CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Due to public health concerns, the hearings that normally would be held on a week have been postponed or canceled due to the guidance of Mayor Martin Walsh and the order of Gov. Charlie Baker. Some meetings, however, have been moved to an online or teleconference format under the emergency order on the Open Meeting Law issued by Gov. Baker.
From the Jan. 11 Emergency Licensed Premise Inspections Hearing, 11 a.m., online:
The Licensing Board for the City of Boston (the “Board”) for a virtual emergency licensed premise inspection hearing on Monday January 11, 2021 at 11 a.m. regarding the licensed premise inspection notice issued by the Licensed Premise Unit of the Boston Police Department the preceding weekend. Notice of this hearing will be hand delivered to any licensee required to attend upon the issuance of the licensed premise inspection notice.
From the Jan. 12 Bay Village Historic District Commission meeting, 4 p.m., via Zoom (HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/83903905425):
Advisory Review
•19 Isabella Street: Conversion of former Our Lady of Victories Church into residential condominiums.
From the Jan. 13 Zoning Commission hearing, 9 a.m., online:
•9:15 AM Text Amendment Application No. 495 Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing: The Zoning Commission of the City of Boston hereby gives notice that a virtual public hearing will be held on January 13, 2021, at 9:15 A.M., in connection with a petition for approval of Text Amendment Application No. 495 filed by the Boston Redevelopment Authority d/b/a the Boston Planning & Development Agency. Said text amendment would amend Articles 2 (Definitions), 2A (Definitions Applicable in Neighborhood Districts and in Article 80, Development Review and Approval), and 80 (Development Review and Approval) to include Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing requirements to the Article 80 Development Review process.
From the Jan. 13 Back Bay Architectural Commission hearing, 5 p.m., via Zoom (HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/J/85364610188):
Design Review
•535 Boylston Street: Installation of exterior ATM.
•659-661 Boylston Street: Modify existing rooftop telecommunications facility by replacing existing equipment and adding additional new equipment.
•Newbury Street: At front facade redesign first-story and lower-level storefronts, and redesign dig-out area with entry stairs from public sidewalk.
•118 Commonwealth Avenue: At rear elevation extend fire escape from fourth story to fifth story.
•222 Commonwealth Avenue: Re-landscape rear yard and replace fencing, construct rear addition, restore rear elevation and replace windows, construct two steel French balconies and convert two existing windows into doors.
•315 Commonwealth Avenue: Restore masonry at front facade and rear elevation; at rear elevation replace existing fire escapes with balconies, add additional balcony, alter fenestration at lower level, create garden and construct garden walls; and at roof add deck, mechanical equipment and redesign existing rooftop structures.
Advisory Review
•761-793 Boylston Street: Construct five-story rooftop addition.
•885 Boylston Street: Replace storefronts at Gloucester Street façade and Boylston Street façade, and add mural to top floors of building.
From the Jan. 14 Boston Groundwater Trust meeting, 4 p.m., online:
•Trust leadership update & re-election of Trust Officers: 15 VOTE REQUIRED
•Financial report updates from Treasurer & Executive Director:10
•NABB Amicus Brief Update: 10
•Update on review regarding relationship with the City: 10
•Insurance coverage update: 10
•BPDA GCOD revision update:10
•Update on operating manual: 10
•Executive Director’s report: 10
•Other business: 10
From the Jan. 14 Public Facilities/BPS Community meeting, 6 p.m., online:
•The Public Facilities Department and Boston Public Schools will be holding the 2nd Community Meeting for the William E. Carter School Project Feasibility Study, currently in the Preferred Schematic Report phase (PSR). Per the MSBA regulations, the PSR summarizes the District’s chosen Preferred Schematic Design from the options studied during earlier phases (Preliminary Design Program) for the future William E. Carter School building in the South End.
Holiday Recycling and Trash Guide
Items one can recycle:
•Gift Bags (no metallic inks, foil, wire or glitter.)
•Cardboard (no larger than 3’ x 3’)
•Catalogs
•Greeting Cards (no metallic inks, photos, foil, wire or glitter.)
Items one cannot recycle:
•Plastic Bags
•Christmas Lights
•Bows and Ribbons
•Wrapping Paper
•Bubble Wrap
•Styrofoam
•Air Pillows
•Tissue Paper
•Packing Peanuts
Schools Info
•BPS Priority Registration Begins This Week – Priority registration for school year 2021-22 began on Jan. 5 for students entering grades K0, K1, 6th, 7th and 9th grades. Priority Registration for those grades ends on Jan. 29. Assignment notifications are on March 31.
Students entering K2 and all other grades have priority registration on Feb. 8 and ends on April 5. Assignment notifications for those grades is on May 28.
There are informational Zoom sessions about registration on Weds. Jan 20, 4 p.m.; and Sat., Feb. 27, at 10 a.m.
BPS Welcome Centers are temporarily closed to the public, but registration can be done online and via phone. Call (617) 635-9010 to schedule a phone appointment with a specialist.
•P-EBT Cards – All BPS students will have more P-EBT funds for this school year. If you received P-EBT funds in the past, look for funds to be allocated the last week of December. New to P-EBT? You will get a P-EBT card in January or check your existing EBT card for funds. Learn more at www.MAp-EBT.org or call the Assistance Line at 877-382-2363.
•Join BPS in creating a BPS Community Cookbook. The schools are collecting family recipes that represent the diverse, delicious foods found in BPS house-holds. These recipes will be compiled and shared in the spring.
•Free Pre-K Spaces Available – There are still spaces available for free, in-person, high-quality Pre-K at community-based organizations across the city for the 2020-21 school year for children who are 4 years old as of September 1, 2020. More information is available at bostonpublicschools.org/upk.
Free BPS Breakfast in South End/Fenway
Students who wish to get a free breakfast Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 11:30 am., have three sites to choose from in the South End and Fenway. This is the BPS initiative, but other organizations are also serving meals in the area as well.
•Blackstone Elementary School – 380 Shawmut Ave. (South End).
•Boston Chinese Evangelical Church, 120 Shawmut Ave. (Monday, Weds., and Friday only – South End).
•Boston Latin School – 78 Avenue Louis Pasteur (Fenway).
Reporting Workplace Safety Concerns
•Workers in any size organization have options if they feel they are being pressured into an unsafe situation. Attorney General Maura Healey has created resources for workers to report safety concerns during reopening. They include an online form at the Attorney General’s website and a dedicated Fair Labor hotline at 617-727-3465. People can also find those resources by calling 311.
How to Report a Problem Property
Since taking office in 2014, Mayor Walsh has made fixing quality of life issues a priority in his administration. From investing in Public Works to making sure community policing is a staple in every neighborhood, we are making sure every neighborhood is clean, safe and a great place to live and work in. Unfortunately some properties in Boston need more help than others, and that's why we are here. If you know of a property that fits one of the following criteria: multiple calls to 911, one that's blighted or just a general concern, we encourage you to reach out to your neighborhood liaison.