Allstong Construction Mitigation Subcommittee notes 7/16

[Priscilla Anderson]

The Allston Construction Mitigation Subcommittee met on Tuesday July 16, 2024.  See notes below.

Future meetings are planned for these dates: 

Tuesday August 6   Zoom registration

Tuesday September 10   Zoom registration

Tuesday October 1   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 7/16/2024

Police Report Sgt McMahon Boston Police Department District 14

• City is notifying small businesses that use gas-powered moped/scooters for delivery that scooters need to be registered and insured and operators need to have licenses.  Now ticketing and towing scooters that are not complying with traffic laws. Doesn't apply to eBikes.
• Crime numbers are low. 
• National Night Out  on August 5th, 3-6pm at Brighton Common. Food, entertainment. 
• Increase in idling trucks reported last meeting, so they are checking N Harvard and Western more frequently.
• Lincoln St was recently made 2-way at the west end; will be improving signage and reducing parking close to the corner.
• Neighbor reports: 2:30am someone was found unresponsive on the Hopedale St sidewalk and was taken away in an ambulance; neighbor has their bike. Ask D-14 if it's your bike.
• July 5th: white pickup truck was stealing bikes on Hopedale St.
• A shady character was soliciting work on roofs and driveways. 
• Record license plate and report to 911/District 14.

Harvard Construction, Ed LeFlore

• Workers early morning driving fast/wrong way
• Different workers come as the project progresses, so a retraining effort is needed at each stage.
• Installed monitor on N Harvard to document where the trucks are going.
• One tower crane will start coming down next month. 
• Treehouse is progressing slowly; want to ask for Sunday work to finish the mass timber frame. (Neighbors expressed that we don't want this to happen. We need a day off.)
• Greenway construction will start in August: drainage, sidewalks, civil work
• ART concrete slabs being laid next week
• Residential building superstructure will start going up soon.
• 92 Seattle St target completion by the end of the month; mural being installed
• Permitting NASDEP with BWSC to go over Science Drive
• 210 N Harvard: working on permanent power, occupancy expected in September, opening in the fall.

Neighbor concerns:

• Speed humps on Windom and Hopedale Sts.
• Trucks parked at bus stops and in crosswalks on N Harvard St.
• 24/7 bright lights in new buildings are light pollution/waste of energy.
• Helicopters flying over the neighborhood instead of following the river path: neighbors should complain directly to the FAA.
• Rats: Need rat-proof trash barrels; rats in broad daylight; city worker said there is nothing they can do since they are not in the sewers. Open public trash barrels overflowing are food for rats; fast food restaurant outdoor trash barrels; dumpsters are even worse. Concern about diseases from rats. Natural solution: cats and owls! But can't poison the rats because then you'll poison the cats and owls.
• Neighbor Gerry Byrne can help write proposals for community benefits/improvements.