The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council (JPNC) met virtually on April 27, where members heard a presentation about the Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital expansion plans, as well as committee updates.

Susan Dempsey, Vice President of Clinical Services for Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital, said that the project is currently “in the BPDA comment period for our institutional master plan,” and is working on presenting the plans to the community. 

“The major focus of the project is to get more in-patient beds on campus,” she said. She said increases in patient facilities have not taken place since 1976, and there are currently 171 beds at the hospital. 

The proposal is to add 78 new in-patient beds and 505 new parking spaces.

“We are adding a second MRI and angiography suite which we do not have, which we should,” Dempsey said, as well as an “extended recovery unit to support procedural and surgical areas.” The addition will connect to the existing hospital building.

She said that additional parking spaces are needed to meet current and future demand for the hospital. The existing lower garage in the rear of the building is “well past its useful life,” she said, as it was built in 1973. The proposed new garage will have 330 more spaces than that garage. The front garage was designed in such a way that more stories can be built on top. 

The current garage has 750 spaces in the back, and the front garage has 190 spaces. 

Additionally, an accessible ramp will be built on the Centre St. side. 

Architect Hogie Fritsch said that “we are proposing a sidewalk that you can see on the right side of Allandale [St.] that leads you up to the entry drive into the garage,” as well as a crosswalk that connects to the other side of the street towards Springhouse.

Landscape architect Mark Glover said that 88 trees will be removed as part of this project, but 182 new trees will be planted. Though the caliper sizes will differ and the trees will be planted smaller to allow for a better survival rate, the trees will eventually fill in to create a “robust woodland,” Glover said. 

Transportation consultant Christina Hodge said that “driving is a must for many people who come to the hospital,” such as doctors and other employees. She added that “ultimately the hospital isn’t looking to built any more parking than they think they need,” as it is expensive to build parking.   

Hodge also talked about bike parking, which will be offered at the front garage as well as in the new replacement garage in the back. Additionally, there will be a 25 space Bluebikes station along Centre. St., but the team is still working on exact placement with the city.

“It will help complement all the needs for bike parking on the site.”

Hodge said there is an issue with speeding on Allandale St., so the team has committed to installing speed limit signs with embedded radar as part of this project as well in an effort to reduce speeding in the area. 

The team said that recent presentations have been made to the Jamaica Hills Association, Springhouse, Rogerson Communities, and the West Roxbury Neighborhood Council. 

JPNC member Bernie Doherty asked when the Request For Proposal will go out, and the team said that that has already occurred, but regulatory approval from the city is still needed. A pre-construction contract has been awarded, and the team said that construction could begin in late fall at the “absolute earliest.”

JPNC member Michael Reiskind said that the “main problem to be is you don’t know if you’re an urban hospital or a suburban hospital.” He said the community feels as though it’s urban but this plan with the amount of parking proposed feels as though it’s suburban. 

“What are your plans for improvement of transit since you’ve met with the MBTA?” he asked. The team said that they have asked the MBTA to increase services to the hospital, but at the time of the meeting the MBTA was looking to reduce service because of the pandemic. The team said that the MBTA does not have plans to increase service there.

Reiskind proposed the subsidization of the 38 bus that comes every 14 minutes and would more rapidly take patients to and from the hospital.  

JPNC member Bernie Doherty said that he is concerned with the lack of involvement of the community earlier in the process, but not every other council member agreed with his comments.

ZONING COMMITTEE

There were 10 zoning matters heard by the Zoning Committee in April, most of which were approved by the committee:

1). 632-638 Centre Street to construct additional story (fourth floor) on existing building and change occupancy from 9 residential units with office and retail to 18 residential units and 4 commercial (retail and office) spaces; 

2). 180-190 Hyde Park Avenue to convert building from three commercial spaces to four spaces (180 Hyde Park Avenue to remain retail, 182 to be converted from retail to food service/caf, 184 to be converted from retail to church with gatherings, legal services, and community outreach, 188 to remain retail/salon); 

3).  22 Castleton Street to change occupancy from a 2 to a 3-family residential dwelling, create a new third-floor unit, and create additional rear access; 

4). 3815 Washington Street in which The Croft School seeks to expand existing educational use on ground and first floor to second floor;

5.) 12 and 14 Ennis Road to combine lots at 12 and 14 Ennis Road and build two unattached two-family dwellings with six (6) off-street parking spaces; 

6).  203 Chestnut Avenue to add a third floor on top of existing second floor bump-out to create master bedroom; 

7). 8 Alveston Street to demolish existing garage and build new attached garage per plans;

8). 93-95 Hyde Park Avenue to change occupancy to permit tenant fit-out and use as veterinary office and veterinary medical clinic;

9). 1589 Columbus Avenue to change occupancy from dry cleaner to adult use cannabis retailer with interior alterations and exterior renovations. The building will remain the same size on the same footprint; 

10). 87-89 West Walnut Park to change occupancy from two-family to three-family dwelling and extend living space into basement.

The recommendation at 632-638 Centre St. was to deny, as the project had originally been approved for nine units and three stories  but Zoning Committee chair Dave Baron said that “in the middle of the project,” the team proposed “twice as many units and an additional story.” There were many neighbors concerned about the new proposal, and both the Zoning Committee and the city’s Zoning Board of Appeal denied the project.

All other projects were approved by the full Council.

PUBLIC SERVICE COMMITTEE

As previously reported by the Gazette, the Public Service Committee heard a proposal for a Common Victualler seven day all alcoholic beverages license and an entertainment license for The Haven restaurant to move into the former Bella Luna Restaurant & Milky Way Lounge space at the Brewery Complex. The proposed closing hour is 1am, and Jason Waddleton will be the manager. Also proposed was a seasonal, 60 seat outdoor patio that would close at 11pm. 

The full council voted to approve the license. 

HOUSING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

Housing and Development Committee member Marvin Mathelier reported on the committee’s discussion of the sale of the Blessed Sacrament church with the Hyde Square Task Force, saying that a potential buyer “would have to prioritize community benefit over financial benefit,” and to listen to the “voices and concerns” of the Latin Quarter community, which has a huge stake in that building and what is is used for.

ELECTION/OUTREACH COMMMITTEE

Max Glikman reported that the election is still on for July, as previously discussed by the Council. He said that after the Council’s monthly meeting in May, nomination papers will be made available.

“That will give folks I believe about a month to gather signatures; to nominate themselves,” Glikman said. There will be in-person elections in July, and the Council had also previously discussed a mail in option and drop-boxes as well.