) might have definitely created a situation of unruly gathering late at night so I hope that gets shelved.

    Thanks again for posting. Glad I was able to attend, albeit, virtually.

    – Isabella

  2. I felt like the meeting went well. While there were no obvious answers as to the best means of solving some of the issues, most of the attendees seemed to agree on the following priorities:
    1- Block vehicle access from the area with solid barriers or fencing (not just planters).
    2- Ensure emergency vehicles have full access to the alley.
    3- Manage the water drainage so that only water from the area is allowed down the alley and prevent all of Salem and Parmenter from draining down there as it does now.
    4- No permanent seating unless the area is fenced in at night.
    5- Improved lighting.
    6- Central feature (public art, pavement feature, large evergreen in planter, etc.).
    I deliberately did not list trash in the above list. While the trash issue is HUGE, I don’t think it fits in the context of this Engineering group. We need to work on this issue with the city trash contractor, the city itself, code enforcement, and the landlords and residents from all the neighboring blocks that indeed use the area as a open-air dumpster.
    I think the Engineers heard all of the issues and we should allow them to go back to their drawing boards and address them as best they can. I hope that the process moves faster than it has to date, though.
    My sincere thanks to the City and to Stephen and Nicole for working with us and them on this project.
    -Mark

  3. THE BOTTOM LINE FOR THIS PROJECT IS TO
    BENEFIT THE CITY, NOT THE RESIDENTS OR THE
    FINER BUSINESS OWNERS ON SALEM ST.

    WE HAVE DRUNKS FALLING OFF ROOFS, URINATING
    IN VARIOUS DOORWAYS AND ESTALISHMENTS AND
    NOW YOU WANT TO PROVIDE MORE AREAS
    WHERE THEY CAN HANG OUT AND CAUSE MORE
    NOISE & DESTRUCTION IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

    THE CITY SHOULD FIX THIS AREA BECAUSE THE
    PEOPLE THAT OWN PROPERTIES ARE PAYING
    TAXES, AND ARE ENTITLED TO THIS.

    THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT BUT THE MOTIVE BEHIND THIS
    IS TO BENEFIT TOURIST, NOT THE RESIDENTS OR THE
    SURROUNDING BUSINESSES IN THE AREA.

    I WAS AT NO. SQUARE YESTERDAY AND INQUIRED
    ABOUT THE BENCHES OUTSIDE THE CHURCH
    AND THE BUSINESS AT THE CORNER PUT THESE
    TABLES & BENCHES OUTSIDE AND THEY SAID THEY
    ONLY HAD 2 INCIDENTS BECAUSE THE POLICE
    ARE PATROLING THE AREA CONSTANTLY.

    WE CAN’T EXPECT THE POLICE TO PATROL TABLE
    & BENCH AREAS CONSTANTLY, WE HAVE ENOUGH
    TO KEEP THEM BUSY WITH WHAT IS GOING ON IN
    THE AREA REGARDING DRUNKS & VANDALISM.

    I KNOW WHO IS REPRESENTING THE CITY AND BUSINESSES, I WANT TO KNOW WHO THE HELL IS
    CONCERNED ABOUT THE RESIDENTS

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