11-Story Office Building Could Come to E. Berkeley St.
Find out more details about the new project that would replace an existing parking lot and auto repair shop on East Berkeley Street. South End Patch News
Less Restaurants, More Childcare Could Come to Waterfront
The Boston Redevelopment Authority is looking to change a state law designed to protect public access to waterfront buildings to allow the installation of childcare facilities on the ground floor of new waterfront developments. Massachusetts’s Chapter 91 encourages the leasing of ground-level buildings located within 250 feet of the waterfront to restaurants, shops and other businesses that would be open to the public, according to a Boston Business Journal article. That requirement makes it difficult for developers to get state approval for projects that feature daycare services on the ground level, which could serve employees in that building. The BRA’s director for waterfront planning, Richard McGuinness, reportedly testified on the matter before the state legislature earlier this month. But others say daycare uses are already allowed in ground-level waterfront sites, after a complete review by the Department of Environmental Protection, and that changing the state law could encourage future developers to push for additional uses that would further limit public access, the BBJ reported. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch
Categories: Arrests Tags: Childcare, Come, Could, Less, More, Restaurants, Waterfront
Faster Wi-Fi Could Come to Commuter Rail, Ferry Service
The MBTA wants to upgrade its wireless Internet service, but without spending precious tax dollars. The Boston area transit system is seeking sponsorship proposals to provide upgraded wi-fi service on commuter rail cars, ferries and select commuter rail stations, according to an MBTA press statement in early March. “The MBTA’s goal is to upgrade the current WIFI service to a system wide, state of the art standard, at no cost to the MBTA and its riders,” the statement says. The sponsorship opportunity would provide the sponsor with marketing rights such as “signage and advertising in commuter rail stations, cars and ferry facilities; corporate presence on MBTA commuter rail system maps and schedules; control of a WIFI landing page; links on the MBTA website; and intellectual property rights,” according to the statement. Proposal documents are available through Transit Realty Associates, a management consulting firm. The MBTA launched a wi-fi pilot program in 2008, which is used by thousands of riders a day, the statement says. Do you use the MBTA’s wi-fi on the commuter rail? Would you like to seen an upgrade? Tell us in the comments. SOUTH END PATCH: Facebook | Twitter | E-mail Updates South End Patch