The North End / Waterfront Residents’ Association (NEWRA) covered a myriad of community topics as part of its April 2019 meeting reports. Follow along with this video timeline summary.
(00:00) Welcome – NEWRA President Cheryl Delgreco
(00:20) Parks Committee update – Chair Robyn Reed
Friends of Christopher Columbus Park (FOCCP) are looking for more volunteers to help garden on Sunday and Wednesday mornings. See their website and contact robynr@foccp.org for more information. You may have noticed that Marathon Daffodils lined Columbus Park with daffodil plants over marathon weekend.
Friends of Cutillo Park are having a photography exhibition opening on April 25th, 5:30pm-9:00pm at the pop-up gallery, 226 Causeway Street (on the corner of N. Washington St.). Cutillo Park is located at Stillman and Morton Streets, off Salem in Boston’s North End.
(03:40) North End resident Michael Aquilino followed up on the city zoning board’s approval of variances at 2 Snelling Place despite both NEWRA and NEWNC’s opposition.
(05:20) Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services – Maria Lanza
Public Works is adding four seasonal hokies (human street cleaners) to the existing two year around workers to help keep the streets clean during the Summer.
The City of Boston will host a public meeting on Thursday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m. at the Nazzaro Center, 30 N. Bennet Street, to discuss the results of the North End Community Center Study. More information.
The Mayor’s Office has released its FY2020 budget (Update: Capital projects have since also been released, including three new projects in the North End for Cutillo Park, North End Branch Library and Columbus Park.)
May 4th will be the annual “Love Your Block” (formerly Boston Shines). Meet at 9am in front of the Nazzaro Center. Register individually or your group here.
The Mayor’s Coffee Hour is June 4th, 9:00am, coincident with the Grand Re-opening of the Prado / Paul Revere Mall after its recent renovations.
(08:30) Zoning, Licensing and Construction Committee – NEWRA Chair Victor Brogna
The next ZLC Committee meeting is April 23rd (7pm, Mariner’s House, 11 North Sq., 2nd Floor).
Chase Bank at Salem and Cross Street has informed the ZLC Committee they are no longer considering outdoor seating at the location. The proponent will attend the April 23rd ZLC meeting.
Dock Square Garage development has been postponed from various city agendas and could be revised. NEWRA has objected to the current proposal.
Haymarket Hotel – Brogna is on the Impact Advisory Group and is concerned that the promised community meeting room and restrooms are only required for the initial ten years.
Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) – The Boston Planning & Development Agency (BPDA) Board of Directors has approved a citywide zoning amendment that would allow owner occupants to carve out space within their homes to create smaller, independent rental units, known as Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs). The goal is to provide additional housing units in the city. An ADU is one self-contained, non-transient residential living unit providing complete independent living facilities incorporated entirely within the footprint of the existing, owner occupied residential structure. Importantly, the program will not apply to the Downtown, North End and Downtown Waterfront neighborhoods that fall within the Base Code Zoning.
