Comments to the BRA re. 332 Chestnut Hill Ave.

[Eva Webster]

Dear Neighbors.

Today, Wednesday, is the last day for submitting comments to the BRA regarding  332 Chestnut Hill Ave. (be the end of the day)

These comments should be sent to: John Fitzgerald  at John.Fitz...@cityofboston.gov

If you haven’t sent anything yet, please shoot even just a short email to John (it doesn’t have to be anything fancy) expressing a wish for a more reasonable development — one that respects zoning — not this excessive proposal that is currently on the table.   

This project if approved would choke a key section of Chestnut Hill Ave. that we all use, and hurt many abutters.  The neighborhood deserves better than what is now proposed.

I have attached a letter from ABRA that discusses a long list of issues and concerns (please refer to page 2 & 3 of the letter to see that list).  Some of you will find this letter probably too long to read, but I encourage you to at least glance through the subjects that are covered to see how much factors into this project.  (The letter is intentionally very detailed to assist John Fitzgerald the best we can in his task of writing a scope for this project.)

Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Eva Webster
617-277-4708

[joh...@comcast.net]

You lost my interest when you said it is not NIMBY. That usually means
it is NIMBY.
John Thompson
Brighton

On Oct 22, 5:41 am, Eva Webster <evawebs...@comcast.net> wrote:
> Dear Neighbors.
>
> Today, Wednesday, is the last day for submitting comments to the BRA
> regarding 332 Chestnut Hill Ave. (be the end of the day)
>
> These comments should be sent to: John Fitzgerald at

> John.Fitzgerald....@cityofboston.gov

>
> If you haven¹t sent anything yet, please shoot even just a short email to
> John (it doesn¹t have to be anything fancy) expressing a wish for a more
> reasonable development ‹ one that respects zoning ‹ not this excessive
> proposal that is currently on the table.
>
> This project if approved would choke a key section of Chestnut Hill Ave.
> that we all use, and hurt many abutters. The neighborhood deserves better
> than what is now proposed.
>
> I have attached a letter from ABRA that discusses a long list of issues and
> concerns (please refer to page 2 & 3 of the letter to see that list). Some
> of you will find this letter probably too long to read, but I encourage you
> to at least glance through the subjects that are covered to see how much
> factors into this project. (The letter is intentionally very detailed to
> assist John Fitzgerald the best we can in his task of writing a scope for
> this project.)
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Eva Webster
> 617-277-4708
>

> ABRA_332ChestnutHillAve.doc
> 191KViewDownload

[Harry Mattison]

Hi,

 

Attached are the comments I sent about this project. A couple years ago on my blog (http://allston02134.blogspot.com) I quoted a NY Times editorial about zoning:

 

"Most zoning [diminishes the value of property]. Developers would make more money if they could cram more houses on small lots, build skyscrapers 200 stories tall, or develop on endangered wetlands... Zoning is not an attack on property rights. It is an important government function, and most Americans appreciate that it helps keep their own neighborhoods from becoming more crowded, polluted and dangerous."

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/29/opinion/29fri3.html

 

Much of life is a balance, and it is important to balance the developer's opportunity for profit with a community's need for a high quality of life. In many places around Allston and Brighton I see development that appreciates this balance, and in other places the profit of a few has triumphed over the welfare of the many. As citizens let's call upon the government that we fund and elect to remember this balance.

 

Harry

[Eva Webster]

On 10/22/08 9:09 AM, "joh...@comcast.net" <joh...@comcast.net> wrote:

> You lost my interest when you said it is not NIMBY. That usually means
> it is NIMBY.
> John Thompson
> Brighton
>

How cynical of you, John.  Not everyone is like Richard Nixon (“I’m not a crook”).

Only a malcontent dismisses concerns about a large, complicated development by thinking, “oh, it’s just NIMBY”.

I’m not sure we need your interest then.  If one word at the very beginning of an otherwise informative and analytical letter can just ruin your attention span -- how could you possibly help us with a thoughtful comment to the BRA?

I understand that you don’t need to care much about 332 Chestnut Hill Ave. if you don’t live near Cleveland Circle (though that’s an important part of Brighton, and deserves respect and care) -- but please don’t blame your lack of interest on one little sentence that was not to your liking.


Opposition to this project has really NOTHING to do with “NIMBY” (residents here actually want development on this site, just not the excessive size and poor design that’s proposed).

This opposition is about making sure we get what’s best for Brighton.  It’s to create a pleasant and safe pedestrian environment on that stretch of Chestnut Hill Ave., and to keep that road passable to rush hour traffic.

It’s also about preserving a quality of life for hundreds of Brighton residents (many homeowners) who every day contend with a very dense environment that folks elsewhere in Brighton would not tolerate.  I think this project would not see the light of day if it was on Chestnut Hill Ave. near Brighton Center.

But Chestnut Hill Ave. near Cleveland Circle has the same, if not bigger, congestion problems — and most people who live anywhere  in Brighton encounter them at some point or another.  The traffic problems in that spot will only get worse with 58 units and a 104 parking spaces, plus large retail use — on a site that’s just too small for all of that.

Now, I hear that we may end up with retail deliveries to this complex being conducted right along the Chestnut Hill Ave. sidewalk - because the developer wants such a big project that there is no room to put the loading dock anywhere else.

I am just so sad that fights like these even have to be fought in Brighton/Boston (it makes me question the wisdom of living here).  

No self-respecting city should be allowing a loading area for large retail to be conducted on a busy public sidewalk.  It’s insane. Imagine something like that allowed in Brookline or Newton (not to mention some nice European cities).  In cities/town that are managed well, according to some rational standards (not just to please developers), things like that just don’t happen.

If there is anyone out there who can see the bigger picture — that it’s about the neighborhood, not about anybody’s narrow private  interest -- please drop an email to Councilor Ciommo mark....@cityofboston.gov  who can influence this project.

Many thanks,

Eva

[ab_resi...@hotmail.com]

Eva,
I have disagreed with some of your community stances in the past but I
must say that I agree with your position concerning this issue. And
for the record I do not live near the area affected by this issue.
Also, it is not worth your time debating John Thompson on various
issues because unless it serves his self interest, or it fits his idea
of how the community should be shaped, he will just resort to baseless
accusations that hold no weight.




On Oct 22, 8:35 pm, Eva Webster <evawebs...@comcast.net> wrote:

> please drop an email to Councilor Ciommo mark.cio...@cityofboston.gov  who