By Ellen Hume, Marie Simboli and Kirsten Hoffman – Save the Nazzaro Coalition WHAT: The future of the Nazzaro building and all the community programs currently housed there are on the line as the city’s consultants present a briefing to the community April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Nazzaro Community Center, 30 North Bennet Read More…
Judging from several recent articles and columns that have flushed online trolls from their subterranean dwellings, there has been much interest and controversy stirred up by the Boston Planning and Development Agency’s (BPDA aka BRA) approval of a pricey 220,000 square-foot, 14-story commercial and residential structure to replace the existing parking garage at Dock Square that houses the Hard Read More…
By Mayor Martin J. Walsh: Every year on the third Monday in April, tens of thousands of athletes gather in Hopkinton, and begin the 26.2-mile journey to Boylston Street in Boston. All along the Marathon route, spectators cheer on their friends, family members, and complete strangers. It brings our city together like nothing else. That’s Read More…
North End resident John Modzelewski recently submitted a letter to Parks Commissioner Christopher Cook urging a reconsideration of the decision to use artificial turf at the soon-to-be-renovated Puopolo Park on Commercial Street. Read the letter in its entirety below. Click to enlarge. Read an earlier letter by Modzelewski to the project manager, as well as Read More…
By Erik Lund The Dock Square project, as proposed, is much too massive in contrast with the scale of the Quincy market area and will damage one of Boston’s greatest institutions and attractions. It should not be granted the numerous permits and variances it has requested, and the vote after BPDA’s Tuesday meeting should be Read More…
By Meghan Maloney Many who travel down Hanover Street in Boston’s historic North End, whether they be a tourist or a local, stop and look up at the bell tower that sits atop the red-bricked exterior of St. Stephen’s Church. Those that know their history, know that they are looking at a tower that holds Read More…
Downtown JournalAn occasional column about city life The biggest news of the week arrived with old school simplicity – delivered by the post office in a letter that began: “To Our Valued Customers and Friends of GREEN CROSS PHARMACY…we are retiring after 55 years. Green Cross Pharmacy has been sold and will be closing on Read More…
I am a Red Sox fan. I’m not sure how it happened exactly, but I do remember when it happened. It was a snowy February day in 1978, maybe a day off from school during the Blizzard of ’78. I flipped through a few of our limited available channels and chanced upon the beginning of Read More…
Since February is Black History Month, I thought it would be interesting to remember an important, but now largely forgotten, resident of the North End, an African slave named Onesimus. In 1706, Cotton Mather received a slave as a gift from his congregants. This was an extravagant gift because slaves were not only expensive to Read More…
There’s nothing new under the sun. And in Boston and the North End, it’s parking. Just as there’s neighborhood opposition today to plans for a glass tower above the Dock Square parking garage, a tower that would shutter views of Custom House Tower, there was neighborhood opposition in 1954 to allowing parking on the roof of Read More…
By Ellen Hume, Marie Simboli and Kirsten Hoffman – Save the Nazzaro Coalition Dear Mayor Walsh: Thank you! We are grateful to hear that you are not planning to sell, demolish or convert for private housing the iconic Nazzaro Building / North Bennet Street Bathhouse in Boston’s oldest neighborhood, the North End. As you know, Read More…
By Mayor Martin J. Walsh: Earlier this month, I gave my State of the City address at Symphony Hall. It’s one of my favorite events because it’s a chance to speak directly to the people of Boston about the progress we’ve made, the challenges that remain, and where we’ll go from here. It’s also a Read More…