Allston Construction Mitigation Subcommittee 11/12/2024 notes

[Priscilla Anderson]

The Allston Construction Mitigation Subcommittee met on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Notes are found below.

Future meetings:

• *Rescheduled* Tuesday December 17, 6pm Zoom registration: (previously December 10)
• Tuesday January 7, 6pm Zoom registration
• Tuesday February 4th, Zoom registration

Chaired by Harvard Allston Task Force (HATF) member Ed Kotomori, this subcommittee invites developer construction mitigation and community relations staff, Boston Police Department District 14, local and state elected officials and their representatives, and local North Allston neighbors, to discuss issues surrounding construction and safety in the neighborhood.

Notes from November 12, 2024

Boston Police Department, District 14 Community Service Dept, Officer Robert Butler

• A few breakins in GAP area, open windows and doors
• Package thefts from porches are still a problem. Use drop-off points where Amazon delivers.
• 311 being called for party complaints, so call 911 for noise disturbance, loud party etc.

Harvard Construction, Ed LeFlore

• Harvard Intermediate Master Plan (IMP) meeting tomorrow
• Master website for all Harvard/Allston projects: https://ercallston.com/
• Harvard is building an ambulance center in the Speedway
• Interior work happening in various buildings
• Bring down West tower crane removal for Saturday and Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend; trucks come in during the week
• Want some extra days: minor work on weekends to prepare for crane removal; Sundays 11/17 and 11/24 
• Will remove the East tower crane soon thereafter
• Supply chains have mostly returned, but there are a few kinds of items that still take a lot of time.
• Seattle St job, Sofra on Harvard Ave are coming to completion
• Scarifying the street lines on Western Ave will happen soon.
• Seattle St door to the park will be removed. If there is construction activity that requires the door to be put back in, they will notify the neighborhood ahead of time.
• Street plan: 
  

 State Electeds Rep Moran (and Rep Honan) office, Benjamin Tocchi

• DCR made repairs to the Culvert St pedestrian bridge so it's safe to walk/wheelchair
• Will call Kevin L'Herieu and advocate with BTD about Western and N Harvard pedestrian walk signs.

City Councillor Breadon's office, Matthew Costas

• Re: Neighbor request for a stop sign at Hopedale and W. Sorrento. Matt spoke with BTD about this, and they've committed to putting a stop sign at this intersection on W. Sorrento. While a sign on Hopedale would be ideal, that side of the intersection (closest to the park) is a private driveway that they don't put stop signs on. Hopefully this will still make a difference in improving safety at this intersection.
• Re: Neighbor concern about a loose manhole in front of their N. Harvard St house. Matt is working with DPW to get the utility company to correct this. 
• Re: Neighbor concern about the damage to Charlesview's sidewalk: Matt will touch base with Charlesview about this. 

Neighbor Discussion

• Neighbor concern: construction worker parking near N Harvard St.
• Neighbor concern: parking for ART
• Neighbor concern: Travis St recycling center telling people to park on the neighborhood streets
• Neighbor concern: 10-year master plan: address concerns about parking in the neighborhood
• Neighbor concern: rat issues. Harvard should offer rodent control prior to disruptive activities to the neighborhood areas that are in the area. Will work with Inspectional Services Department (ISD). 
• Neighbor concern: Rats sighted on future Samuels property/180 Western Ave
• Neighbor concern: request for new trash barrels; could put this request into the upcoming10-year master plan
• Neighbor inquiry: what is status of $3M for purchase of houses, refurbishment, and resale with homeowner occupancy deed restriction. Need to discuss it with the AB-CDC.
• Neighbor concern: pedestrian signal pattern different at N. Harvard and Western has changed and is dangerous. Is this permanent? Can BTD change it back to the safer universal 4-way walk signal?