Most likely gathering times will be either tomorrow evening or Friday. Stay tuned. Thanks!
Comment Letter on Additional Dwelling Units Zoning Amendment
Yesterday, we sent an official comment letter to the Boston Planning and Development Agency (BPDA) in support of an amendment to the citywide zoning code that would permit the creation of so-called “additional dwelling units” — separate units added onto to existing houses that allow for a gradual and incremental increase in housing density. Our full comments are included below.
Read MorePedestrian Safety Meeting in West Roxbury this Wednesday, February 27
This Wednesday, February 27, 2019, elected officials will hold a public meeting to discuss ways to improve road safety for pedestrians, cyclists and drivers in West Roxbury. Sponsors of the meeting include City Councilor Matt O’Malley, the Boston Police Department, Senator Mike Rush, Representative Ed Coppinger, Chief of Streets Chris Osgood, the Mayor’s Office, and the Boston Transportation Department.
The meeting comes after two pedestrian fatalities in West Roxbury over the last four months, one on Washington Street in November, and one on Centre Street in February. We urge you to speak up this week for traffic calming measures that also make the roads safer for both cyclists and pedestrians. Details of the meeting below; please spread the word:
Wednesday, February 27, 2019 7-8:30pm
Boston Lodge of Elks #10
248 Spring St
West Roxbury
No activation of the WUR Snow Clearance Collaborative Today (18 Feb 2019) – Snowfall not sufficient
This snowfall was again under the 4″ (10 cm) mark, so we’re not going to activate the SCC. We still encourage everyone to pitch in and help where and how you can!
Bussey Brook Meadow Path Gets Recommendation for CPA funding!
This past Friday, the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee released its funding recommendations from the 2018 and 2019 Community Preservation Fund, and the recommended recipients include the Bussey Brook Meadow Path, an important part of our vision for the Roslindale Gateway Path connecting Roslindale Village to Forest Hills.
By way of background, in 2000 the state legislature passed the Community Preservation Act, allowing cities and towns across Massachusetts to put CPA on the local ballot. In November 2016, CPA passed in Boston with the support of 74% of the voters. As a result, property owners pay a 1% surcharge on their quarterly real estate tax bill that funds the CPA in Boston. In this latest round of CPA awards, the committee has recommended that the path be awarded $500,000 to help “create green link between Roslindale Square and Forest Hills with a refurbished gateway at Arboretum Road.” Thanks, Boston voters!
Specifically, the Bussey Brook Meadow path, which is a segment of of the larger Roslindale Gateway Path, would create a new gateway to the Arnold Arboretum through the arch passage at the end of Arboretum Road and an accessible multi-use path connection to the existing Blackwell Path. The project creates a new entry to the paths in Bussey Brook Meadow for the Environmental Justice community of people who live east of the commuter rail tracks. When completed, the project would transform the neglected and trash-strewn arch passage into an inviting, landscaped gateway, with signage and subtle lighting on the side of the arch that faces Arboretum Road. The arch passage would be lit to enhance pedestrian safety.
Beyond the arch gateway, a crushed stone path would connect to the Blackwell Path, the South Street Gate, and Forest Hills Station. People using wheelchairs, pushing strollers, and riding bikes would be able to use the new path. Ongoing work to advance additional key path connections within the Arboretum means this path will eventually allow safe, comfortable, and beautiful walking and bicycling to Roslindale Square to the south and to the Southwest Corridor to the north.
A final design which will result in construction drawings for the Bussey Brook Meadow path is underway and will be completed by June 30, 2019. Construction of the path using CPA funds could begin as early as August of this year. The funding recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee must be approved by the City Council and the Mayor. Final approvals are expected by mid-March.
More of this please: District 6 Councilor Matt O’Malley to hold MBTA office hours – 19 Feb 2019
This is a welcome new way to communicate with constituents that we hope catches on for all of our councilors (also recognizing that Councilor Wu has been directly communicating through social media about her personal MBTA experiences for some time now). According to Go Boston 2030, the transit mode share for Roslindale residents’ work trips exceeds 25%, so this appears to be a great investment of the councilor’s time and a way to meet and take the pulse of this substantial slice of the neighborhood (a portion of which Councilor O’Malley does represent). We encourage everyone to attend, and tell us how it went in the comments!
Community Meeting on February 28, 2019 at Menino/Archdale Community Center for Gateway Path 25% Design of Entire Path
Please join us on Thursday, February 28, 2019 at 6:30pm at the BCYF Thomas Menino (Archdale) Community Center (125 Brookway Road) to learn about the 25% design study for the Roslindale Gateway Path and provide feedback. Last summer, we had a community meeting focusing on the portion on MBTA land adjacent the Roslindale commuter rail station. This meeting will focus on the entire length of the new planned path, including the section closest to the Archdale neighborhood in Roslindale — running near the Needham Line commuter rail tracks adjacent Peter’s Hill from the entrance of the Arboretum through to the tunnel entrance at the end of Arboretum Road, and then all the way to the existing Blackwell Path. RSVP appreciated (so we can plan for the appropriate crowd) but not required.
RSVP appreciated. You can also join the event and invite others from the Facebook event page or the Nextdoor event page. Spread the word!
- Roslindale Gateway Path – 25% Design Study (Draft) (PDF)
- Event Flyer – English (PDF)
- Event Flyer – Spanish (PDF)
WalkUP Roslindale Snow Clearance Collaborative – POSSIBLE ACTIVATION 12-13 Feb 2019 – STAY TUNED HERE.
Depending on snowfall amounts and temperatures this afternoon/evening/overnight, we may be activating the Collaborative. Stay tuned here and note the principal locations/organizers below. We’ll also broadcast any details on our twitter feed and you can sign up to be contacted (including by text message) on our Snow Clearance page. Thanks!
Washington & Blue Ledge Streets – Rob Orthman
Washington & Cornell Streets – Sarah Kurpiel Lee
Roslindale Community Center (Washington & Cummins) – Steve Gag
Hyde Park Avenue/Cummins Highway – Nick Ward
Walter & South Streets (front of Green T) – Matt Lawlor
Participation Guidelines – Bring your own equipment (shovels, spades) and materials (ice melt) if you feel healthy and up to it. Find the organizers at the above locations at the stipulated time(s) and make sure to give them your name and email address so we can log you in for RVMS Rozzie Bucks for taking part. Thanks!!!
ATTENTION: WalkUP Roslindale Snow Collaborative In Effect TODAY (20 January 2019)
Enough snow has fallen and temperatures look like they won’t get high enough to have warm enough rain that will wash it away, so we are a GO today at the following locations at the following times with the following organizers:
1: 00 pm
Washington & Blue Ledge Streets – Rob Orthman
Washington & Cornell Streets – Sarah Kurpiel Lee
2:00 pm
Roslindale Community Center (Washington & Cummins) – Steve Gag
Hyde Park Avenue/Cummins Highway – Matt Lawlor and Nick Ward
Participation Guidelines – Bring your own equipment (shovels, spades) and materials (ice melt) if you feel healthy and up to it. Find the captains at the above locations at the above times and make sure to give them your name and email address so we can send you the Rozzie Bucks for taking part. The snow is heavy but there thankfully isn’t too much of it. An hour should do it. Thanks!!!
Will this wintry mix produce enough snow for us to invoke the WalkUP Roslindale Snow Clearance Collaborative? Stay tuned!
Predictions on snow totals for our part of the world have been a bit all over the map, but it seems at least more likely than not that, by tomorrow at some point, we will get the 4″ of snow needed to invoke the Collaborative. Stay tuned and if you’re interested in helping us dig out a couple of key areas in the neighborhood once the snow has stopped flying, go ahead and log in your information. We’d love to have you join us!