FOREST HILLS—The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will miss its own deadline this week for making the decision about the Casey Overpass replacement project, a spokesperson told the Gazette. There is no new timeline for an announcement and MassDOT offered no explanation for the further delay. “We’re still looking to make a decision soon,”...
Monthly Archives: February 2012
Burglaries return to JP South
The area of the Arborway, Jamaica Street and St. Rose Street, which had a string of burglaries last fall, is seeing another increase in residential break-ins. Most of the crimes have been committed by people who walk around the neighborhood and knock on doors until they find a residence with no one home. They...
Overpass decision to come this month
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) will announce the decision for the future of the Casey Overpass by the end of the month, the Gazette has learned. MassDOT has also posted answers online to some of the burning questions about the Casey replacement project posed by elected officials and the community since mid-November. MassDOT...
Bromley-Heath leader retires; BHA takes over
JACKSON SQ.—The leader and co-founder of the Bromley-Heath housing development’s groundbreaking tenant-run management corporation will retire at the end of March, and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) will take over. The tenant group will continue to advise the BHA, but will no longer have a management role, BHA spokesperson Lydia Agro told the Gazette....
Illicit chickens roost in JP’s back yards
Chickens may be legally welcome back in the City of Boston soon, much to the delight of Jamaica Plain chicken-keepers. JP has a concentration of secret chickens—in back yards, basements and converted lawn furniture—as chicken-keeping is not allowed under the current zoning code. But the growing interest in urban agriculture has pushed the city...
BHA absorbe Bromley-Heath
JACKSON SQ.— La líder y cofundadora de la corporación innovadora del complejo Bromley-Heath, dirigido por los mismos residentes, se jubila a finales de marzo y Boston Housing Authority tomará el mando. El grupo de inquilinos continuará aconsejando a BHA, pero ya no tendrá el rol de administración, dijo portavoz de BHA al Gazette. Mildred...
190-200 rental units planned for Home site
A huge, high-end apartment building with 190 to 200 units is being proposed for the Home for Little Wanderers complex at 161 S. Huntington Ave. “It will extend the residential character of JP down to where it really hasn’t been before,” said Curtis Kemeny, president and CEO of Boston Residential Group, in an interview...
New overpass group draws fire
FOREST HILLS—As the decision for the future of the Casey Overpass lingers in limbo with no announcement date set, community members push for various options. A new group, Bridging Forest Hills (BFH), consisting of community members and Working Advisory Group (WAG) members, has formed to “share our opinion that neither option presented thus far...
JP seeks MBTA cuts solution
Local officials pledged to come up with a budget solution. The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation circulated a petition. Bikes Not Bombs announced a night of political lobbying. Occupy JP held up signs saying, “Increase fairness, not fares.” The tactics varied, but the response from over 150 people was the same: a rejection of...
Why a T gas tax doesn’t fly out West
A gas tax hike is being pushed by most Jamaica Plain elected officials and many residents as a key fix for the MBTA’s budget woes. Rural and suburban legislators have become the villains of the piece, with local officials urging citizens to put pressure on them. But some of those Western Mass. officials actually...