The Gazette’s top headlines from this week in JP history:
5 years ago: 2009
City Councilor and mayoral candidate Sam Yoon called for the creation of a city “Department of Neighborhood Associations”; a city budget process that includes extensive community meetings; and the formation of a charter commission to consider fundamental changes to the structure of Boston’s government.
Yoon went on to finish out of the running in the primary election and teamed with candidate Michael Flaherty as an unofficial “deputy mayor” running mate. The duo, dubbed “Floon,” lost in the final election to then Mayor Thomas Menino.
10 years ago: 2004
“JPNC now requires 25% affordable housing”
The Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council decided a new policy calling for any new JP housing projects of 10 units or more to price at least 25 percent of the units as affordable to low-income residents. The JPNC would seek to enforce that policy on any projects coming before it for zoning review and other approvals.
Among those questioning the move were the Boston Redevelopment Authority, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board, state Rep. Jeffrey Sánchez, and then City Councilor John Tobin.
15 years ago: 1999
“City repairs rules for selling house”
Following publicity from the Gazette and the Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Council about the City posting a three-unit building at 38 S. Huntington Ave. for sale without public notice, the Department of Neighborhood Development changed the terms and publicized the bidding process. The new terms included a preference to owner occupants renting units that met long-term affordability requirements, and a lowering of the asking price from $132,000 to “all bids.”
20 years ago: 1994
“Smokestack down”
A large smokestack was knocked down on a vacant industrial lot in Jackson Square, the first step in a massive redevelopment into what is now the Stop & Shop supermarket and the Martha Eliot Health Center.