Downtown Waterfront Planning Begins March 13
The city will kick off its latest round of waterfront development planning with a series of public meetings and tours in mid-March. This newest planning process, which is expected to last 18 months to two years, involves the redevelopment of the Downtown Waterfront area, from Long Wharf down to the Evelyn Moakley Bridge (Seaport Boulevard) and the James Hook & Co. lobster business, said Chris Busch, waterfront planner for the Boston Redevelopment Authority. “The events in March are sort of a kick-off, an introduction and orientation,” Busch said. “Then we’ll get into monthly meetings to develop the municipal harbor plan specific to the downtown waterfront area between Long Wharf and Hook Lobsters.” Over the past 20 years, the city has developed a number of municipal harbor plans for areas including East Boston, Charlestown, South Boston and Fort Point, Busch said. The most recent plan was done in 2009 for about 100 acres on the South Boston side of the Fort Point Channel. This latest planning effort will build upon the BRA’s 2010 Greenway District planning study and will result in a new municipal harbor plan for the Downtown Waterfront and zoning recommendations for the Greenway District, according to an event flier posted on the BRA website. The first event in the Downtown Waterfront project will be a project overview meeting, scheduled Wednesday, March 13 from 6:30-8 p.m. at the New England Aquarium IMAX Theater, 1 Central Wharf. At that meeting—which is open to the public along with the other two events—the BRA will introduce consultants from Utile Inc. and discuss the scope, process and timeline of the planning project. Planners will be looking at a range of features along the waterfront, including the Harbor Walk, streetscapes, plazas, areas extending into the water such as docks, water transportation offerings and programming opportunities, Busch said. Zoning issues for the area will also be addressed. Through the planning process, the city hopes to “enhance and build on what’s already out there and what’s been successful,” Busch said, as well as find ways to better connect the waterfront area with the Greenway and surrounding neighborhoods. The second event is a series of three walking tours of the Downtown Waterfront area that will be addressed in the planning project. The tours are scheduled for Thursday, March 14 at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., starting at Christopher Columbus Park in the North End and extending down to the Hook & Co. site. The third event, the “Waterfront Activation and Public Realm Visioning Charrette,” will be held on Friday, March 15 from 8-11 a.m. at the Boston Harbor Hotel, 70 Rowes Wharf, in the Atlantic Room. […]
Things to Know in the South End Today, Feb. 26: Community Meeting on Albany Street Project Tonight
1. Weather: The National Weather Service is predicting a partly sunny day with a high of 42 degrees. 2. Community Meeting on 275 Albany Street: If you’d like to have a say about the recently changed hotel-to-apartment-complex project designed for 275 Albany Street, stop by a South End community meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. at Project Place 1145 Washington St. The developer of the Albany Street site was first approved in 2010 to build two hotels and a parking lot at 275 Albany Street. That plan changed the first time in the summer of 2012 to become half hotel, half residential, and the developer is now seeking to change the project to two new residential buildings. See here for more information. 3. “Townie” Author at South End Library: Tonight, the South End Library and Friends of the South End Library will host acclaimed author, Andre Dubus III who will read from his compelling memoir, Townie. It describes his early life growing up amid violence and chaos on the poor side of local towns –including Haverill –after his father, the eminent writer Andre Dubus, left the family and visited only on Sundays. The talk starts at 6:30 p.m. See here for more information. 4. Art at OWK: Starting tonight, United South End Artists, Inc. and OKW Fine Clothing & Gallery will present the 4th annual Small Works Show at OKW Fine Clothing & Gallery in the South End.The exhibit will feature original paintings, photography and sculpture produced by member artists of United South End Artists, Inc., and will run through April 4. See here for more information. 5. Coda Does the Harlem Shake: File this one under “viral video craze we barely understand,” but check out this video of the staff at Coda donning their crazy costumes and joining in the latest Internet video fad, the Harlem Shake. Things you can do every day on South End Patch: Share your news with the rest of the community. Click here to add an announcement. Add your events to our events calendar. Click here to sign up for breaking news updates. Want up-to-the-minute news? Click here to follow us on Facebook or Twitter. Share your thoughts on your community in a blog. Click here to get started. South End Patch
Boston Police Disrupt Alleged Men’s Room Drug Deal
The following information was supplied by the Boston Police Department. Charges listed do not indicate a conviction. A call for suspicious activity at Boston Medical Center lead to the arrest of a South End man for drug possession on Friday. Boston Police Officers responded to a report of a suspicious circumstance on the 7th floor of 725 Albany Street on February 22 around 10:45 a.m. While conducting a routine patrol of 725 Albany Street, an officer reported he witnessed a man in a handicapped bathroom stall hand something to a man outside. The men denied that any transaction took place. The officer reported that both men looked panicked. The officer conducted a query and found that one of the men was wanted on a warrant out of Brighton District Court. Officers placed the suspect in handcuffs and took him to the holding cell at Boston University Medical Campus. Boston Police transferred the suspect to the District Four Police Station at During the booking process, the officers found two bags in his possession, one with brown powder believed to be herion and the other with white powder believed to be cocaine. Giovanny Perdomo of 444 Harrison Avenue was charged with possession of a Class A substance and possession of a Class B substance. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Patrick Budget Eliminates 44 Tax Deductions
A recent analysis of Gov. Deval Patrick’s proposed budget finds that it eliminates 44 tax breaks that benefit a large slice of Massachusetts taxpayers. Patrick’s $ 34.8 billion FY2014 budget includes not only a 1 percentage point hike in the income tax – from 5.25 percent to 6.25 percent – but the end of such deductions such as the capital gains from the sale of a person’s primary home, college tuition, and contributions to a health savings account. The analysis, by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, found that the eliminations would raise an additional $ 1 billion for the commonwealth. But Patrick’s assistant secretary for fiscal policy, Gregory R. Mennis, told The Republican that that amount would be offset by the doubling of personal exemptions, which benefit all taxpayers. Another key aspect of Patrick’s plan is the lowering of the sales tax from 6.25 percent to 4.5 percent. When taking this change, along with the rise in personal exemptions, about half of Massachusetts households – in particular those earning less than $ 60,000 a year – will see their taxes stay the same or drop, by Mennis’ calculations. “It’s important to look at the tax package as a whole,” Mennis told The Republican. The goal of the budget, Patrick has said, is to make the tax code simpler and fairer, with the tax burden shifting from the lower and middle classes to the more affluent. The bill is being reviewed by the House, which will release its budget proposal in April. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Budget, Deductions, Eliminates, patrick
Mural Goes Up On Former Herald Building for ‘Ink Block’
http://southend.patch.com/announcements/local-artist-paints-mural-on-former-herald-building-at-ink-block-construction-site-in-south-end South End Patch
Cameron Painting, Inc. v. University of Massachusetts (Lawyers Weekly No. 11-034-13)
NOTICE: All slip opinions and orders are subject to formal revision and are superseded by the advance sheets and bound volumes of the Official Reports. If you find a typographical error or other formal error, please notify the Reporter of Decisions, Supreme Judicial Court, John Adams Courthouse, 1 Pemberton Square, Suite 2500, Boston, MA 02108-1750; (617) 557-1030; SJCReporter@sjc.state.ma.us 12‑P‑968 Appeals Court CAMERON PAINTING, INC. vs. UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS. No. 12‑P‑968. Hampshire. January 7, 2013. ‑ February 25, 2013. Present: Grasso, Kafker, & Meade, JJ. University of Massachusetts. Contract, Performance and breach, Under seal, Implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Limitations, Statute of. Practice, Civil, Statute of limitations. Governmental Immunity. Estoppel. Civil action commenced in the Superior Court Department on November 21, 2011. A motion to dismiss was heard by Mary‑Lou Rup, J. Michael K. Callan for the plaintiff. Jean M. Kelley for the defendant. MEADE, J. Cameron Painting, Inc. (Cameron), appeals from a judgment dismissing its complaint for breach of contract[1] against the University of Massachusetts (University). On appeal, Cameron claims it was error to dismiss the complaint based on the three-year statute of limitations in G. L. c. 260, § 3A, when the twenty-year statute of limitations in G. L. c. 260, § 1, applied. Cameron also claims that even if the three-year period applied, the University should be estopped from asserting it. We affirm, and hold that any action in which the Commonwealth has consented to be sued must be brought within the three-year limitations period provided by G. L. c. 260, § 3A. 1. Background. The facts are not in dispute. On May 9, 2006, Cameron submitted a general bid to the University for a contract for painting services valued at $ 500,000. The State contract was for “campus painting services” and labor at the University’s Amherst campus. On May 26, 2006, Cameron and the University entered into a one-year contract for the same project. The contract estimated the volume of business would be $ 500,000, and guaranteed Cameron a minimum payment of $ 1,000 under the contract. All work pursuant to this contract was to be completed on or before May 31, 2007. The parties executed the contract as a sealed instrument. The terms of the contract required that prior to the commencement of a particular painting project, both Cameron and the University must reach an agreed-upon price for the particular project. Over the course of the contract period, the parties could not agree upon any quotes submitted by Cameron for any painting projects at the University. The University therefore authorized no work for Cameron under the contract terms, and notified Cameron on February 16, 2007, it would […]
Categories: News Tags: 1103413, Cameron, Inc., Lawyers, massachusetts, Painting, university, Weekly
Body Found Under I-93 Near South End
State police and detectives are on scene investigating a body found under the I-93 overpass at the interesection of Albany Street and Travelers Street in the South End. There is no word yet from officials as to the identification or further details on the cause of death. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s office said troopers from the Massachusetts State Police Barracks in the Ted Williams Tunnel along with Troopers from the Crime Scene Services Section and the District Attorney’s Office have secured the scene and are conducting an investigation. Stay with South End Patch for more updates. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Boston Electronics Recycling Day Will Be March 23
The city announced that on March 23, residents will be able to recycle electronic waste at no additional cost. Residents may bring up to computers, monitors, televisions, LCD panels, printers, other computer related equipment, stereos, cell and other phones, power supplies, electronic games, VCRs, circuit boards, microwaves, and other household electronic devices. However, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, and white goods such as washers, dryers, and stoves will NOT be accepted. For disposal of air conditioners, dehumidifiers and refridgerators, call (617) 635-4500 to arrange a special pickup. The other items can be picked up at the curb with regular trash pickup. Residents must be prepared to show proof of residency in order to be able to drop anything off. All electronics will be recycled in Massachusetts by Electronic Recyclers International, an E-Steward Certified recycler. The electronics recycling dropoff location on Saturday, March 23 is at the West Roxbury Public Works Yard, 315 Gardner St, West Roxbury, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: boston, Electronics, March, Recycling
Clarendon at Tremont Street Intersection: Too Dangerous?
In a previous, “You Ask, Patch Answers,” column, several South End residents brought up the intersection of Clarendon Street at Tremont Street near the Boston Center for the Arts, and the confusion that occurs there on a regular basis about which lane can turn in which direction. Reader Jim Smith said he’s concerned about the fact that it is legal for both lanes to turn in both directions onto Tremont. “I think there’s a huge amount of confusion when most folks in the left lane on Clarendon are preparing to turn right onto Waltham and sometimes the right lane from Clarendon turning left onto Tremont attempts to go straight toward Berkeley Street causing a near collision,” Smith said. “I think that signs and street marking should be installed indication “right lane must turn right” and “left lane must turn left” from Clarendon but haven’t made any headway. I’m wondering if others have had the same thought/experience there.” Others quickly chimed in, including Roberto Rovenolt, who said he lives next to the interstion and has seen many near collisions. “If I hear a loud cacophony of car horns at rush hour, I can be pretty certain of the cause,” he said. Since this wasn’t really a question and was more of a suggestion, for this week’s column, I wanted to turn it over to you, South End residents. Should the city put a sign reading: Right lane must turn right? Left lane must turn left? Do you think the intersection works fine the way it is, or is it too dangerous? Got a question about the neighborhood you want answered? Submit it in the comments below. Each week Patch will pick a question to research and answer the following week. Add your question today! SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch