Issues

Committee Members
JOE CAFALO (Chairperson)
CARL LIZIO MARLOWE SIGAL JOEL MILLER BONNIE GOSSELS CAROL TIENKEN CHUCK LEVIN BILL JACOBSON MICHAEL ROTHSCHILD JAMES STAUFFER

Report of December 13th, 2006

30 Norfolk Avenue: Due to timing issues, the Board of Appeals allowed a permit for plans for a garage structure at 30 Norfolk Avenue prior to a recommendation by the NBA. The permit was granted, however, with the understanding that the owners would met with the NBA and obtain a letter of support from the organization. The owners, Brooksdale Construction, presented the plans at the December Issues Meeting. The Issues Committee recommends that a letter of support be sent. A motion was made and seconded and approved unanimously by the members present.
Evening Commute Traffic: As a result of some recent changes to the traffic lane configuration on Route 93 and the on ramp at the South Bay Mall, evening commute traffic is once again all but gridlocked in the Newmarket area on a daily basis. Sue Sullivan & Maureen Lacey (Transcomm/Boston Medical Center) are spearheading an effort to remedy this issue. It will be imperative that all of our members also get involved in this issue. Further updates will come later.

Report of October 11th, 2006

Costa Provision Company: Costa is going before Board of Appeals for a permit to legalize office trailer on property for use in used car sales business. The timing of the hearing required that the Issues Committee make the NBA recommendation.The committee sent a letter of support for the use to the Board of Appeals.
Hope House: Hope House is a 6 month recovery program for recovery from drug and alcohol addiction for men. The Program is looking to relocate from the South End to Hampden Street. The facility would include an 80 bed dorm style area and a separate 22 unit extended stay (up to one year). They need to go before the Board of Appeals for variances dealing with open space, density, parking, and use (which is not allowed per the zoning code).

The Issues Committee has no recommendation because it could not come to a clear agreement. After much discussion, a motion was made by Bonnie Gossels to oppose the variances on the basis of the zoning code. It was seconded by Marlowe Sigal and voted on and accepted by the Board. A letter will be sent to the Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Newmarket gateway signage program has hit a snag, as the RFP process netted proposals that indicated a significantly higher cost for the signs than was initially anticipated. Options are currently being explored.
Sue Sullivan discussed recent conversations with Mayor Menino and members of his Backstreets staff, in which the Mayor has reiterated his commitment to Newmarket, but also wants the area to look like a cohesive, identifiable area. Toward this end, Emmy Hahn, with the State Department of Economic Development, is scheduled to speak at our December meeting about the value of creating a “Business Improvement District”. A BID is only one of a number of options available which we will be exploring in the next year.

Report of June 14th, 2006
- Kinnealey Meat Company has purchased the operations of the John Dewar company. In turn, John Dewar will assume a position within the Kinnealey Meat Company.
- The Ground Round, located at the Hampton Inn – Crosstown will be opening in early August.
- The Newmarket gateway signage program has hit a snag, as the RFP process netted proposals that indicated a significantly higher cost for the signs than was initially anticipated. Options are currently being explored.
- Beginning in late June, the Albany Street entrance to the Hampton Inn will be closed for one year while construction takes place for the new on-site office building and parking garage. The building will be approx. 200,000. square feet, with 150,000. to be utilized by BUMC and Brigham & Womens Hospital and 50,000. sq. ft. in retail space; services; etc. There will be approx. 600 spaces of parking in the new garage.
The NBA received notification regarding Costa Provisions Board of Appeal request to legalize the use of a trailer on their property at the corner of Southampton Street and Newmarket Square, as the operation center for a used car lot. Due to the inability to access the information prior to the Board of Appeals date, the NBA suggested to Costa Provision that they may want to wait until a later date. Costa chose to do this and it will be request a continuance until the issues have been discussed.

Report of February 8th, 2006
The signage program hearing before the Public Improvement Commission is taking place on Thursday in room 801 of City Hall at 10am.

The Massachusetts Legislature voted during the 2^nd week of January to designate the former incinerator site as a location for the Greater Boston Food Bank to build its new, larger building. Unfortunately, the problem of hunger in New England is a growing concern and the Food Bank needs to enlarge its facility to try to meet the growing needs of regional food pantries and soup kitchens. The Food Bank will be announcing a major capital campaign to defray the costs of this enlarged facility.

The new Stop and Shop has opened at South Bay Center. The Toys R US at South Bay center is going to be closing.

Mar 9th report 2005
Joe Cefalo spoke of the first of several meetings being held later in the evening for the 1,400 car parking garage being constructed at the BU Medical Center. Joe also spoke of the possible logistical issues with the Greater Boston Food Bank expansion plans of a 100,000 square foot building that is in the preliminary phases. Sue Sullivan spoke on the ongoing traffic issues due to the closing of the Route 93 Albany Street ramp. A task force has been formed with numerous members, as this issue has become an economic problem for many businesses in the area.

Jan 12th report 2005
In addition to meeting with Principal Janet Palmer-Owens of the Mason School, the Issues Committee met with Oliver Bouchier to hear preliminary ideas for the Anytime Disposal Site. The 21E tests are currently being done on that site to see if it is feasible to build a new shop and additional space on the land. More information will be brought to the Issues Committee after the testing is completed.

The Incinerator Site Request For Proposals (RFP) did not generate the expected response due to a fatal flaw in the bidding procedure: a hard deposit was required of applicants before they had approvals to go forward with development. Newmarket Representatives met with all of the government officials to review the status of the Incinerator Site RFP and they reached agreement that the RFP will be reissued with new rules and that if no acceptable proposal comes out of the second RFP, then the land will be landbanked for a few years.

The Board of Directors of the Boston Redevelopment Authority approved the funding for the Newmarket sign program submitted by the City of Boston. There is a maintenance agreement currently being reviewed by Joseph Cefalo, John Marston and Charles Levin.

The Biosquare Phase II master plan was approved by the Board of Directors of the Boston Redevelopment Authority. This master plan includes the Level 4 Biosafety laboratory, a parking garage, and an additional laboratory building G. The site is adjacent to the Boston Flower Exchange and is controlled by University Associates (BU & Boston Medical Center).

The Allied Bolt Building condominium proposal was approved by the Board of Directors of the Boston Redevelopment Authority with no regard to the input of area businesses or the Newmarket Business Association. Representatives from the Newmarket Business Association will be following up with the BRA and the Mayor to try to mitigate the effects of this dense housing development (117 units) on area businesses.

Oct 13th report 2004
Albany Street Residences submitted new project report. Next moth there will be a presentation to the issues committee.
Ice house- 55 Norfolk Avenue Offer to purchase has been signed. This building has been vacant for more than 40 years. Proposal – To create combined work and living space for artists. BRA stated that there will be requirements that occupiers will have to meet to qualify for the spaces. Newmarket has not made any definitive decision on this proposal and is waiting for more member feedback and more details relating to the proposal.
Other issues noted:
Joe Cefallo mentioned that there should be a time limit imposed on Newmarkets’ approval or disapproval of projects as many changes can occur in the Newmarket area during long delays in project implementations.

Laura Valentine stated there has been approval for the development of a sidewalk at Kimball Street due for implementation in 2005/2006.

June 23rd report 2004

Representatives from Enterprise Rent a Car met with the Issues Committee to present their plans for the former Beacon Oil site. This use will be lower intensity than expected, involving only five to seven cars per day. They will follow up with a more detailed traffic study and site plan.

City of Boston representatives expressed concern with Newmarket Business Association’s endorsement of Pacific International’s revised plans for 23 Bradston Street. The owners of 23 Bradston Street, the Chins, are members of Newmarket Business Association who are seeking to expand their operation on their existing site. They can do this as a matter of right except that they require a variance from the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals to build a parking garage to handle the needs of the additional business traffic anticipated. The Newmarket Business Association stands by its endorsement of this project, the additional parking garage is to handle customers and employees within the Newmarket neighborhood, not satellite parking. Although major traffic and parking concerns exist on Bradston Street, the Chin’s have revised their plans to try to accommodate all the additional parking needs that their expansion should generate.

The Wendy’s project is on hold.

The Super Stop and Shop planned for the Agar site on Mass Avenue is still working out the traffic signal, ingress and egress issues. The design and layout of the building are attractive and will be an asset to the neighborhood.

There is no news to report on the Allied Bolt project called “Albany Street Residences”. The developers have not yet made a presentation to the Issues committee on this project. The Newmarket Business Association is in favor of the Mayor’s pledge that there be no reduction in the area of commercial/industrial space in the City of Boston and is against the conversion of commercial/industrial space into residences.

May 12th report 2004

Pacific International presented their revised plans for 23 Bradston Street to the Issues Committee. They have resolved the issues raised earlier. A motion to send a letter of support for the proposal to the Boston Redevelopment Authority and the Zoning Board of Appeals was moved, seconded, and unanimously adopted at the meeting.

The proponents of the Wendy’s and Super Stop and Shop developments for Mass Ave are cooperating on a traffic study. They are reviewing ingress and egress to the sites to deal with poor sightlines near the railroad bridge over Mass Ave.

The Albany Fellows/CDC of Boston project in the former Branch Electric site on Harrison Ave is being revised to beef up the industrial component, and reduce impacts of the project due to its scale and heavy housing elements. The Newmarket Business Association is in favor of the Mayor’s pledge that there be no reduction in the area of commercial/industrial space in the City of Boston and is against the conversion of commercial/industrial space into residences.

The Allied Bolt project for 117 units of dense housing has raised serious opposition from all of the abutting sites and other neighbors. The developers have not yet made a presentation to the Issues committee on this project.

Lara Valentine has been the driving force within the Boston Redevelopment Authority in raising the need for a comprehensive area traffic study that shows the combined impacts of all the developments that are currently in the works and proposed. The Boston Redevelopment has included the cost of this comprehensive traffic study as a line item in the budget. Please contact your city councilors and representatives in City Hall to support this comprehensive study. When all of the projects that are currently under development, and proposed, reach completion, we seek to avoid absolute gridlock. Now is the time to look at the big picture. Members of Newmarket Business Association were included at an excellent meeting that was held recently to review the situation with representatives of multiple City agencies attending who pooled their information and made plans to move toward a comprehensive plan. Boston Transportation Department is planning major changes such as eliminating left turns from 1. Melnea Cass Boulevard to Mass Ave and 2. Mass Ave northbound to Albany Street and 3. Moakley Center at Boston Medical Center to Harrison Ave. The repaving list includes: Melnea Cass between Hampden Street and Tremont Street; Norfolk Avenue between Hampden Street and Shirley Street; Damrell Street between Dorchester Avenue and old Colony Blvd; Msgr Reynolds Way between Washington Street and Harrison Ave. There will be more information about these plans at future meetings.

The State Department of Capital Asset Management (“DCAM”) has announced the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the former incinerator site. A copy of the RFP was available at the membership meeting. The former incinerator site is 2.89 acres and is limited by the legislation to industrial, commercial or manufacturing uses. DCAM will take into consideration the number of jobs created and the compatibility of the use with the surrounding industrial neighborhood. Proposals submitted under the RFP are due by Tuesday, June 15, at 3pm. Please contact Joseph Cefalo if you are interested in learning more about the former incinerator site.

First Student will be leaving the Mass Ave facility on July 1^st and relocating to the former Laidlaw bus site.

Construction will begin on the Bubbles Car Wash soon.

New sidewalk construction is underway on Norfolk Street.

Neighborhood Services/Community Outreach

Charlie Georgenes reported on the 15^th Annual Clean Up Day held on May 4^th. Charlie Georgenes coordinated the effort and thanked the following participants for their assistance, generosity, and participation: Suffolk County Sheriff Andrea J. Cabral; Richard Pacitti the Coordinator of Community Works; Sgt Robert Griffin and ten inmates from the Community Works program; Inspectional Services Commissioner William J. Good III; Frank Frattaroli the Deputy Commissioner ISD Field Services; other representatives from the Inspectional Services Department; Public Works Commissioner Joseph Casazza as well as Joseph Canavan and Jack Dooley from the Public Works Department; Mass Bay Commuter Rail’s Dana Roderick and two flagmen; Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers Restaurant’s Field Construction Manager Ed Mitchell; Union Construction Inc. President Joe Consalvo and his wood-chipping team; Tim Riedy of Riedy and Associates and his crew of three; Jay Hajj, the new owner of the Victoria Diner, who hosted the lunch break, with contributions from Joe Pierik, VP of Edens and Avant and Mary Alibrandi, Assistant VP of Citizens Bank in Newmarket Square. This is truly a community effort to spruce up our neighborhood and it gives us all a more professional appearance. Photographs of the 15^th Annual Clean Up Day were circulated at the meeting.

April 14th report 2004

In response to the Newmarket Business Association’s Issues Committee raising the need for a comprehensive area traffic study and concerted effort by Backstreets Program manager Lara Valentine, the Boston Redevelopment has included the cost of this comprehensive traffic study as a line item in the budget. Please contact your city councilors and representatives in City Hall to support this comprehensive study. As each development proposal looks at traffic and parking, they define their boundaries in order to justify a finding of “no significant impact” based on that single project. When all of the projects that are currently under development and proposed reach completion, we seek to avoid absolute gridlock. Now is the time to look at the big picture.

The State Department of Capital Asset Management (“DCAM”) has announced the Request for Proposals (RFP) for the former incinerator site. A copy of the RFP is available at the membership meeting. The former incinerator site is 2.89 acres and is limited by the legislation to industrial, commercial or manufacturing uses. DCAM will take into consideration the number of jobs created and the compatibility of the use with the surrounding industrial neighborhood. Proposals submitted under the RFP are due by Tuesday, June 15, at 3pm.

Two new projects have been proposed that would eliminate industrial/commercial uses and change them into residential buildings: the Albany Fellows project (former Branch Electric building) and the Albany Street Residences project (the Allied Bolt & Screw building). The Albany Street Residences proposal includes Single Residence Occupancy units, apartments and condominiums totaling 117 units of housing. This proposal also includes apartment towers above the height restrictions under current zoning and inadequate parking. The site is currently part of an effective buffer zone featuring light industrial and commercial uses. The Newmarket Business Association is in favor of the Mayor’s pledge that there be no reduction in the area of commercial/industrial space in the City of Boston and is against the conversion of these commercial/industrial space into residences. A group called Albany Fellows Associates is submitting a proposal to develop the former Branch Electric building and the CDC of Boston site next door into a mixed use project that will include 265 condominiums or apartments. This site is adjacent to Boston Body Works and the residential component flies in the face of industrial district zoning. Lara Valentine reported to the meeting that the BRA specifically asked for light industrial use to be included in the project. This project is in early stages and further information will be brought to Newmarket Business Association.

The owners of 23 Bradston Street gave a presentation to the Issues Committee about their proposed expansion from 19,000 square feet to 36,000 square feet. The site has an Asian grocery and the expansion calls for the addition of a 400 seat dim sum restaurant on the second floor with offices on the third floor and a new multi-story parking garage. The Issues Committee supports this proposal, since the owners have addressed the concerns raised last year, but continues to have concerns about the intersection with Southampton Street, inadequate parking, difficult truck access, and lack of enforcement on Bradston Street.

The MBTA bus maintenance facility on Southampton Street has been using Atkinson, Topeka, and South Bay Avenue in direct contradiction of their commitment not to do so. On March 27, 2004 the MBTA relocated fifty-four buses from Cabot Street to the former LMB lot near Southampton Street. The work on the new MBTA Southampton Street facility has been delayed with completion not expected until September. This delay has caused the “temporary” use of Atkinson, Topeka and South Bay Avenue causing problems for area businesses (especially Peninsula of Boston and Waldo Bros.) and the Greater Boston Food Bank. There was NO NOTIFICATION that South Bay Avenue would be opened up! The MBTA never made any attempt to inform or meet with parties affected by this change. The bus schedule overlaps the shift change at the prison causing major traffic problems. The MBTA representatives at the meeting agreed to meet with area businesses and the Food Bank to try to improve conditions during the “temporary” six month period before the Southampton Street site is completed.

Construction will begin on the Bubbles Car Wash soon.

Wendy’s is waiting for the results of further traffic and parking studies.

New sidewalk construction is underway on Norfolk Street.

An Enterprise Car Rental business has been proposed for the Beacon Oil site.

February 15th report 2004
The issues committee has been making the case to the Boston Redevelopment Authority that a comprehensive traffic plan for the area is needed. The BRA has included the cost of this study as a line item in the budget. Please contact your city councilors and representatives in City Hall to support the comprehensive study. As each development proposal looks at traffic and parking, they define their boundaries in order to justify a finding of “no significant impact” based on that single project. When all of the projects that are currently under development and proposed reach completion, we seek to avoid absolute gridlock. Now is the time to look at the big picture.

There is a meeting scheduled by the State Department of Capital Asset Management (“DCAM”) to discuss the process for Request for Proposals (RFP) for the former incinerator site. The site is 2.89 acres and is limited by the legislation to industrial, commercial or manufacturing uses. DCAM will take into consideration the number of jobs created and the compatibility of the use with the surrounding industrial neighborhood. Copies of the notice of the meeting, the legislation, and the site plan were available to members at the meeting.

The triangle easement holders are being offered parking spaces as if the lot had been organized properly. The parking structure contemplated for this site will probably require satellite parking for an income stream to make the project feasible. The Newmarket Business Association is opposed to satellite parking as a use anywhere within the Newmarket area.

Representatives from Wendy’s hamburger chain gave a presentation to the Issues Committee on their plan to develop a restaurant on the parking lot diagonally across the Victoria Restaurant. There will be more discussion on curb cuts, traffic patterns, etc. for this proposal. The Issues committee requested that there be an agreement to allow the Victoria Restaurant to continue using the parking at Wendy’s for overflow parking during breakfast hours when Wendy’s is not open for business.

BFI will be rebuilding their transfer station on Norfolk. This work will included odor remediation equipment, sidewalk and landscape improvements, etc. There will be no change in the number of vehicles entering and exiting the site.

The old pizza market site is under agreement with the Greater Boston Food Bank. The smokestack will be demolished.

Mayor Menino announced the final Roxbury Strategic Master Plan. There will be a neighborhood advisory group of 15; 70 applicants have submitted their names to serve on the advisory group.

January 15th report 2004
The issues committee has been making the case to the Boston Redevelopment Authority that a comprehensive traffic plan for the area is needed. As each development proposal looks at traffic and parking, they define their boundaries in order to justify a finding of “no significant impact” based on that single project. When all of the projects that are currently under development and proposed reach completion, we seek to avoid absolute gridlock. Now is the time to look at the big picture.

The Request for Proposals (RFP) for the incinerator site is expected to be announced by the state DCAM group in February.

A group called Albany Fellows Associates is submitting a proposal to develop the former Branch Electric building and the CDC of Boston site next door into a mixed use project that will include 265 condominiums or apartments. This site is adjacent to Boston Body Works and the residential component flies in the face of industrial district zoning. Lara Valentine reported to the meeting that the BRA specifically asked for light industrial use to be included in the project. This project is in early stages and further information will be brought to Newmarket Business Association.

The gas station at 90 Southampton Street is closed because construction on Bubbles Car Wash is slated to begin soon.

Edens and Avant, the owner of South Bay Center has acquired the former Agar site on Massachusetts Avenue adjacent to South Bay Center. Joe Pierik from Edens & Avant gave a presentation to the members about their plans for the site.

Edens & Avant is a privately-held, family-owned business based in Columbia, South Carolina. Edens & Avant owns 290 “necessity” retail (i.e. grocery-anchored) shopping centers in 20 eastern seaboard states from Maine to Florida. Edens & Avant owns the South Bay Center and purchased the Agar site from Eastern Development in November of 2003. Their plan is demolish the Agar building and to erect a new 75,000 square foot super Stop and Shop on that site. They also plan to develop several smaller pad buildings offering service uses (bank, restaurant, apparel retail, etc.) on part of the Agar site. The remainder of the Agar site will be parking and roadways continguous to the existin South Bay Center parking lot. The road improvements in front of Super 88 market will be finished in the Spring. The existing Stop & Shop within South Bay Center will be redemised into several other retail shops. Target will be moving into the vacant K-mart space.

South Bay Center is an effective buffer between the hardcore industrial & wholesale commercial uses that characterize the Newmarket area and surrounding residential uses.

This project is beginning the article 80 process with the BRA, filing the project notification form next week. It is anticipated that construction will begin in Summer of 2004 and the retail stores will open in Summer of 2005. There will be ample opportunities for public comment. There will be a Newmarket Business Association representative on the IAG for this project.

As a part of this redevelopment of the Agar site, school bus contractor First Student will need to find a replacement school bus parking lot.

Traffic engineer David Black of Vanasse Hangen explained their preliminary findings and answered questions from members. They expect that the timing of vehicle trips will help with traffic flow during peak periods on Mass Ave and Southampton Street because the shopping center’s peaks are evenings and weekends – not the peak periods for Newmarket industries.

December 10th report 2003
The Issues Committee is pursuing the need for a comprehensive traffic study and improvement plan for the area. Given the large number of new developments under construction and planned, together with the already clogged status quo, a comprehensive traffic study is urgently needed.

The Newmarket Triangle development proposals are going through the process with the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

The Boston Redevelopment Authority has promised Sue Sullivan that there will be no neighborhood oversight of the business district in the Roxbury Master Plan.

To accomplish safe operations near a school, Lara Valentine of the Boston Redevelopment Authority has negotiated an agreement with First Student that includes restrictions on their license to operate the bus maintenance facility on Shirley Street.

DCAM is drafting the RFP for the incinerator site. It will closely follow the language of the legislation which accommodates business use of the site.

November 12th report 2003
In December, the developers of the level 4 biological research laboratory will make a presentation to Newmarket members.

The Victoria Restaurant is under agreement to be sold to a new owner. Many, many thanks to the Charles and Nick Georgenes who have been so active and generous to the Newmarket Business Association for so long!! Members will be given more information on an open house to wish them well.

The proponents of a redevelopment of 23 Bradston Street have deferred their application. The Issues Committee communicated to the BRA questions about parking, scale, and traffic impacts.

The Issues Committee is pursuing the need for a comprehensive traffic study and improvement plan for the area. Given the large number of new developments under construction and planned, together with the already clogged status quo, a comprehensive traffic study is urgently needed.

The Chiang family who owns the “Newmarket Triangle” parcel made a presentation to the Issues Committee of several possible options for the site. Their preferred option includes “New Area Parkers” which means satellite parking from outside the Newmarket area. There is also a discrepancy between the number of spaces assumed by the abutting easement holders and the number of spaces set aside by the Chiangs for the easement holders.

First Student has been operating at a reduced level on the Shirley Street bus maintenance site. If you have any comments about the school bus service and its effect on the neighborhood, please tell Joseph Cefalo.

There was no new report on the Request For Proposal (RFP) by the State for the incinerator site.

The latest draft of the Roxbury Master plan was reviewed by a sub-committee of the Issues Committee and major concerns are being communicated to representatives of the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

October 8th report 2003
The owners of 23 Bradston Street met with the Issues Committee and described their plans to add a 17,000 square foot addition. They plan to redevelop the wholesale grocery into a retail grocery on the first floor, a 405 seat restaurant on the second floor and offices on the third floor. There is a meeting with the Zoning Board of Appeals scheduled for October 21. Prior to that date, they will provide the Issues Committee with more information about traffic impacts and parking requirements.

The Boston University/City Hospital level 4 biocontainment laboratory has been announced by the Federal government. The developers of the Biosquare site and representatives from the Hospital will come back to the Newmarket Business Association in November with more information and details about this projects (especially regarding risks, traffic, density, access, etc.).

The Chiang family who owns the “Newmarket Triangle” parcel will attend the November Issues committee meeting to update us on that project.

There will be a meeting in November to develop a Request For Proposal (RFP) by the State for the incinerator site.

The MBTA bus maintenance facility on Southampton Street has started fueling service. Verizon will be replacing the telephone lines and tearing up Moore Street again. The MBTA will be meeting with representatives of adjacent businesses to review the safety and evacuation plans for this facility.

The latest draft of the Roxbury Master plan was reviewed by a sub-committee of the Issues Committee and major concerns are being communicated to representatives of the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

September 10th report 2003
There is a meeting schedule with Captain Cunningham and a representative from B-2. The police will be providing Newmarket Business Association with a report of area incidents. Please report any new safety concerns to Sue Sullivan.

August 13th report 2003
The representatives of the Chiangs have been contacting Newmarket members by telephone and mail about their plans to redevelop the triangle site.

Today, the Mayor will be presenting a check to Katsiroubas Bros. for their bond financing under the “Backstreets” program. Congratulations to this member company on your expansion plans and successful cooperation with the City of Boston!

At noon today, the Boston EDIC and BRA and representatives from Newmarket Business Association will be meeting to review the final plans for area improvements such as sidewalks, signage, roadwork, etc.

Representatives from First Student gave the membership an update on their plans for the former-Agar site and another site located at 61 Shirley Street where they plan to do servicing, maintenance and repairs on the buses. The number of buses to be parked at the Agar site is 160 buses with 15 extras instead of the 100 buses they originally proposed. The original proposal did not include a bus servicing facility on Shirley Street. All ingress to and egress from the Agar site will take place on Mass Ave. The intersection is being repainted and the traffic light signals altered. Consultant Paul Herbert was hired to redesign the intersection and these changes have the approval of the Boston Transportation Department.

First Student has a two-year commitment to the Agar site. They have signed a five year lease on the 61 Shirley Street site.

On August 27^th there is a hearing for First Student to obtain a garage license. On September 3^rd school starts in Boston. The school buses will actually start operating from the Agar site next week.

Members of the Newmarket Business Association chastised the representatives from First Student for providing inaccurate and misleading information to the Association; for not communicating in any way their plans for 61 Shirley Street, their changes to the traffic pattern dumping all the traffic onto Mass Ave, and raising the number of buses from a total of 100 to a total of 175. This is especially galling because Newmarket Business Association members provided valuable advice, support and assistance to First Student.

The Newmarket Business Association voted unanimously to send two letters in response to the plans by First Student: First, a complaint to be filed with the Inspectional Services Department stating that the intended use of 61 Shirley Street as a bus servicing garage is beyond the scope of the permitted use. Second, a letter to Mayor Menino asking him to use all available powers to restrict travel of buses to and from 61 Shirley Street to a maximum of two round trips per hour, effective immediately.

July 16th report 2003
The developers of the Holiday Inn Express gave a presentation to the Issues committee about their plans to build a Marriott Courtyard and restaurant on an adjacent site. The Newmarket Business Association voted unanimously to send a letter in support of this project.

June 11th report 2003
The Changs have a proposal to build a parking garage on the Newmarket triangle. They will be invited to make a presentation at the next monthly members meeting. The group planning to develop a Marriott Courtyard hotel will be making a presentation at the next Issues Committee meeting. Lum Fat Produce Company has received approval from the Boston Zoning Board of Appeals to expand. The Newmarket Business Association had sent a letter endorsing the expansion plan.

Notices about the Central Artery construction are available showing the schedule for removing the temporary elevated road over Albany Street. Work is scheduled for this coming weekend, beginning at 10am Friday and continuing through 5am Monday.

Anyone interested in offering products and services for the Democratic National Convention may find out about the process at the DNC website: www.boston04.com.

May 14th report 2003
There will be a meeting tomorrow morning at the Victoria at 9:00 am to review the engineering plans for the City of Boston improvements to the Newmarket neighborhood.

Please attend if you are interested in reviewing the plans. Completion is scheduled for June 30^th.

Representing the Newmarket Business Association, Carl Lizio attended a meeting where the Changs, the owners of the triangle, met with the easement holders about a proposal for a parking garage for 600 cars leased to MASCO. They will be invited to make a presentation at the June or July membership meeting.

The educational programs offered by UMass Boston have been postponed until the end of summer.

Anyone interested in offering products and services for the Democratic National Convention may find out about the process at the DNC website: www.boston04.com.

April 9th report 2003
The Boston Redevelopment Authority and the City Department of Neighborhood Development have submitted a Request For Proposals for 700-731 Harrison Avenue. Newmarket Business Association has submitted a request to be appointed to the Impact Advisory Group for this project.

An organization named “First Student”, which is a subsidiary of Ryder Leasing, was the low bidder for the Boston Public Schools’ bus contract for the next five years, beginning in July of 2003. The low bid will result in the City of Boston saving $10 million per year for the next five years. They are planning to lease the former Agar site to park 100+ buses and bus drivers’ vehicles. The use of the former Agar site for bus parking could be considered a quid pro quo because Laidlaw, the current provider of school bus services to the City of Boston, has an existing parking lot for approximately 250 buses in the Newmarket neighborhood near the Water & Sewer Commission building (near Melnea Cass and Harrison Avenue). The City of Boston owns the school buses, so these same vehicles would be moved to the lot that the new bidder leases. The First Student group agreed that they would not use both the Agar site and the Laidlaw site. Expect to see the bus routes begin operating in June of 2003.

The proposed Marriott Courtyard project next door to the Holiday Inn Express beside South Bay Center presented their project impact report at a meeting attended by Joe Cefalo. Joe distributed an information sheet about this project to interested NBA members. In response to resident concerns, the developers, Jiten Hotel Management, are working out an agreement to route traffic to this Marriott Courtyard through the South Bay Center and Shell gas station parking lots and access roads in order to keep traffic off the residential streets, Boston Street and West Howell Street.

Anyone interested in offering products and services for the Democratic National Convention may find out about the process at the DNC website: www.boston04.com.

February 12th report 2003
Paul Revere Transportation Company has applied for permits for a 5000 gallon above-ground storage tank to refuel buses with low sulpher diesel fuel. The Newmarket Business Association unanimously voted to send a letter of support to the Board of Appeals.

The Boston Medical Center has submitted its bid to the federal government to locate a level 4 biosafety laboratory in its Biosquare Development. The federal government will not announce the winning bids until November of 2003. Construction of this containment facility would be a multi-year process, and not be operable until 2008-9. If the Boston Medical Center bid is successful, the Newmarket Business Association will arrange for the developers to do a presentation and answer questions at a future meeting.

The Newmarket Business Association notified the BRA that it has no objection to a food trailer to be located at 46 Newmarket Square.

A proposal for “Albany Fellows Place”, redeveloping the former Branch Electric building at 801 Albany Street has been submitted to the Boston Redevelopment Authority. The initial proposal called for a mixed use development with residential, office, retail and light industrial uses totaling approximately 450,000 square feet, then the proposal was revised to approximately 300,000 square feet with only retail and residential uses. The BRA responded that light industrial use should go back into the plans. This project is in the “Scoping” phase of development. More details will follow at future meetings.

An organization named “First Student”, which is a subsidiary of Ryder Leasing, was the low bidder for the Boston Public Schools’ bus contract for the next five years, beginning in July of 2003. The low bid will result in the City of Boston saving $10 million per year for the next five years. They are planning to lease the former Agar site to park 100+ buses and bus drivers’ vehicles. The use of the former Agar site for bus parking could be considered a quid pro quo because Laidlaw, the current provider of school bus services to the City of Boston, has an existing parking lot for approximately 250 buses in the Newmarket neighborhood near the Water & Sewer Commission building (near Melnea Cass and Harrison Avenue). The City of Boston owns the school buses, so these same vehicles would be moved to the lot that the new bidder leases. The First Student group agreed that they would not use both the Agar site and the Laidlaw site.

At Newmarket Business Association’s recommendation, they discussed their plans with the Boston Transportation Department, who is comfortable with the proposal. The Issues Committee members made it clear that the Association’s consistent policy is that the Newmarket neighborhood is NOT A SATELLITE PARKING LOT for other neighborhoods of Boston.

There was a meeting to discuss the Roxbury Master Plan with Keiros Chen, a planner from the Boston Redevelopment Authority. A good dialogue has been established and he is now aware of Newmarket concerns, especially with the community enforcement provisions.

The Newmarket area capital improvements under the $125,000 EDIC grant are in engineering and will be done by the June 30^th deadline.

On February 4^th, Michael Grace hosted a program where an attorney explained tax savings to twenty-six businesspeople from the Newmarket Business Association. This excellent seminar will result in bottom line savings for area businesses. If you missed the event, please call Susan Sullivan for information.

Carl Lizio reported on the progress of the Crosstown development. The soils are clean and pile work is in progress. No retail or restaurant has been signed. There has been a donation from the family that started H & R Block to pay for a cancer survivors park as part of the Crosstown development.

January 15th report 2003
An organization named “First Student”, which is a subsidiary of Ryder Leasing, was the low bidder for the Boston Public Schools’ bus contract for the next five years, beginning in July of 2003. The low bid will result in the City of Boston saving $10 million per year for the next five years. Representatives gave a presentation to the Newmarket Issues Committee because they are planning to lease the former Agar site to park 100+ buses and bus drivers’ vehicles and they have also put in a bid to lease the Beckwith Elevator site for administration and parking for 35 vans. At this meeting, we also learned that the former Agar site has been purchased by Eastern Development for $10.9 million. The use of the former Agar site for bus parking could be considered a quid pro quo because Laidlaw, the current provider of school bus services to the City of Boston, has an existing parking lot for approximately 250 buses in the Newmarket neighborhood near the Water & Sewer Commission building (near Melnea Cass and Harrison Avenue). The City of Boston owns the school buses, so these same vehicles would be moved to the lot that the new bidder leases.

Newmarket Business Association recommended that they discuss their plans with the Boston Transportation Department. The Issues Committee members made it clear that the Association’s consistent policy is that the Newmarket neighborhood is NOT A SATELLITE PARKING LOT for other neighborhoods of Boston.

At the meeting, members John Byda, Nadine Taylor-Miller and Brenda Colgan expressed major concerns about 1. the new bidder claiming that this use is merely “temporary” but that it may become permanent, 2. the squeeze of buses on both Mass Ave and Southampton Street, 3. the large number of buses, and 4. the pollution from diesel engines. There is significant chance that the City could decide to take the Agar property by eminent domain to use it for bus parking forever.

A residential development has been proposed for the former Branch Electric building.

The Crosstown development currently includes 500 parking spaces leased to MASCO. Because of this satellite parking for the Longwood neighborhood, the Newmarket Business Association withdrew our earlier support for this project.

December 18th report 2002
There is no new information or action on the incinerator site. Charles Georgenes met with the new Sheriff, Andrea Cabral. She will be invited to speak at a future NBA meeting.

There is a new Police Chief at the MBTA, Joe Carter, formerly superintendent of the Boston Police and Oak Bluffs Chief of Police. The MBTA met with representatives from Newmarket to discuss possible enhancements to service in our neighborhood. Because of our input, a stop on the Fairmount line is in the proposed budget. It is not too late to have them address your concerns, so please call Joe Cefalo or Susan Sullivan with any comments or suggestions you may have about how the bus service could help your business and your employees and customers!

Representatives from the BRA worked with a subcommittee of NBA members to compose an action plan and put together a map showing improvements for the core Newmarket area. The cost of the initial improvements will be paid by the $125,000 grant announced by Mayor Menino and BRA Director Mark Maloney at our annual meeting. An RFP for the signage, engineering, surveying, and infrastructure improvements shown on the map will go out and the work will be committed by June 30^th.

The City of Boston is buying 1010 Mass Ave and the Community Servings Building on Magazine Street.

A residential development has been proposed for the former Branch Electric building.

The Biosquare development, which will add 831,000 square feet of laboratory and office space and close to 3,000 parking spaces to Albany Street, will be preparing to submit their phase 2 designs for BRA approval. Newmarket members are concerned about the impacts to Albany Street, especially traffic.

November 13th report 2002
The MBTA meeting with representatives from Newmarket to discuss possible enhancements to service in our neighborhood will be rescheduled. It is not too late to have them address your concerns, so please call Joe Cefalo or Susan Sullivan with any comments or suggestions you may have about how the bus service could help your business and your employees and customers!

On Thursday, October 24, there was a meeting with representatives from the BRA to discuss an action plan for the core Newmarket area. The outcome of this meeting was a map of the core Newmarket area marked with potential improvements ranging from truck staging areas to removing obsolete rail lines to traffic routing. We will be responding by notifying the BRA of NBA’s priorities of the list shown on this map.

There is no change to the incinerator site since the last meeting at which it was announced the legislation has been signed into law. Language in the bill allows the site to be leased by the state for private development. The next step is for a Request For Proposal to be drafted by the Boston Redevelopment Authority (BRA) and/or the Massachusetts Department of Capital Asset Management (DCAM).

The MBTA met with representatives from Newmarket to discuss possible enhancements to service in our neighborhood. There will be additional meetings so please call Joe Cefalo or Susan Sullivan with any comments or suggestions you may have about how the bus service could help your business and your employees and customers!

On Thursday, October 24, there will be a meeting with representatives from the BRA to discuss an action plan for the core Newmarket area. We are looking for 6-8 of the core Newmarket businesses to participate in this process, which is expected to take approximately 6 months.

The Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative and a group called New Ecology provided information to our association about the Massachusetts Materials Exchange. This organization links businesses that have reusable materials with users. The Massachusetts Materials Exchange can be reached at 1-800-369-3333 in MA and at 413-586-7350.

The mapping project by UMass Boston is completed and provides a great tool for meetings. Thank you to the UMass team that produced these useful maps so promptly! We will try to get them in electronic format so that they will be available on the web-site.

House bill # 3630 that deals with the incinerator site has passed the state Senate and it is now on the Governor’s desk. Language in this bill allows the site to be leased by the state for private development. After the bill is signed into law, an RFP will need to be drafted by the BRA and/or DCAM.

The MBTA will be meeting with representatives from Newmarket to discuss possible enhancements to service in our neighborhood. Please call Joe Cefalo or Susan Sullivan with any comments or suggestions you may have about how the bus service could help your business and your employees and customers!

The easement holders are in the process of creating an entity to buy the Newmarket Parking Triangle. A spirit of cooperation is now in place which should assist in the completion of this transaction.

In September, there will be an inaugural ceremony for Chancellor Gora of UMass Boston. In preparation for this exciting event, newmarket business association representatives were interviewed for a video to be shown during the festivities. Chancellor Gora came and spoke at a Newmarket Business Association meeting and has invited us to take advantage of the expertise available at UMass Boston. Her invitation resulted in the successful mapping project recently completed by UMass Boston; this is the start of a beautiful friendship!

Jack Hughes of UMass Boston has invited Newmarket business human resource managers to get in touch with him about a proposed program to include trends, common problems, development of talent, training, etc. If you know a human resource person who would like to participate, please let Susan Sullivan know.

Murray Communications is a billboard company that is installing a two-sided billboard on the Amtrak site. This is a conditional use under existing zoning. The NBA sent a letter stating no opposition to this proposal.

The mapping project by UMass Boston is almost completed. Thank you to the UMass team that produced these useful maps so promptly! We will try to get them in electronic format so that they will be available on the web-site.

The women’s facility of the South Bay House of Correction is being constructed inside the present facility and not on the incinerator site where the sign is located.

The Silver Line maintenance facility construction seems to be delayed, although conflicting information indicates that they are planning an opening ceremony as originally planned on July 20th.