The Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) board during its May 11 meeting approved an affordable-housing agreement with the developer of the 5 McBride St. project, according to BPDA spokesperson Bonnie McGilpin. Developer Stephen Ballas has plans for an 11-unit, mixed-use project at 5 McBride St., the former home of the popular Irish bar...
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FPC picks interim leader
Jamaica Plain resident Samantha Wechsler has been selected as interim executive director of the Franklin Park Coalition (FPC), according to FPC board member Mike Carpentier. Wechsler takes over for former director Corey Allen. FPC is a nonprofit group that helps maintain the park. “The Franklin Park Coalition is excited to welcome Samantha Wechsler as...
Invitacion, May 26, 2017
Plazo para calendario de eventos: 6 de junio para la edición del 9 de junio. Mande eventos a reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Código de área es 617, a menos que haya otro. Reuniones The Jamaica Pond Association, reunión mensual, Jamaicaway Tower, 111 Perkins Street, Jamaica Plain, lunes, 5 jun, 7-9pm. Abierta al público. Estacionamiento limitado. Reunión comunitaria...
Self Esteem Boston receives grant money
Self Esteem Boston, a Jamaica Plain-based organization, is one of 100 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 each through the Cummings Foundation’s “100K for 100” program, according to a press release. Self Esteem Boston is an agency whose primary purpose is to teach self-esteem skills to the homeless, substance abusers, victims of domestic...
One community meeting closer to Olmsted Park restoration
Boston Parks and Recreation Department (BPRD) held a community meeting on May 10 to hear ideas for improvements that park-goers have about Olmsted Park, and to collect feedback about which of three potential options might be the best allocation of the $575,000 restoration budget. With a low turnout of just eight residents, there was...
Zoning review for Plan: JP/Rox has not started
The zoning review for the Plan: JP/Rox study has not started and might be a while before the first meeting takes place, according to Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) spokesperson Bonnie McGilpin. The BPDA board approved the controversial plan by a 4-1 vote in March. The Zoning Commission must now approve the zoning...
JP Agenda, May 26, 2017
The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. June 6 for the June 9 issue. Send listings to reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given. Meetings JP Problem Properties Committee, first Wednesday of the month, 10:30am, E-13 Police Station Community Room, 3347 Washington St. Info: Liana Poston,...
Letters:
Racism is a headache A few weeks back in the Jamaica Plain Gazette, a reader wrote a letter stating that “racism is our limp.” Interesting metaphor but I see racism not as a limp but as a headache. We often spend to much time in our heads apparently in pain over a previous incident...
Op-Ed: Celebrating the opening of the JP Library
By Mayor Martin Walsh In September 2015, work began: we broke ground on a renovation to the Jamaica Plain Branch of the Boston Public Library, a $10 million renovation that aimed to revitalize this community space, and ensure Jamaica Plain has a new, innovative library for residents to gather. I’m so proud to announce...
Op-ed: House passes balanced budget
By Local State Rep. Liz Malia At the end of April, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a $40.4 billion FY18 budget. The spending bill protects vulnerable residents through investments in early education and care (EEC), higher education, mental health and substance use disorder initiatives, trauma prevention and intervention, homelessness programs, developmental disability services,...
Affordable housing, racial justice discussed at State of Our Neighborhood
The 7th annual State of Our Neighborhood event was held on April 27 at the Curley K-8 School where topics discussed ranged from affordable housing to racial justice. The event was sponsored by the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC), as well as other local organizations. “We started the State of the Neighborhood events...
ZBA approves variances for 3353 Washington St. project despite opposition
Despite opposition, the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) during a May 9 hearing approved variances for Mordechai Levin’s 3353 Washington St. project. As part of the project, two existing buildings will be demolished and five parcels of land will be combined into one. The project needed several variances, including for exceeding height limit...
Parkman/Perkins improvement project clears key hurdle
By Beth Treffeisen Special to the Gazette The long-awaited improvement project at the intersection of Francis Parkman Drive and Perkins Street cleared a key hurdle last month as the Boston Landmarks Commission (BLC) approved the proposal. The Parkman/Perkins proposal is part of the state Department of Conservation and Recreation Department (DCR) parkway improvement project....
Evento anual explora la justicia racial, vivienda económica y otros asuntos
El 27 de abril, la escuela Curley presentó el séptimo anual Estado del Vecindario donde los residentes de Jamaica Plain podían compartir ideas sobre asuntos sociales como la vivienda económica y la justica racial. El evento fue organizado por Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation (JPNDC) junto con otras organizaciones locales. “Iniciamos el Estado del...
Renovated library equipped for hearing aide system
The renovated Jamaica Plain Branch Library will have a technology called a looping system to help those with hearing loss, according to Susan Jacoby, a member of the Hearing Loss Association of America-Boston Chapter, which is the group that helped get the system installed. A dedication of the new looping system will be held...
Sights and Sounds, May 12, 2017
The deadline for listings is noon, Tues. May 23 for the May 26 issue. Send listings to reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Note: 617 should be dialed before numbers below, unless another area code is given. Special events Wake up the Earth, festival has been rescheduled for Sat. May 13. Parade starts at 10:30 at Curtis Hall. Sweet...
No decision on DCR’s dog park
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) has not made a decision about its proposal for a dog park in the Southwest Corridor Park, according spokesperson Mark Steffen. DCR held a public meeting on April 5 to propose building an off-leash dog park within the Southwest Corridor Park near Anson Street. The plan...
Invitacion, May 12, 2017
Plazo para calendario de eventos: 23 de mayo para la edición del 26 de mayo. Mande eventos a reporter@jamaicaplaingazette.com. Código de área es 617, a menos que haya otro. Reuniones Comité de avisos comunitarios (Policía de Boston E-13), martes, 16 may, 6.30pm, estación E-13, 3347 Washington St. Reunión mensual de la policía de distrito...
JPNC’s Zoning Committee to review Forest Hills project
The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council’s Zoning Committee will review “The Residences at Forest Hills” project at 3694 Washington St. during its May 17 meeting. “The Residences at Forest Hills” was submitted to Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) last year in a project notification form (PNF) by Criterion Development Partners and was approved by...
Q. and A. with local author Randy Susan Meyers
“The Widow of Wall Street” is the latest novel from author Randy Susan Meyers, a Jamaica Plain resident. The Gazette conducted a question-and-answer session through email with Meyers about her new novel. (The session has been edited.) For more information about the book or Meyers, visit randysusanmeyers.com. Q: Where did the inspiration for the...