Update on Federal Government Shutdown - 10/24

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Services that will continue 

·                Core Federal Benefits: Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Veterans Affairs benefits, and the Postal Service will continue uninterrupted as mandatory or self-funded programs. 

·                Public Safety and National Security: Military, national security, and federal law enforcement (FBI, DEA, Border Patrol) remain active, though many personnel are working unpaid. 

·                Transportation and Travel: Air travel continues at Logan Airport and regional airports with TSA officers and air traffic controllers on duty, though delays may increase if the shutdown persists. 

·                Emergency and Disaster Response: FEMA continues active disaster operations but has paused new grants and reimbursements. 

·                Education and Health Programs: Federal student aid (Pell Grants, student loans) and state-supported programs such as MassHealth, public schools, police, fire, and transit services continue under state or prior-year funding. 

 

Services Losing Funding After November 1 

(Programs reliant on annual appropriations that will face interruptions early November) 

·                SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): 

o        Over 1 million Massachusetts residents depend on SNAP, totaling about $240 million in monthly benefits. 

o        Without appropriations, payments will stop after November 1, leaving no state mechanism to replace lost funds. 

o        Food banks such as the Greater Boston Food Bank are preparing for sharp increases in demand. 

·                WIC (Women, Infants & Children): 

o        Serves about 90,000 residents statewide. 

o        Funds will run out within 1–2 weeks after November 1; temporary national transfers only provide a short extension. 

·                Head Start: 

o        Supports 12,000 low-income preschoolers in Massachusetts. 

o        Grant renewals freeze November 1, risking closures in Springfield, Lawrence, Fall River, and many other communities. 

o        Program disruptions will affect childcare, nutrition, and developmental services. 

·                Fuel Assistance (LIHEAP): 

o        Massachusetts’ federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will pause new funding after November 1 if the shutdown continues. 

o        Local agencies, such as ABCD, warn that applications may be delayed or frozen, risking shortfalls by mid-November and leaving thousands of low-income and elderly residents without heating support. 

 

Services That Will Not Continue 

(Programs and operations suspended until funding resumes) 

·                Small Business Administration: New loans and guarantees paused, limiting credit access for small businesses and contractors. 

·                Fisheries & Agriculture: NOAA and USDA loan programs, permits, and data collection halted—affecting farmers and fisheries’ planning and exports. 

·                Federal Research & Grants: New funding from NIH, NSF, and DOE paused; major institutions (UMass, MIT, Harvard, Mass General) report project delays. 

·                Tourism & Parks: Cape Cod National Seashore and Boston National Historical Park closed or minimally staffed, reducing tourism revenue. 

·                Immigration and Visa Processing: Significant delays for international students, researchers, and workers in higher-education and biotech sectors. 

·                Federal Data and Operations: Census Bureau, BLS, and USDA market reporting remain shut down, halting key data used for planning and forecasting. 

·                Federal Workforce: Thousands of Massachusetts federal employees remain furloughed without guaranteed back pay, reducing local economic activity statewide. 

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Hello Everyone,

I fully agree that housing should be at the top of the list when it comes to evaluating surplus city property. (Ordinance Attached)

However, the highest and best use locally and citywide should definitely factor into the disposition of land as well.

 For example, a brand-new Allston Brighton Community Center most likely will only be economically feasible if constructed on surplus city property. A mixed use of housing above the new Allston Brighton Community Center should always be a consideration.

Other uses to consider:

Addiction Services, Homeless Care

Arts & Culture Rehearsal and Gallery Space

Centers for Independent Living

Community Centers

Community Health Centers

Family Child Care Services

Libraries

Parks, Recreation and Sustainability

Police, Fire, EMS

Public Works Facilities

Schools

Senior Centers

Veterans Service Centers

Tony

_______________________________________________________________________

Boston Housing Crisis: New law prioritizes converting city property into affordable homes (John L. Micek, MassLive: October. 22, 2025)

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (C) surrounded by members of City Council 

and advocates signs a new city ordinance that prioritizes turning surplus 

city property into affordable housing. Wu signed the ordinance during a 

news conference at City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.John L. Micek/MassLive

It’s been more than a year since The Pryde opened its doors in Boston’s Hyde Park neighborhood. And in that time, the former school building has become more than just an affordable housing option for older LGBTQ+ adults.

It’s become “the heart of Hyde Park," Boston City Councilmember Enrique J. Pepén, who represents the neighborhood at City Hall, said.

“And the fact that used to be a school? And we took the opportunity to make that into affordable housing for our residents? That’s what we need to be doing across the city," Pepén continued.

Bostonians could soon see more projects like The Pryde popping up across the city under a new ordinance that prioritizes converting surplus city property into affordable housing.

Flanked by advocates, Pepén, and other members of the City Council, Mayor Michelle Wu signed the language into law during a news conference at City Hall on Wednesday.

She positioned the ordinance as part of her administration’s ongoing effort to “[make] Boston a home for everyone.”

“Everything that we do, every investment that we make, every policy choice that we make is intended to root families in Boston and make sure that our families are also at home in every part of the city with access to every opportunity,” the Democratic mayor said.

Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune speaks during a news 

conference at City Hall on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025.John L. Micek/MassLive

Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune, who helped shepherd the language through the legislative body, reflected on a conversation that she and Pepén had with students at her alma mater, Boston Latin School, earlier in the day.

Those students, who still lived at home with their parents, told the two city pols that they were worried about being able to afford to live in their hometown when the day came.

The new ordinance would go some distance toward making that possible, Louijeune said.

“We have a responsibility to respond and to do the work of responding to our young people who are worried about whether they have a future in this city,” Louijeune said.

While the ordinance codifies it, city officials have already done some of that work, Wu said.

She pointed to the “long overdue” construction of the Boston Public Library’s Chinatown branch, which is slated to include 110 new affordable housing units on the floors above.

“We’re excited to do the same with upcoming renovations to the Uphams Corner and West End branch libraries,” Wu said

The city also recently held a ribbon-cutting for a former police station in Mattapan that now includes 40 rental and owner-occupied units.

With space at a premium, city and state officials alike have looked to surplus property to help ease Massachusetts’s ongoing housing crisis.

Gov. Maura Healey announced in August that she’d freed up 450 acres of unused state land, all the better to build as many as 3,500 new housing units statewide.

A 2024 report card by the Boston Foundation, Boston Indicators and Boston University’s Initiative on Cities found that vacant public land could hold the keys to the construction of tens of thousands of new housing units.

“In a state facing a housing shortage of 200,000 homes by 2030, this utilization of public land in the Greater Boston Area has incredible potential,” the researchers wrote. “At higher densities, or with greater utilization of this vacant land, far more units could be built as well.”

Former City Councilmember Tito Jackson, who also worked on the issue, said much the same on Wednesday, observing that “we are not making any more land that I know of.”

With that in mind, the new ordinance is an opportunity to “align our values with our valuables in the city of Boston,” Jackson said.

Gretchen Van Ness, the executive director of LGBTQ Senior Housing Inc., which spearheaded The Pryde development, had some short and simple advice for city officials and her fellow advocates.

“All I can say is let’s do this,” she quipped. “Let’s do this everywhere.”

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Harvards Fall Fest
Harvard Athletics, Food Truck Festivals of America
Saturday, November 1, 2025, 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
65 N Harvard St, Boston

🎉 TOUCHDOWN FOR YOUR TASTE BUDS! 🎉
Hey Boston! This fall, we’re teaming up with Harvard’s Fall Fest for one epic Saturday at Harvard Stadium — and you’re invited!
🗓️ Saturday, November 1, 2025
🕛 Parking Opens: 12 PM | Gates Open: 1 PM | 🏈 Kickoff: 3 PM
🎟️ Just $15 (plus fees) for food fest access & the Harvard Homecoming Game v Dartmouth!
🍔 What’s On the Menu?
Feast from a lineup of fan-favorite food trucks, including:
Alabama BBQ
Berrysweets
Cap'n Mike's Tiki Fleet
Cousins Maine Lobster
Crepe Shop
Egg Roll Evolution
Piesons Pizza
Richie's Concessions
Say Cheese
Tandoor and Curry on Wheels
Trolley Dogs
Wanderlust Global Food
🛍️ Shop the Artisan Market
Browse local crafters & creators like:
Adult and Teen Challenge
Beer Can Candle Co
Boston Brisket Works
Coastal Chimes by Molly
Dancing Rose Designs
Ellie's Licorice Ropes
EVOL-EYE co.
Frankie’s Mercantile
Keepsake Charm Bar
La Folie Press
Linked Permanent Jewelry
Lunasea Jewelry
Murph Cutting Boards
Our Cheery Corner
Refugee Protection International - RPI
Simply the Best by Nicole
Soldier Solutions LLC
The Davis Limited Jewelry Collection
Ultra Dzolik LLC
WbyL
🎶 Live music, lawn games & fall fun for all ages
🍻 Craft beverages on hand
🧺 Bring your friends, your lawn chairs, and your appetite!
🚫 Sorry—no dogs allowed
🌧️ Rain or shine, we’re rollin’!
📲 Tickets & details:
https://www.gofevo.com/event/Foodtruckfest
💻 https://www.foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com/cambridge-ma
📲 Be sure to click “Interested” or “Goin’” so you don’t miss new truck drops, giveaways, or updates!
Follow @FTFofAmerica on Instagram, Threads, TikTok, X, and Facebook.
#FTFA #HarvardFallFest #BostonFoodies #FoodTruckFestival #HomecomingEats #FallVibes2025

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Hello Everyone,

 

Come this Saturday, an estimated 1.1 million Massachusetts families (one in seven residents) are expected to lose public food assistance benefits due to the ongoing federal government shutdown.

 

Of those, 32% are children, 26% are seniors and 31% are people with disabilities.

 

That includes close to 138,523 clients (21% of population) Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients living in the city of Boston.

 

The United Way of Mass Bay’s United Response Fund was established to rapidly provide resources to mitigate impacts from federal delays in SNAP benefits.  Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline is another good resource.

 

And here’s a list of food pantries in our community that need your financial support to meet this moment.

 

Let everyone know if there are other local pantries I’ve missed, or about any efforts you’re organizing to help.

 

Allston/Brighton Neighborhood Opportunity Center

https://bostonabcd.org/location/allston-brighton-noc/

 

Allston Brighton Food Pantry

https://abfoodpantry.com/

 

Tifereth Raphael Kosher Food Pantry

https://www.tiferethraphael.com/

 

Allston-Brighton APAC Food Pantry

https://www.foodhelpline.org/resources/allston-brighton-apac

 

West End House Boys and Girls Club

https://westendhouse.org/

 

Tony

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Honan Allston Branch of the Boston Public Library

Join us for a fun and spooky showing of Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)! This classic stop-motion animated musical follows the residents of Halloween Town as they try to take over Christmas. Light refreshments will be served.

No registration is required.

Run time: 1 hour 16 minutes. Rated PG for some scary imagery.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

Come one, come all (ages 1-5) to a performance of Grumpkin by Nicola Edwards (illustrated by Sian Roberts) by the VBS Magical Players from the Veronica B Smith Multi Services Senior Center this upcoming Wednesday! Following the performance will be an activity for the children to participate in as well.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

Craft a chilling reminder of your own mortality! Or, if you just love Halloween, create a decoration you can use for years to come. We'll have mini wood tombstones to paint. All supplies provided. Keep in mind that acrylic paint has the potential to stain clothing.

SPACE IS LIMITED. Registration required: Email librarian Kris at kl...@bpl.org. You will need to *confirm* your registration the week of the event.

Adult craft night will take place Thursday, October 30, 6:30 to 7:30 PM at the Brighton Branch.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Hello Everyone,

I've been watching Steve and Fred since February 28, 2018, when they filed their Letter of Intent for the Allston Square Development Project which received BPDA Board approval on November 14, 2019.

On December 9, 2020, they filed their first Notice of Project Change "seek to clarify the breakdown of units and commercial spaces proposed,

properly identify the sites legal addresses as now recognized by the Boston Inspectional Services Department (“ISD”), amend the classification of some of the residential units from condominiums to rental units, and further describe the phased nature of the Project and accompanying mitigation agreed upon between the Proponent and the BPDA."  The Notice of Project Change was approved by the BPDA Board on June 10, 2021.

A Building Permit was granted on November 1, 2022.

On June 22, 2023, they filed their second Notice of Project Change "converting the previously approved dwelling units at the Project that are located in the buildings proposed for 8-12 Wilton St, 20 Braintree St, and 10 Highgate St from home ownership to rental units. The overall percentage of affordable units will increase from 14% to 17%. The minimum income levels of the residents eligible for these affordable units will be decreased".

The Notice of Project Change was approved by the BPDA Board on September 14, 2023.

On October 27, 2025, they filed their third Notice of Project Change "to reduce the parking programs at 1 Highgate St, 10 Highgate St, 20 Braintree St, and 8-12 Wilton St by lowering the number of off-street parking spaces or eliminating on-site parking entirely."

They want to build a hotel next door with no parking; you have Great Scott with no parking, 25-39 Harvard Ave with 58 spaces for 170 rental units.

We have to assume the MBTA plans to increase service levels given all the development projects in the pipeline for that neighborhood, right?

Being right down the street from the Mass Pike, how does the city plan to ensure that tenants who don't comply won't be chasing precious few on street parking spots.

If this gets approved, what next when you're holding a community hostage? Do we keep accepting City Realty's view of the world or do we find partners or buyers who are better positioned to finish Allston Square.

Tony

O’Kane Marketing Blog

Steve Whalen and Fred Starikov | 6 Boston Developers to Watch in 2025

From a chance encounter at a small estate agency to building one of Boston's most successful property empires—and one that truly gives back to the community. Steve Whalen and Fred Starikov show what happens when you spot opportunity everywhere others see problems.

NAME: Steve Whalen + Fred Starikov
COMPANY: City Realty

Steve, Fred, let’s start by taking it all the way back, would what you're doing now have made sense to your 16 year-old self?

Steve Whalen: In college I was a history major, thinking about law school but really undecided. I had an uncle in real estate, so that always intrigued me. I grew up in Maine but couldn't go back after college because there were no jobs. So I ended up in Boston working at a grocery store. A lot of real estate guys came in there and I’d chat with them. It was a bad economy, so they weren’t exactly like “Get in there, kid”. But I studied for my real estate license, started in rentals and moved up from there.

Fred Starikov: My mother actually tipped me off about how the rental business worked. I'd grown up in Allston and you couldn't miss the hundreds of real estate offices around Allston-Brighton. As soon as I had a chance I got my license. 

I thought I had a job lined up through a friend's older brother who had an office, but one of the partners nixed it, so that was a shock. Then I was driving home one day, past this little office in Cleveland Circle and figured I'd stop in. The guy immediately hired me—though later I found out he didn't have authority to hire anyone. But still, I just started going in. The owner wasn't around much so you had to figure it out for yourself how to do a deal. And that’s where I met Steve.

‍

What kept you pushing through before that first deal landed?

Fred: It took three or three and a half weeks before I made a rental. I was only 18 so no one took me seriously. All the clients were older. But once I broke the ice, everything changed. There was so much opportunity—I could do multiple rentals a day, and they were nice hits for a young kid.

Steve: Yeah, the office definitely had a lack of hiring standards when Fred and I got in. It was 240 square feet, maybe seven desks, but in summer there were 12 agents crammed in. They hired everyone who walked in. It was a fun time. That challenge with older clients was real though, we looked young. Fred especially looked ridiculously young!

‍

So you were mostly dealing with rentals early on too?
Fred: We were doing everything and anything to make money. Steve was already doing property management and that experience helped us move from rentals into sales. At that time it was managing and selling a lot of student housing—four to eight-bedroom units—which are really difficult properties to manage, but Steve was able to deal with it.

Steve Whalen: Yeah managing student housing was nuts. Every weekend it felt like they were trying to kill themselves. One time I went over and in the basement it looked like blood, like somebody had been tied up. I freaked out and called the cops. But it turned out they'd been filming a movie in the basement. There were endless stories like that, but it all gave me experience for when we started owning property.

Like Fred said, we were doing anything and everything to make money. The office owner had buildings he managed, and when his trash guy quit, I even took over that too.

‍

And so you guys were a team pretty early on there?

Fred: Yeah so I started in college during the dotcom boom. I'd do rentals in summer, then go back to school. Steve had already worked at the office, then went into commercial leasing at a large company before coming back to residential. After I finished college I went into rentals full-time and we teamed up shortly after at Green Line Realty, which is now long gone.‍

‍

Got it. So once you’re out of school and working full-time, how did things start to evolve?
Fred: We began leveraging the relationships we'd made with landlords. We started selling property for them and creating investment sales out of that. Even if it meant managing a building for a year, we'd make a big commission selling it later. The numbers were so good that landlords were compelled to invest, and we'd manage or resell it for them.

That built up our bankroll so we could start finding our own opportunities. We started buying condominiums and doing small conversions of existing properties.

Steve: Fred loved to live on the construction site. He'd buy a condo and I'd go over to see him. I remember looking over at a bathroom with no door, and a Ukranian guy was in there smoking while working. I was like, "Hey, what's up?" The place wasn't usable, but Fred was always in the mix.

Fred: Yeah, that was my first place—a studio on Commonwealth Ave near BC. My parents were ten minutes away, so for the couple of days the bathroom was down I showered at their house. 

The 2000 block of Commonwealth was so dead at night I didn't even have parking. I'd just double park my car overnight, get up early, and move it. I’ve racked up so many tickets doing this job over the years, visiting sites, driving around to meet clients, I’d sometimes leave the old ones on hoping they wouldn't give me another. Didn't always work.

Steve: I think he added it up once. It was like a hundred grand over his rental career. His car always had a bouquet of tickets on it.

‍

That’s funny. So you were both working at Green Line Realty. How long were you there before planning to go out on your own?
Steve: No more than two years. We had a call with the owner while he was skiing in France. We'd just crushed it that month, I think we grossed $100,000 in sales, so we offered to partner with him and grow together. He didn't see the value, so we moved on and opened another office.

Fred: We bought a dormant existing office around the corner, called City Realty Associates, and we changed the name to City Realty Group. There were two years left on the lease, but we knew we could make that back in a month or two and have a roof over our heads. We eventually bought the unit next door too, which was three or four times the size and gave us a proper office.

‍

So it's the two of you to start. How do you build the business?

Fred: At first we focused exclusively on sales—larger deals, bigger commissions. We filled the office with younger brokers, built a presence across the city, and grew smaller sales listings like condos.

We also sold our own small condo conversions through the office, giving the new brokers deals to cut their teeth on. A lot of offices actually spawned from ours—people worked with us for a few years then went out on their own and often we still did business with them. Plus we were opening more of our own offices.

Then after a few years, we had all these offices and properties popping up and realized it wasn't what we wanted. So we sold some of the offices and transitioned from brokerage to ownership.

‍

And managing brokers was just too much?
Steve: Yeah, it was like herding cats. Good ones stayed a year or two then left. We were always rebuilding the team. We got tired of it and decided owning real estate was the better path. The challenge was making that switch to what's essentially a different business while supporting ourselves during the transition.

How many years in were you when this switch happened?
Fred Starikov: Maybe four. By late 2007 into 2008, the crash hit. Before that, we'd built a pretty good portfolio in Lynn, Massachusetts. It was a long commute, but when Boston was too competitive, Lynn was where we could find larger properties. Some were mixed-use—retail and office as well as residential. We had successes, like taking a 50% occupied building to 98% and then selling it.

Steve Whalen: Before that we landed a 32-unit building in Brookline. We got it at a good price, but the owner wanted to back out after getting a higher offer from Harold Brown  the next day. There was some litigation, but we eventually settled. 

‍

How did you actually manage to hold that deal together?
Fred: The bank initially agreed to finance both the purchase and construction, then backed out of the construction and said we had to put more down. But we still had to close.

The litigation was resolved when we reached a settlement. As part of the agreement, the sellers kept their two units—about 4,000 square feet with beautiful city views. We adjusted the price accordingly, and everyone was satisfied with the outcome.

But we didn't have construction financing. We didn't have the cash to fix up all the units. It was a tight time—other investments weren't performing well either. We sold some assets, raised money, and focused on interior renovations.

‍

Was that a turning point in how you thought about what to renovate and what to leave alone?
Fred: Definitely. We cobbled it together and started selling the units as condos. Then we found out Brookline buyers often prefer to renovate themselves. We realized that for us, it wasn't worth doing a high-end renovation. Sometimes just painting, redoing floors, fixing common areas, and selling for a little less was faster and more profitable. It was counterintuitive, but it worked. Brookline was—and still is—a strong market.

‍

So selling that building gave you money to reinvest during the real estate disaster of 2008–2012. What did that period look like for you?
Steve: We got going before the crash in '08, but tightened our belts through that and came out able to buy a lot of property around Boston. We built up our portfolio quickly with residential—mostly three-families—by assembling partners and investors and buying distressed property across the city and beyond. Real estate wasn't sexy then. 

I remember standing in a foot of water in a basement of a three-family and we'd just bought 10 of these and thinking, are we doing the right thing? All the older landlords told us we were crazy. But we looked at the prices and thought, this is so cheap we have to figure this out.

At that time we got good at zoning, learning how to add value by getting approvals for more units. And then we started building. Without even noticing, we'd become a construction company.

What do you think separates developers who can scale by juggling multiple projects at once, and those who never do?
Steve: It's a lot of different skill sets—hiring the right people and realizing what teams you need. A lot of our people stay for either a couple of weeks or 15 years. We have stellar employees who've been with us many years, some growing into new positions. For example, our CFO started as an unpaid intern while he was at UMass getting his finance degree. He became a rental agent, then moved into the office, and now he's one of the best in the city. Mentoring and giving people runway brings loyalty—and great work.

‍

What do you think makes people stay with you for the long haul?
Steve: Everybody feels confident to have their voice at the table. There's a book we give to everyone who onboards—Team of Teams by Stanley McChrystal. He refined the approach in Iraq and Afghanistan, trying to get ahead of the problems they faced there. We onboard with that—it's about communication so information doesn't get lost, and making sure we get feedback from everyone. People feel comfortable speaking and making decisions. Once they have autonomy, the company's stronger—we're not answering a hundred thousand questions on things that are already handled.

Fred: It's really hard and expensive to scale. A lot of very talented landlord-developers purposely keep things small. Small staff, doing a lot themselves, operating their portfolio. Maybe they don't have the desire to grow—or they grow very slowly. We took a higher-volume approach, which means you have to scale, expand, hire and manage teams.

‍

Let's talk about some of the bigger projects in recent years. Was there one in the last 8–10 years that felt like a gamble?
Fred: I wouldn’t say there’s one that felt like a huge gamble, it’s more that we’ve naturally progressed to larger deals—and moved into other commercial sectors. We still do smaller deals.

We have a hotel conversion of an office building we're working on, with the opening about two and a half years away. We also own some bars and restaurants, including a high-end sushi restaurant in Chestnut Hill called XOXO Sushi. We partnered with an amazing chef. It opened about 15–17 months ago and he's already received a lot of awards and accolades.

We also bought a portfolio of bars from a legendary bar owner, Henry Vara. At one point he owned 60–70 liquor licenses in Boston, plus clubs and bars. He was even a co-owner of Studio 54 in Florida. He passed away a few years ago. From him we got some famous dive bars in Boston, and a couple others we later sold off.

That’s very cool. And you’re still investing in offices too, even given remote work?
Steve: Yeah. We still think offices are necessary so people can learn by osmosis, have real team interactions, and bring younger people up in the business. So there's a place for offices. Will it be a reduced market? Yeah. What I fear in Boston is a doom loop where downtown gets uglier and uglier, we're hoping the city takes that seriously with promotion of retail tenants and keeping the city alive through transition.

In class B real estate, which is where we're investing, a lot is getting converted. Not much new is being built. We think supply will reduce and that'll tighten things up eventually. 

‍

Can you share a bit more on your approach or strategy there?
Fred: We're buying commercial office buildings in downtown and other towns. Some of them we're converting to other uses, but others we're keeping as office. A lot of owners get stuck where they don't have money to do the buildout for tenants or to pay the broker. They can't really rent their space. They're in a catch-22. We're buying these office buildings at 50% of what the current owner paid. Sometimes these are equivalent to 20-years-ago pricing.

It's a precarious market because some buildings have no path. There's too much competition, too much vacancy. If you're in an office park in a suburban town, for example, and nine out of nine of the buildings around you have 50% vacancy and tenants looking to leave, you've basically got a building you're paying taxes and operating expenses  for without tenants. You have to be smart about what you buy.

‍

I saw on your site it mentioned being a partner to communities. How do you approach that?
Steve: It’s important to us to keep the flavor of the town, so we always want to work with local people and local businesses. For example, Orchard Skate—a respected Allston skateboard company—left for the North End. We courted them back to Allston for one of our projects because they add so much to the area. We also work with local artists. We commission paintings for all our buildings—each floor has a piece. It adds vibrancy and you can see it in the results. Rentals or sales move quicker after that. Listening to what people want in the neighbourhood is key, and it helps support local people too.

City Kids came out of that. What first sparked the idea—and how has it grown since?
Steve: Once we started making a little money, we wanted to give back. The millennials on our team didn't just want jobs, they wanted to contribute, and we really liked that. In the beginning we didn't know what direction to take. But I’d notice in some of our apartments there would be kids without books or computers at home—no fertilizer for intellectual growth. So we started small, buying every child in our apartments a subscription to National Geographic, thinking it might spark their curiosity and discover something that interests them.

From there we looked at other ways to engage. We support all kinds of sports, and because a few people in the office surf, we started surf camps up in New Hampshire at Cinnamon Rainbows. We've been doing that for about 10 years, bringing city kids up there. Some don't even know how to swim—it blows their minds. Even a simple drive out of the city to try something new is huge.

‍

That’s awesome. What’s the main focus for City Kids today?
Steve: Right now we're focused on financial education. Our mantra early on was that financial education is more important than algebra, because so many kids don't have those basic skills and they fall behind. We've embedded in a number of public schools to engage kids. We have someone who teaches the curriculum twice a week for open periods, and students sign up. It's been really good. At Brighton High, average attendance is 50%, and the ones who show up aren't always engaged. It's eye-opening. Our hope is that Boston Public Schools adopt it as a curriculum once they see results.

We're also focused on arts. They've been neglected, but we believe they're essential for well-rounded development. We've teamed up with local artists for seminars and projects with kids. One project connects with Nepal. In Nepal, if a mother goes to prison, her kids go with her. Conditions are terrible—disease, trafficking, no support. A woman there takes the kids out and puts them into group homes and schools. We've been supporting her for nearly 10 years. Now we're planning an arts collaboration between artists in Nepal and Boston, with kids from both places.

Anything under City Kids you haven't done yet that excites you?
Steve: You just have to know your limitations. Right now, it's a good size—manageable. We've got people working from all kinds of disciplines—education, finance, arts. Finding the right person with the right passion. For example, in our Nepal–Boston artist exchange, we want a good videographer to document it. Boston's full of talent—it's just about finding the right people who get the project.

‍

Looking ahead—how do you see the trajectory?
Fred: We focus on multifamily residential, rental or condo. Like Steve mentioned, there's been a lot of opportunity in offices, although very few deals make sense right now with high interest rates and construction costs. We've still managed to find enough worthwhile deals, sometimes with conversion opportunities. And then there's City Kids, which we’re always excited about and proud of, so we want to keep scaling the impact of that.

[Tim McHale]

Great points Tony.   I trust the neighborhood will echo your points in the comment period.  Thanks.  Tim

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[David Strati]

Looks like City Realty is like most other developers. Are the affordable apartments really affordable? Although the City kids program seems like a step in the right direction.

Dave

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bacommunitycoalition/1110115318.2223318.1761766537948%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

BC Task Force Meeting
Boston Planning Department
Thursday, October 30, 2025, 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Description:
The Planning Department is hosting a Task Force Meeting to discuss their recently filed Boston College Institutional Master Plan https://www.bc.edu/content/dam/bc1/offices/govt-comm-aff/pdfs/10-10-2025%20BC%20IMPNF%20for%20Renewal.pdf Renewal with No Changes for the period of 2025-2029.
How to Participate
Please register for the meeting using the following Zoom link:
bosplans.org/BCTaskForce1030
Meeting ID: 161 937 6138
Toll-Free Call-in Number: 160 282 3355

Email Contact: nick....@boston.gov

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Warrior Ice Arena

HALLOWEEN FUN LINEUP 🎃👻
Friday, October 31st | 9pm - 9:50pm:
Halloween Costume Rock 'n Skate - We've got the perfect Friday night activity for post-trick-or-treating!
Saturday, November 1st | 11:30am - 2pm:
Spooktacular Membership Event — costumes, skating, snacks, and pumpkin decorating fun for all!
Skating from 11:30am-12:20pm
$10 per Person (Must be a member)
Not a member? Join today to take advantage of this event and plenty of other perks!

[Julie Kenny]

Who owns the land once the affordable housing is built?  Is this a 99 year ground lease from the City or are you handing over the land at no cost and a developer owns and runs it after?  That is not clear in the ordinance.

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[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

Tomorrow! Kids ages 7-11 can join Rosalba Solis for an introduction to Meso-American/Aztec music and dance. Learn some basic steps and then use them to dance to authentic music featuring percussion and wind instruments. No registration required!

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

24 Larose Place Abutters Meeting
Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services
Monday, November 3, 2025, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Proposal: Extend living space from Unit Two into the attic, add dormers and remodel second floor per architectural plans.
The purpose of this meeting is to get community input and listen to the resident's positions on this proposal. This is a virtual meeting via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81464729910
Meeting ID: 814 6472 9910
Please note, the City does not represent the occupant(s)/developer(s)/attorney(s)/applicant(s).

Email Contact: Sigurgeir Jonson (sigurgei...@boston.gov)

Property Owner: Antonetta Antonellis TS
24 Larose Place, Brighton, MA 02135

24 Larose Place (2101877000)
Property Type: Two Family
Owner Occupied: Yes
Lot Size: 50.10’ X 100.21' X 50.10' X 100.21' = 5,010 sf
Living Area: 3,132 sf
Year Built: 1935
Zoning SubDistrict: 2F-5000 (Two-Family Residential)

[Paul Creighton]

Anthony:

Following up on your recent email (10-29-25 ) Allston Square Merry-Go-Round  and  according to the recent  BPDA/BRA Public Notice of October 27,2025 regarding City Realty's request for changes to their nearly ten (10) years old Allston Square Development Application  it appears that the only thing the ACA can do is get a "public official" to ask the City of Boston for a Public Hearing within 14 days of the Notice.. 

Otherwise there is or has been no community review of what's been going on between City Hall and the City Realty Development Team vis a vis Allston Square..

The Public Notice states that these changes are to be processed, as "an Expedited Notice of Project Change at "staff discretion" focusing strictly on mitigation to offset reduced parking count".    After 10 years of planning the BRA/BPDA need for an  expedited treatment of this Allston Square Application begs the question  "what's the big hurry now".

 

Now a City Realty recent letter suggests that  this City Realty's Project Change  is  for clarification and doesn't involve significant change to the existing plan. They also suggest that this is the only feasible option to advancing their project is to reduce parking.   Parking is certainly a significant  matter in the surrounding area.

Developers' financial vicissitudes and hardships are neither the Zoning Board of Appeal nor the community's concern.   It is a function of the American way of the real estate business. Does eliminating parking allow for more lower cost rents for renters?  Now that would be a community benefit.

The intersection of Harvard Ave and Cambridge St is targeted by real estate developers and City of Boston Planning Department for higher and denser buildings with virtually no parking available.  The 9 story high rise with a hundred plus units  built above a nightclub and a tavern for the alleged rebirth of Allston Rock City having no parking spaces, the 160 unit development where the post office was,  a hotel at Wilton and Cambridge St with no parking.  Don't forget the wall of apartments, up or planned, along Braintree St  up to Hano St. and Union Sq.   Think of the parable of the person that built the boat in his basement forgetting that he would have to get it out.   iI is a BPDA/BRA/City Hall project called Allston Immobility.

This willy nilly, one at a time, approval by the City of Boston of projects in this part of Allston that continues unabated makes a mockery of the concept of rational planning, especially in light of the vaunted Article 80 charade.  The more the City improves Article 80 process the more obscure, arcane and centralized it operates. Community input is virtually non-existent.

The only option  is to recruit a concerned public official, there must be one,. to request an open meeting in order to illuminate the process for more transparent public decisions about City Realty intentions for the former Jack Young properties.

Paul

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[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Municipal Election (Ballot Position)
Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 7:00 am – 8:00 pm
Find Your Polling Location: https://www.sec.state.ma.us/VoterRegistrationSearch/MyVoterRegStatus.aspx
Vote by Mail: All ballots must reach the Election Department or a ballot box by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Accessible Voting: Accessible Electronic Voting System online until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

Mayor
Michelle Wu, Roslindale, Present Mayor

City Councilor At-Large
Erin J Murphy, Dorchester, Present City Councilor At-Large
Will Onuoha, Dorchester
Henry A Santana, Roxbury, Present City Councilor At-Large
Marvin Dee Mathelier, Roxbury, Veteran
Alexandra E Valdez, Hyde Park
Ruthzee Louijeune, Hyde Park, Present City Councilor At-Large
Julia Mejia, Dorchester, Present City Councilor At-Large
Frank K Baker, Dorchester, Former District City Councilor

District City Councilor
District Nine
Pilar Ortiz, Brighton
Liz A. Breadon, Brighton, Present District City Councilor

[Paul Creighton]

a

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

164 Brighton Avenue Abutters Meeting

Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services

Wednesday, November 5, 2025, 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Proposal: “Holdfast Specialty Seafood Rolls” seeking wine & malt beverages license designated for a Main Streets District, closing at 11 p.m.
The purpose of this meeting is to get community input and listen to the resident's positions on this proposal. This is a virtual meeting via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89439298374
Meeting ID: 894 3929 8374

Please note, the City does not represent the occupant(s)/developer(s)/attorney(s)/applicant(s)

[David Strati]

I agree with Paul that we sure are building an awful lot in an already crowded area.

dave

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Immigration agents raid Allston car wash and detain several workers (Camito Fonseca, Boston Globe: November 4, 2025)

Immigration agents raid Allston car wash, eight detained

Allston Car Wash was raided by immigration agents on Tuesday morning. Eight 

employees were detained. Submitted Photo

Eight car wash workers in Allston were detained by people believed to be federal immigration agents Tuesday morning in the largest such workplace raid in the area in recent memory.

The manager of the Allston Car Wash said eight employees were detained, out of the 22 that were working that morning. Many of them, he said, held legal status, but were unable to immediately produce their documentation to the agents.

“Some people left their property, their work permits in their lockers here,” he said. “I could bring it to them and get them released. But I don’t know where they are.”

It wasn’t clear who made the arrests. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement did not immediately comment.

By noon Tuesday, the parking lot in front of the car wash was nearly deserted.

The garage doors were shut, despite the busy hum of traffic on Cambridge Street. Inside the office, the manager talked on the phone, explaining to a customer that they were closed for the day. Next to him, two employees sat silent, visibly shaken, holding their heads in their hands; both of them said they had been jostled by immigration agents and forced to show identification.

They did not want to be identified out of fear of retribution, and because they were not authorized to speak on behalf of the company.

Exterior of Allston Car Wash, which was raided by immigration agents Tuesday morning.

Camilo Fonseca/Globe Staff

The raid occurred around 9:30 a.m., according to the manager. Over a dozen vehicles — one employee said they counted 17 — surrounded the business, blocking the entrances and telling customers in their cars to leave.

The raid was clearly a show of force, the manager said. “Why bring in an armored vehicle?” he said. “What are we, terrorists?”

“It’s not right,” he continued, adding that he is a US citizen. “I do everything right, and still they show up here to violate my rights. Just because I look Latino.“

City Councilor Liz Breadon, who represents Allston, said in an interview Tuesday morning that her office was still working to determine the identity of the detained workers. The raid was alarming, she said, because “the scale of it is pretty immense.”

“These are honest, hard working immigrants who are our neighbors here in Allston,” Breadon said. “There’s great concern that they’ve been taken away from their workplace … It’s very, very distressing the scale of this, and the fact their families don’t know where they’ve been taken or what’s happened.”

Breadon said that Allston residents were long accustomed to living and working with immigrants in the community.

“We’re very pleased to have these folks live with us,” she said. “Their kids go to our schools. They work hard and they don’t cause trouble. So it’s very, very discouraging to see this happen to hard working people.”

This corner of Allston, near the intersection of Cambridge Street and Brighton Avenue, is heavily diverse. The car wash is flanked by an Eastern European food market and an Indian restaurant, with a Turkish café — playing Colombian music —not far down the road. News of the detentions spread quickly Tuesday, with many in the community expressing their anxiety that the long-feared immigration raids had come so close to home.

Kateryna, a young Russian immigrant who manages the market next door, said workers from the car wash would come in to her store several times a day, often buying lunch or groceries to take home. Most of them are men, from their 20s to their 50s, though there’s at least one mother and daughter that also work there, she said. All are friendly, she added; “They always remember us.”

On Tuesday, Kateryna — who also declined to share her name out of fear of retribution — wondered why she hadn’t seen any of them that day, until a volunteer from LUCE came in and asked her if she had video footage of the raid. LUCE is a volunteer network that monitors immigration enforcement in local communities.

Kateryna said the employees are “just people trying to live and work and make a life in the US. “

Even though her store caters mainly to Russian immigrants, there is no shortage of Hispanic customers. But after Tuesday’s raid, Kateryna worries that many of her customers and neighbors — Hispanic or not — will start staying home.

“It sounds horrible,” she said. “People are really scared.”

Emma Platoff of the Globe staff contributed.

[ARLENE SHELLY FERRARI]

Another agreement

Sent from AOL on Android

On Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM, ioannilli1 via BACC

<bacommunit...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I agree with Dave. Look at all the apartment complexes that are jammed in on Soldier's Field Rd where Sammy White's was. Time to slow down and deliberate. More, bigger and faster is not always the correct way.

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[Lexie Gross]

This will be such a great addition!!! 

Lexie Gross

le...@laex.net

+1 617 861-7700

On Nov 4, 2025, at 3:02 PM, Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com> wrote:

<164 Brighton Ave.jpg>

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[Anthony D'Isidoro]

85 Glenville Avenue Abutters Meeting

Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services

Thursday, November 6, 2025, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Proposal: “Pedro’s Kitchen” is seeking a common victualler wine and malt beverage license with cordials. If no licenses are available the application will be kept on file for up to two years. Closing time is 12 a.m.
The purpose of this meeting is to get community input and listen to the resident's positions on this proposal. This is a virtual meeting via Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88969225392
Meeting ID: 889 6922 5392
Please note, the City does not represent the occupant(s)/developer(s)/attorney(s)/applicant(s).

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

THIS Thursday, November 9, 6:30 PM at the Brighton Branch.

Released in 1977, The Amityville Horror professes to be the true experiences of the Lutz family in a house so haunted they fled after only 28 days after moving in. It inspired a cultural phenomenon including a number of theatrical adaptations. But controversy over its truthfulness has followed.

So much controversy that Unreal Reads, our fiction book club, will tackle the book as a horror narrative!

*

From the book description:

The bestselling true story about a house possessed by evil spirits, haunted by psychic phenomena almost too terrible to describe.

In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into their new home on suburban Long Island. George and Kathleen Lutz knew that, one year earlier, Ronald DeFeo had murdered his parents, brothers, and sisters in the house, but the property—complete with boathouse and swimming pool—and the price had been too good to pass up.

Twenty-eight days later, the entire Lutz family fled in terror.

This is the spellbinding, shocking true story that gripped the nation about an American dream that turned into a nightmare beyond imagining
.
#libraries #bookclubs #boston

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

Adults are invited to a special presentation from Boston Armizare, a historical fencing club based in Allston! Thursday, November 6, 6:30 PM at the Brighton Branch.

Boston Armizare will give a presentation on the combat manuals that inform the study of modern longsword and rapier fencing, and how duels might have looked in medieval and Renaissance Europe.

They'll introduce attendees to the world of Fiore, Fabris, and more as they break down just how we know what we know about fighting with swords. They'll also have a live demonstration of what a duel might have looked like. There will be a chance for the audience to handle some training weapons as well!

Please note that seating is limited and there is a chance that our chairs will fill up for this event.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

In the aftermath of a teacher strike: union-endorsed candidates defeated in Newton School Committee shakeup (Katie Muchnick, Boston Globe: November 5, 2025)

Newton's election: teacher's union candidates lose in school committee race

Newton teachers and supporters displayed placards and chanted during a rally, Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2024, 

outside of city hall. An 11-day teachers strike was among the longest in recent history in 

Massachusetts. Steven Senne/Associated Press

In a matchup of endorsements pitting the local teachers union against Newton’s newly elected mayor, the new power broker at City Hall won big last night.

School committee candidates backed by Marc Laredo, Newton’s next mayor, swept the field defeating contenders supported by the Newton Teachers Association.

The election was largely seen as a referendum on a strike that shut down Newton’s public schools for 11 days in January 2024, among the longest teachers strikes in Massachusetts’ recent history.

Laredo had backed Benjamin Schlesinger, Jonathan Greene, and Victor Lee who cruised to comfortable margins of victory.

Candidates backed by the Teachers Association — Jenna Miara, Mali Brodt, and Jim Murphy — generally supported the teachers during the 2024 strike.

“I think it’s telling us that [voters] don’t appreciate the union meddling in school politics,” said Greg Reibman, president and CEO of the Charles River Regional Chamber.

Election turnout was higher than in previous off-election years, with nearly 38 percent of the electorate voting compared to 28 percent turnout in 2023. Reibman attributed this mostly to the school committee election.

“Laredo’s coattails are pretty good,” Reibman said of the mayor elect‘s sway. “It was pretty clear that people were driven by the endorsement or driven by concerns for whether or not the candidates were too aligned with [teachers unions].”

In Newton’s Ward 5, Schlesinger beat Miara with 56 percent of the vote, according to the city’s unofficial results. Greene clinched the Ward 6 seat over Brodt with 58 percent of the vote. And in Ward 8, Lee earned 68 percent of the vote to defeat Murphy.

In the other competitive race, Linda Swain defeated Christine Fisher with 60 percent of Ward 2’s vote. Neither candidate sought the teachers union’s endorsement, though Swain was also backed by Laredo and other city councilors.

Last year’s strike was triggered by a contract dispute leading Newton educators to walk off the job, shuttering schools and sharply dividing the community. This year, a contentious budget debate saw Mayor Ruthanne Fuller at odds with the school committee over how to fund the city’s schools as the district confronted rising costs.

Current school committee chair Chris Brezski, who decided not to run for reelection, said that he does not see the election outcome entirely as a response to the teacher strike.

“There were some fundamental differences between the candidates who won and their opponents, in terms of what the direction forward for the schools are,” Brezski said, highlighting resistance against common curriculum and common assessment.

Renegotiating the teachers contract, which expires in the summer of 2027, will be a priority for the newly-elected committee, Brezki said.

Incumbents Tamika Olszewski and Alicia Piedalue ran unopposed for the school committee, as did newcomer Jason Bhardwaj. In Ward 1, Arriana Nicole Proia had faced Christie Gibson in the race, but Gibson dropped out.

In Beverly, where teachers also went on strike last year for 12 days, candidates endorsed by the teachers union had more luck, winning four of the five contested races for city council and the school committee.

“These results reflect a strong community mandate for public education and a commitment to the well-being of Beverly’s students and educators,” the Beverly Teachers Association said in a statement.

[Paul Creighton]

Citizens:

please review this thread of comments 

Paul

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com>

Date: Wed, Nov 5, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Subject: Fwd: [AB2006] The Allston Square Merry-Go-Round!
To: Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com>

Forwarded Conversation
Subject: [AB2006] The Allston Square Merry-Go-Round!
------------------------

----------
From: 'Tim McHale' via AllstonBrighton2006 <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 3:35 PM
To: <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com>, cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com>, Allston - Brighton Google Group <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>

Great points Tony.   I trust the neighborhood will echo your points in the comment period.  Thanks.  Tim

Sent from AOL on Android

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.

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----------
From: David Strati <da...@uniformsforamerica.com>
Date: Wed, Oct 29, 2025 at 4:43 PM
To: <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com>, Allston - Brighton Google Group <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>

Looks like City Realty is like most other developers. Are the affordable apartments really affordable? Although the City kids program seems like a step in the right direction.

Dave

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bacommunitycoalition/1110115318.2223318.1761766537948%40mail.yahoo.com.

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----------

From: Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 3, 2025 at 1:44 PM

To: <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>, Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com>, Tim McHale <bostonm...@aol.com>

Anthony:

Following up on your recent email (10-29-25 ) Allston Square Merry-Go-Round  and  according to the recent  BPDA/BRA Public Notice of October 27,2025 regarding City Realty's request for changes to their nearly ten (10) years old Allston Square Development Application  it appears that the only thing the ACA can do is get a "public official" to ask the City of Boston for a Public Hearing within 14 days of the Notice.. 

Otherwise there is or has been no community review of what's been going on between City Hall and the City Realty Development Team vis a vis Allston Square..

The Public Notice states that these changes are to be processed, as "an Expedited Notice of Project Change at "staff discretion" focusing strictly on mitigation to offset reduced parking count".    After 10 years of planning the BRA/BPDA need for an  expedited treatment of this Allston Square Application begs the question  "what's the big hurry now".

 

Now a City Realty recent letter suggests that  this City Realty's Project Change  is  for clarification and doesn't involve significant change to the existing plan. They also suggest that this is the only feasible option to advancing their project is to reduce parking.   Parking is certainly a significant  matter in the surrounding area.

Developers' financial vicissitudes and hardships are neither the Zoning Board of Appeal nor the community's concern.   It is a function of the American way of the real estate business. Does eliminating parking allow for more lower cost rents for renters?  Now that would be a community benefit.

The intersection of Harvard Ave and Cambridge St is targeted by real estate developers and City of Boston Planning Department for higher and denser buildings with virtually no parking available.  The 9 story high rise with a hundred plus units  built above a nightclub and a tavern for the alleged rebirth of Allston Rock City having no parking spaces, the 160 unit development where the post office was,  a hotel at Wilton and Cambridge St with no parking.  Don't forget the wall of apartments, up or planned, along Braintree St  up to Hano St. and Union Sq.   Think of the parable of the person that built the boat in his basement forgetting that he would have to get it out.   iI is a BPDA/BRA/City Hall project called Allston Immobility.

This willy nilly, one at a time, approval by the City of Boston of projects in this part of Allston that continues unabated makes a mockery of the concept of rational planning, especially in light of the vaunted Article 80 charade.  The more the City improves Article 80 process the more obscure, arcane and centralized it operates. Community input is virtually non-existent.

The only option  is to recruit a concerned public official, there must be one,. to request an open meeting in order to illuminate the process for more transparent public decisions about City Realty intentions for the former Jack Young properties.

Paul

----------
From: Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 3, 2025 at 8:04 PM
To: David Strati <da...@uniformsforamerica.com>, Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com>, <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>, Homeowners Union of Allston-Brighton <homeowners-union-o...@googlegroups.com>, Brighton Allston Community Coalition <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com>, Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com>

a

----------
From: David Strati <da...@uniformsforamerica.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 4:31 PM
To: Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com>
Cc: Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com>, <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>, Homeowners Union of Allston-Brighton <homeowners-union-o...@googlegroups.com>, Brighton Allston Community Coalition <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com>

I agree with Paul that we sure are building an awful lot in an already crowded area.

dave

----------
From: <ioann...@aol.com>
Date: Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
To: <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com>, <creight...@gmail.com>
Cc: <anthony...@msn.com>, <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>, <homeowners-union-o...@googlegroups.com>, <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com>

I agree with Dave. Look at all the apartment complexes that are jammed in on Soldier's Field Rd where Sammy White's was. Time to slow down and deliberate. More, bigger and faster is not always the correct way.

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[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Mary Helen Black]

Thanks for sharing.  It certainly sounds like a series of bait and switches.

Where is our recently reelected city councilor on this issue and can't she put some weight behind it along with some of the at-large councilors that supported her. What about Mayor Wu?

Mary-Helen Black

On Nov 5, 2025, at 4:23 PM, Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com> wrote:



Paul

<City Realty.jpg>

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[ioann...@aol.com]

I agree with Dave. Look at all the apartment complexes that are jammed in on Soldier's Field Rd where Sammy White's was. Time to slow down and deliberate. More, bigger and faster is not always the correct way.

In a message dated 11/4/2025 4:31:07 PM Eastern Standard Time, da...@uniformsforamerica.com writes:

 

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[Paul R. Dixon]

I agree 119%!

🎭

On Nov 6, 2025, at 12:54 PM, ioannilli1 via AllstonBrighton2006 <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



a

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/allstonbrighton2006/596080668.2477551.1762292180511%40mail.yahoo.com.

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[Anthony D'Isidoro]

FYI Tony

---

From: Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com>

Sent: Friday, November 7, 2025 7:31 AM
To: Nick Carter <nick....@boston.gov>
Cc: Kairos Shen <kairo...@boston.gov>; Casey Hines <casey....@boston.gov>; Nupoor Monani <nupoor...@boston.gov>; Breeze Outlaw <breeze...@boston.gov>; Lorraine Kung <lorrai...@boston.gov>; Michelle Yee <michel...@boston.gov>
Subject: Boston College Institutional Master Plan Notification Form (IMPNF)Comment Letter

 

Hi Nick,

The impact to our community when colleges and universities fail to meet their responsibility of providing sufficient affordable on campus student housing has reached new heights in the exploitation of our neighborhoods and the adverse effects it has on our quality of life.

Lately, I have been made aware of numerous occasions when investors have purchased properties and redeveloped sites either as a matter of right or seeking zoning variances as a way to stage the property for what eventually will become mini dormitories that become so disruptive and unsettling to the abutting residents as well as exerting upward pressure on rents.

Housing units are being carved up to maximize occupancy levels and rents as demand remains strong given that many colleges and universities are not keeping up as enrollments continue to increase.

In promoting housing stability, neighborhood cohesion, and quality of life in student-dense areas, the City of Boston has two powerful tools at its disposal.

The City of Boston Code on University Accountability requires Boston-based post-secondary institutions to report annually on off-campus student housing, maintain student directories, and monitor compliance with zoning regulations and the 2008 zoning ordinance capping off-campus housing units at four undergraduates.

Local colleges and universities are required to provide addresses of off-campus students to the city, which helps the ISD identify potentially overcrowded units that may violate the rule of no more than four unrelated undergraduates living together. 

In essence, while Boston has a system for regular inspections and targeted student housing efforts, the sheer volume of properties and reported staffing/enforcement challenges suggest that keeping up with every single student apartment's condition can be difficult.

Boston College is doing irreparable harm to the fabric of our community due to a dereliction of their pledge in the Institutional Master Plan approved in 2009 to achieve 100 percent of undergraduate housing demand.

Since August 2016 IMP projects have consisted of construction of the Harrington Athletics Village, construction of the Fish Field House, construction of the Margot Connell Recreation Center, construction of the Peter Frates Center, construction of the Hoag Basketball Pavilion and construction of a Catholic Religious Archives building.

Five of the six IMP projects certainly enhance their standing in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) which they joined in July, 2005. For the 2023-24 academic year, according to new tax documents released by the league, the ACC distributed an average of $45 million to each of its 14 full-time member schools, a record for the conference.

According to “Boston by the Numbers 2025” a Planning Department Research Bureau publication, Allston’s Owner Occupancy rate now stands at 13% and Brighton at 19.5%.

I refuse to accept the self-fulfilling prophecy that return on investment will define us as a community.

  

It is time to refocus on what really matters.

Tony D’Isidoro

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Boston Vets

Calling all Veteran Families!

Join us this Saturday, November 8, 2025, for Boston’s annual Veterans Day Parade!

The parade kicks off at 12 PM from Copley Square, traveling down Boylston Street to Tremont Street, and concluding at City Hall Plaza, where a post-parade celebration will begin at 12:45 PM. Everyone is welcome to join the festivities!

The celebration will feature a speaking program, flag raising ceremony, and a special concert honoring our service members and Veterans. We’re proud to announce that acclaimed singer and musician Laura Bryna will perform live at City Hall Plaza following the parade.

We hope to see you there as we come together to honor those who’ve served!

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Jascha Franklin-Hodge, face of Michelle Wu’s changes to city streets, to depart administration (Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: November 7, 2025)

 

Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Boston's chief of streets, to depart

Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Boston's chief of streets, said he plans to leave his post ahead of Mayor 

Michelle Wu's second term. Erin Clark / Globe Staff

Jascha Franklin-Hodge, the city of Boston’s chief of streets, will leave his role at the end of the year, he confirmed Friday, a significant shake-up to Mayor Michelle Wu’s cabinet ahead of her second term.

Franklin-Hodge, a longtime public servant, has been the face of the Wu administration’s changes to city streets — not all of them universally embraced. Often applauded by transit advocates and cyclists, Franklin-Hodge has proven less popular among critics of the city’s new bike lanes, or those skeptical of the city’s plans to reshape Blue Hill Avenue.

The news of his departure comes just days after Wu decisively won reelection to a second term, and amid other high-profile staffing changes within her administration.

Wu’s chief of staff, Tiffany Chu, has also said she will leave before Wu begins her second term. Clare Kelly, a longtime fixture of Massachusetts politics who has led Wu’s intergovernmental relations team, is set to take her place later this month.

“It just feels like a natural time for a transition,” Franklin-Hodge said in an interview Friday. “In any administration, there’s always points where there’s moments of opportunity to go on to what’s next. And I am looking forward to having more time with my kids and the opportunity to figure out my next adventure.”

Franklin-Hodge previously worked as executive director of the Open Mobility Foundation, a public-private partnership to develop standards and tools for urban mobility. He previously served as Boston’s chief information officer under former mayor Martin J. Walsh.

The Dorchester Reporter first reported Franklin-Hodge’s departure.

In a statement, Wu praised Franklin-Hodge for having “set a foundation for continued improvement and service delivery.”

“Under Chief Franklin-Hodge’s leadership, our departments tackled longstanding challenges that helped improve and deliver basic city services and infrastructure more quickly than ever before,” Wu said. “Over the last four years, we built more miles of protected cycling infrastructure than ever before, repaved 102 miles of roadway, accelerated processes to build and fix sidewalks, improved trash pickup and snow removal, and modernized parking meters and streets management.”

The chief of streets post is an important and public-facing one. City streets have proven some of the trickiest political ground for Wu to tread during her first term.

Wu ran for office in 2021 as a champion for public transit and bike lanes, but has faced blowback from business leaders and neighborhood groups who say that cycling infrastructure has disrupted traffic flow or made it hard for their customers to find parking. In a Boston Globe/Suffolk University poll in July, half of respondents said the city’s bike lanes make it slower and less convenient to get around.

Research shows that bike lane infrastructure, such as flex posts, keep cyclists safer. The Federal Highway Administration in 2023 found posts “consistently resulted in a decrease in total crashes.”

In March, amid her reelection campaign, Wu launched a 30-day review of all street infrastructure changes. The project was led not by Franklin-Hodge, but by Mike Brohel, the city’s superintendent of basic city services.

The results, as summarized in a memo from Brohel to Wu: Pump the brakes and listen to community feedback.

“We heard consistent feedback that project communications and community engagement were inadequate, that decisions seemed predetermined, and that processes too often did not achieve consensus, contributing to a loss of community trust,” reads the memo. “Many felt that their feedback was given insufficient attention.”

In the months since, Wu has changed her tone somewhat on public transit, saying in a radio interview that “we just have to be more reflective” about urban infrastructure.

More challenges lie ahead for the mayor. Her administration has set an ambitious goal to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2030.

Wu also ran on a push for fare-free transit across the city. Four years in, she has eliminated fares for the 23, 28, and 29 bus routes, which run through Mattapan, Dorchester, and Roxbury, but the broader goal remains far out of reach.

“I would have hoped that we would have made more progress expanding free T” during her first term, Wu said in an interview last month.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

THIS MONDAY: Start your week off with a movie! Our November selection is The Intern starring Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway. Join us November 10 at 3:00 PM.

Run time: 2 hours, 1 minute. English subtitles.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

abcd | FUEL ASSISTANCE

INTAKE SITES 2025 – 2026

ALLSTON / BRIGHTON
Allston/Brighton NOC
640 Washington Street, Suite 201/202
Brighton, MA 02135
617.903.3640

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

City of Boston

Hey Boston — the 2025 Childcare Survey is here!

Are you experiencing challenges with before and after-school care?

We want to hear from you! Visit boston.gov/childcare-survey to share your experience.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

House energy chief signals effort to dial back 2030 climate commitments (Jordan Wolman, CommonWealth Beacon: November 6, 2025)

Any push to weaken or delay clean energy goals would thrust the state into a contentious debate in the middle of an onslaught of attacks from Washington

House energy chair signals effort to dial back 2030 climate commitments                - CommonWealth Beacon

THE POINT PERSON on energy policy in the House is planning to use Gov. Maura Healey’s pending energy affordability legislation as a vehicle to pull back on the state’s ambitious climate goals.   

Rep. Mark Cusack, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, intends to take aim at the emissions reduction commitments the state is racing to meet by 2030, he told CommonWealth Beacon in an exclusive interview. Cusack said he is still weighing options as to exactly what shape such a move could take.  

“We’re looking at the real possibility here, in the objective analysis, that we are not going to make our greenhouse reduction mandates,” Cusack said, emphasizing his goal is not to undermine the state’s clean energy commitments but rather ensure they are realistic. “I have not found anyone who says that we are going to make our mandates.” 

In 2021, Massachusetts passed legislation laying out interim targets, including a 2030 goal to cut pollution by 50 percent compared with 1990 levels, on top of a larger effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050.  

Cusack’s effort threatens to divide the Democratic supermajority on Beacon Hill, enrage climate advocates, and shake up the dynamics around volatile energy politics right at the start of winter — and Healey’s reelection bid.  

It would also shift the debate in the middle of both deep rollbacks to clean energy funding and climate regulations from the Trump administration and a heightened political sensitivity in Massachusetts to the state’s high energy costs that contribute to soaring costs of living. 

Healey filed her energy affordability bill with the Legislature in May. It calls for reforms to gas and electric charges and boosts in energy supply in an effort to save ratepayers $10 billion over the next decade.   

Cusack, a moderate Democrat from Braintree, said he is pushing for his redraft of the bill to receive a floor vote before lawmakers break for the year on November 19. Cusack has the support of House Speaker Ron Mariano, he added.

Cusack also said he plans to propose reducing the budget for Mass Save, the state’s signature energy efficiency program, to $4 billion in what would amount to a $500 million cut. State regulators approved a $4.5 billion budget for Mass Save earlier this year, though in so doing rejected a larger proposed increase. 

Mass Save is a ratepayer-funded collaboration among the state’s major utility companies to offer discounted energy efficiency upgrades like heat pumps and weatherization, but has become somewhat of a political punching bag since the program’s costs appear as a line item on utility bills. Cusack said he doesn’t want to hamstring the program’s substantive work, but takes issue with its advertising and administrative budget. 

And he rejected Healey’s proposal to reform Mass Save by allowing the utilities to borrow money through bonds as a “gimmick.” 

Cusack said in the interview that he’s concerned about the potential for legal challenges should the state fail to meet its 2030 commitments. Massachusetts did meet its milder 2025 emissions reduction goals, and state statute allows for some flexibility in missing the interim targets, since officials must report to the Legislature what are the “remedial steps that might be taken to offset the excess emissions and ensure compliance with the next upcoming limit.”   

“It’s definitely on my mind,” Cusack said about potential future litigation. 

It isn’t yet clear how Cusack plans to shift the climate commitments, including whether the 2030 goal would be lowered, delayed, or both. And Cusack pledged not to touch the larger 2050 goal to ensure that “we aren’t taking our foot off the gas.” 

But if Cusack, in his first year as chair of the committee, moved forward with some version of such a plan, it would put him at odds with some of the state’s other key power players. 

Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper told CommonWealth Beacon in an interview last month that adjusting or pushing back the state’s climate goals is “not our focus right now.” 

“Clean energy is the way that we’re going to be powering the future,” she said.  

It isn’t likely that Cusack’s counterpart on the Senate side, Michael Barrett of Lexington, who co-chairs the energy committee, would go along with such changes, either, given his influential role in crafting the 2021 climate legislation that Cusack is targeting.  

Cusack seemed to recognize that he’s teeing up a fight. 

“There will always be differences between the branches,” Cusack said. “But I think from the outcry we’ve heard from our constituents last winter, and just the reality of the attacks from the federal government, that this is a very responsible and responsive piece of legislation.” 

Cusack has previously said that “everything must remain on the table” as it relates to reassessing state climate targets.  

But his intention to use the energy affordability bill to specifically adjust the state’s 2030 commitments has not been previously reported and could test Beacon Hill’s resolve to defend the emission reduction goals enacted just four years ago that have formed the backbone of an economywide transition away from fossil fuels. 

Forcing lawmakers to go on the record with such a move would plunge the Legislature into an uncomfortable position. After President Trump won election a year ago, he moved swiftly to stop new offshore wind permits, yanked funding for clean energy technologies like electric vehicles, and ended tax credits for solar projects.  

That’s why, Cusack said, a move to ratchet back the state climate goals is a simple math question. To no fault of the state’s, the assault on clean energy from Washington likely means no new large-scale renewable generation will come on to the grid during Trump’s presidency, outside of the Vineyard Wind project that is already operating and a hydropower project slated to start delivering electricity soon from Quebec.  

That landscape, plus last winter’s outrage over high energy bills, is precisely what’s thrown the Healey administration into “all-of-the-above” energy mode, filing the energy affordability bill to attempt to remove ratepayer charges, speed up solar deployment, and even express openness to more natural gas.  

Still, an effort to touch 2030 commitments that are five years away is bound to galvanize environmental advocates who fought successfully for those goals under a Republican governor, Charlie Baker, and won in court to preserve them. In addition to the topline pollution reduction limits, there are targets for transportation, buildings, and other sectors. 

“They fought for them. I voted for them,” Cusack said. “I’m fully aware of the implications of doing anything with them, but we also need to live in reality.” 

When asked if the climate goals might be worth leaving in place for now to at least send the message that the state remains committed to a clean energy economy, Cusack responded that “the inverse of that is saying, ‘Don’t tell the truth.’ What’s the political benefit of that?”  

The House redraft also aims to boost solar generation in Massachusetts by speeding up interconnections for new projects, instituting a “safe harbor” provision to make it easier for solar projects to be placed in construction to qualify for expiring federal tax credits, and allowing municipalities to deploy more net-metered solar. 

Cusack said he supports Healey’s proposal to reduce the solar net-metering compensation rates, which are among the highest in the country, in an effort to lower electric bills.  

“These are sobering times, and you have to have an adult conversation about where we are,” Cusack said. “This is not an ideological thing. This is not, ‘I don’t believe in clean energy.’ This is none of that. This is just a fact-based analysis of where we are and where we’re going to be by 2030. None of us want to be in this position. None of us want to be having this conversation. We’re just trying to be the adults in the room.”

‘ We will fill the State House’: Advocates grid for a showdown over House plan to dial back climate commitments (Jordan Wolman, CommonWealth Beacon: November 7, 2025)

A fight is now brewing over Gov. Maura Healy’s energy affordability bill

‘We will fill the State House’: Advocates gird for a showdown over House plan to dial back climate commitments  - CommonWealth Beacon

ANY DEMOCRAT IN MASSACHUSETTS eyeing ways to slow down the state’s ambitious commitments to move away from planet-warming fossil fuels knows they’re asking for trouble with environmental advocates. 

That’s exactly what’s already playing out as a key member of the House prepares to advance a plan to ease 2030 climate targets and cut the budget for the state’s energy efficiency program.  

Rep. Mark Cusack, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, told CommonWealth Beacon that he is planning to use Gov. Maura Healey’s energy affordability bill filed earlier this year as a vehicle to achieve those policy points and others. He is aiming for his redraft of Healey’s legislation to receive a floor vote before lawmakers break for the year on November 19.  

Cue the outrage. 

“We will fill the State House,” said Larry Chretien, executive director at Green Energy Consumers Alliance. “This is going to be one of the bigger deals for the environmental community in a long time. We’re going to give it everything.” 

The effort is bound to divide the Democratic supermajority on Beacon Hill and test officials’ willingness to defend the state’s climate policies just as winter hits and Healey mounts a reelection bid.  

Cusack is arguing that because of a seismic crackdown on clean energy from the Trump administration, the state is likely to miss its goal to halve its emissions by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Keeping those short-term commitments on the books, then, is political and legal malpractice, he said, opening the state up to legal challenges. 

Plus, fury over sky-high energy bills last winter proved to Beacon Hill that officials need to do everything in their power to lower gas and electric costs, Cusack said. Those factors triggered Healey’s energy package, which aims to save ratepayers $10 billion over a decade, and pushed the state into “all-of-the-above” energy mode as the White House works to choke off new offshore wind and solar power.  

“We’re looking at the real possibility here, in the objective analysis, that we are not going to make our greenhouse reduction mandates,” Cusack said. “I have not found anyone who says that we are going to make our mandates.”

  

But Chretien, who successfully sued the state a decade ago along with other groups for Massachusetts’s failure to do more to combat climate change, said Cusack’s concern over litigation is a “boogeyman.” 

“At this point, we want Massachusetts to give its best effort,” he said. “We’ve got five years to go to move the needle on emissions. It’s way too early to think about that. I’m just looking for effort. We understand what the Trump administration is doing to climate policy and that makes it harder. So talk to me seven years from now.” 

Part of the pushback, too, is rooted in pure shock. 

“I never would have thought that we would ever, ever say that we were going to, based subsequently on something that is happening federally, turn and say, ‘Oh, well, maybe we need to delay or rethink.’ People are looking to us as to what to do because we have the trifecta,” said Cabell Eames, an environmental policy consultant with Castling Strategies. “If our state decides that it’s going to delay or rethink its climate targets, that is going to send shockwaves and a ripple effect across the United States that we just do not need at this time. There’s a whole economy that’s attached to this. This just isn’t the Massachusetts that I know.” 

Cusack is also proposing to cut Mass Save’s budget by $500 million as a way to save customers money, since the program is funded by ratepayers and appears as a line item on bills.  

He couched his actions by vowing not to touch the state’s larger commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050 and not wanting to hamstring Mass Save’s substantive work, instead focusing on reining in its advertising and administrative budget. 

But advocates warned that reducing the program’s budget will only exacerbate the state’s affordability crisis in the long run, not alleviate it. Mass Save is a collaboration among the state’s utilities to electrify and weatherize homes and install technologies like heat pumps that can significantly reduce energy bills.  

The program provided $2.8 billion in total benefits in 2024 and installed nearly 90,000 heat pumps over the past three years. 

“Massachusetts is starting to head somewhere where we should not head, which is trying to say that energy affordability and climate goals are competing goals and that we need to have either/or,” said Mary Wambui, co-chair of the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council’s energy equity working group, and a fellow at MassINC. (MassINC publishes CommonWealth Beacon.)  

Even with Mass Save’s issues – explored in a state auditor report that found that denser communities contribute more into the program but reap fewer benefits – such a cut is “penny wise and pound foolish” that would harm some of the most energy-burdened households in the state, said John Walkey, director of climate justice and waterfront initiatives at environmental justice organization GreenRoots.  

Cusack said he has House Speaker Ron Mariano’s support for his plan, though Ana Vivas, a spokesperson for Mariano, said he hasn’t yet taken an official position.  

“The speaker looks forward to reviewing the bill and discussing with his colleagues in the House,” Vivas said in a statement. 

Cusack appeared to recognize that his counterpart in the Senate, Michael Barrett of Lexington, isn’t likely to go along with the House redraft. Barrett declined to comment on the House effort, as did Senate President Karen Spilka.  

And Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper told CommonWealth Beacon last month that pushing back the state’s climate goals is “not our focus right now.”   

But in a sign of how far the pendulum has swung since the state adopted near-term climate targets just four years ago under Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, the Healey administration didn’t offer a robust defense of the clean energy commitments when asked on Friday. Karissa Hand, a spokesperson for Healey, simply said that “the governor will review the final version that reaches her desk.” 

“This is a big moment of truth” for Healey, Chretien said. 

The looming battle over the climate commitments, which could derail Healey’s energy agenda and dominate the final weeks on Beacon Hill before the new year, also shows that even deep-blue Massachusetts will have to contend with a shifting national mood around energy policy.  

Kyle Murray, Massachusetts program director at the nonprofit group Acadia Center, said in a statement that while the state must adapt to new roadblocks posed by the federal government, policymakers should “redouble efforts” to meet the climate targets. 

“Simply put, weakening targets is essentially granting the state permission to fail, and failure is not acceptable – certainly not five years before a deadline,” he said. 

While Chretien argues there’s growing public support for clean energy in general, the repercussions of Trump’s victory last year are giving officials pause. 

He said there is a real economic benefit to keeping the state’s climate targets in place given its valuable scientific and climate tech sectors that can flourish based on an economywide transition off fossil fuels that serves as the backbone of the green commitments.  

But there’s some symbolism in there, too. 

“If Massachusetts pulls back – let’s be honest, we don’t want to inflate our position in the world – but we are one of the most affluent, progressive places in the world,” Chretien said. “It sends an awful message to move the goal posts. There’s an opportunity for us to stay the course, do what we can on clean energy, and that will not happen if we backslide.” 

[David Strati]

I have to say there is nothing wrong with renters  or not owning a car. There is something wrong with building so many buildings so close together with no green space creating heat spots and so much pollution. Do we think we are leaving things better than we found them? Have pity on those that come after us. Do we really want to live like this?

Dave 

Sent from my iPhone

On Nov 8, 2025, at 12:15 AM, Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com> wrote:



Jascha Franklin-Hodge, face of Michelle Wu’s changes to city streets, to depart administration (Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: November 7, 2025)

 

Jascha Franklin-Hodge, Boston's chief of streets, to depart

<GlobeA.jpg>

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[Paul Creighton]

David:

Nicely put.

Jascha Franklin-Hodge didn't hit for 1000% but he did a commendable job in a difficult role of trying to balance the conflicting pressures of the bikeys, the jaywalkers and motorists in a hurry.

Good luck to him.

Paul 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/allstonbrighton2006/D43639D2-B1D2-460B-AA2F-6FABDD6432DB%40uniformsforamerica.com.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Allston-Brighton Health Collaborative

 

Clean air is a right—not a privilege. But if you live near the Pike/I-90, the air you breathe might not be as clean as it looks. That’s why we’re launching Breathe Easy, Allston-Brighton, a new community project to track local air quality and fight for cleaner, healthier air. Here are two key ways we’re inviting you to participate:

 

(1) Join us for our kickoff workshop event on Wednesday, Nov 12 at Charlesview! You’ll hear from folks who lived through and worked on the Pike’s construction in our neighborhood.

 

(2) Fill out the interest form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSetYMbh0Xq1ZuCSUoP3M_fVrc-_cce2-MJ7ZDwij_emrsOEBQ/viewform to join our air quality study! Every participant will get two free air monitors and an air purifier to keep. If you live within a mile of the Pike, you’re eligible.

 

See you this Wednesday!


 Wed, Nov 12 | 6–8 PM
 Charlesview, 123 Antwerp St, Brighton

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

 

Our NEW New Readers' Book Club meets for the first time this Wednesday, November 12, from 4:30-5:30 PM. This read aloud book club helps supports new and emerging readers practice and feel more confident when reading out loud as well as identifying new words and how to sound them out.

 

Best for children ages 6-8, but kids of any reading level are welcome to join and caregivers are welcome to help out. This month, we'll be reading "Mercy Watson to the Rescue" by Kate DiCamillo. Attendees will have the chance to check out the book to finish it at home after we meet.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Hello Everyone,

Per the Planning Department's expedited Notice of Project Change (NPC) process, and the distribution email, a public meeting is required at the request of a public official. 

I want to thank Councilor Breadon for her office's assistance with this request.

It appears a public meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday, December 3, 2025. (Details to Follow)

Tony

---

From: Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com>

Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2025 1:15 PM
To: cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com <cleveland-cir...@googlegroups.com>; Allston - Brighton Google Group <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>; Brighton Allston Community Coalition <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: The Allston Square Merry-Go-Round!

 

Hello Everyone,

I've been watching Steve and Fred since February 28, 2018, when they filed their Letter of Intent for the Allston Square Development Project which received BPDA Board approval on November 14, 2019.

On December 9, 2020, they filed their first Notice of Project Change "seek to clarify the breakdown of units and commercial spaces proposed,

properly identify the sites legal addresses as now recognized by the Boston Inspectional Services Department (“ISD”), amend the classification of some of the residential units from condominiums to rental units, and further describe the phased nature of the Project and accompanying mitigation agreed upon between the Proponent and the BPDA."  The Notice of Project Change was approved by the BPDA Board on June 10, 2021.

A Building Permit was granted on November 1, 2022.

On June 22, 2023, they filed their second Notice of Project Change "converting the previously approved dwelling units at the Project that are located in the buildings proposed for 8-12 Wilton St, 20 Braintree St, and 10 Highgate St from home ownership to rental units. The overall percentage of affordable units will increase from 14% to 17%. The minimum income levels of the residents eligible for these affordable units will be decreased".

The Notice of Project Change was approved by the BPDA Board on September 14, 2023.

On October 27, 2025, they filed their third Notice of Project Change "to reduce the parking programs at 1 Highgate St, 10 Highgate St, 20 Braintree St, and 8-12 Wilton St by lowering the number of off-street parking spaces or eliminating on-site parking entirely."

They want to build a hotel next door with no parking; you have Great Scott with no parking, 25-39 Harvard Ave with 58 spaces for 170 rental units.

We have to assume the MBTA plans to increase service levels given all the development projects in the pipeline for that neighborhood, right?

Being right down the street from the Mass Pike, how does the city plan to ensure that tenants who don't comply won't be chasing precious few on street parking spots.

If this gets approved, what next when you're holding a community hostage? Do we keep accepting City Realty's view of the world or do we find partners or buyers who are better positioned to finish Allston Square.

Tony

[Paul Creighton]

Anthony:

It appears that nice work performed by ACA and Councilor Breadon's Office.

Paul

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[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Teens who use weed before 15 are more likely to seek medical care, study says (Greta Cross, USA TODAY: November 3, 2025)

Researchers found that about 20% of nearly 1,600 surveyed young adults consumed marijuana before the age of 15.

Teens who use weed are more likely to seek medical care, study claims

A new study out of Canada says teenagers who use marijuana are more likely to seek physical and mental medical attention than their counterparts.

Published in the JAMA Network Open journal on Oct. 28, the study found that 20% of nearly 1,600 surveyed teens consumed marijuana before age 15. Acknowledging factors like parental demographics, socioeconomic status, cognitive development and peer influence, the researchers argued that marijuana drove these teens to seek medical care from a primary care physician, hospital or emergency room more than their counterparts.

Specifically, the study found that the teens and young adults required medical care for common mental disorders like anxiety and depression, a physical health condition, injuries and poisoning, and other physical diseases.

Pablo Martiìnez Diìaz, coauthor of the study, told USA TODAY his key takeaway of the study is that adolescents should avoid marijuana use, but if they do use it, the frequency should be low.

Marijuana advocates say study points to importance of regulation

Adam Smith, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, which aims to legalize cannabis in the United States, said the study serves as a "giant argument" for marijuana regulation.

Smith pointed to data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in late 2024 that found adolescent use of marijuana decreased in states where cannabis was legalized.

In 2024, 4.3% of eighth graders in 19 states where marijuana is legalized reporting using marijuana over a 30-day period. This was down from 7.2% of eighth graders in 2011.

Paul Armentano, deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, or NORML, echoed Smith.

"I think the most important takeaway is that if we want to keep young people away from using marijuana ... until they are much older, then the best and most effective way to do that is not by continuing the status quo of cannabis prohibition and non-regulation but by advancing policies that legalize and regulate cannabis and cannabis products to licenses cannabis businesses," Armentano told USA TODAY.

Canada legalized adult-use marijuana with the Cannabis Act in 2018. Under the legislation, adults 18 and up may purchase and consume marijuana. In the United States, regulation is held by the states, and in states where marijuana is legal, it's for adults 21 and older.

How was the study conducted?

The researchers studied 1,591 people as part of the Quebec Longitudinal Study of Child Development, a cohort that studied children born in 1997 and 1998 through age 23. Specifically, the team analyzed self-reported marijuana use in participants at ages 12, 13, 15 and 17.

What makes the study unique, Diìaz said, is how researchers were able to parse through variables that can skew results.

The researchers identified nine confounding factors in the study, such as parental demographics, socioeconomic status, cognitive development and peer influence. They then took these factors into consideration when analyzing why young adults would seek medical attention and how these factors worked in tandem with or separate from early marijuana use.

A deeper look at the study's findings

The study found that 325 participants – about 20% of the sample size – reported frequent use of marijuana before they were 15. These users consumed marijuana anywhere from one to two times a week to every day, according to the study.

Another 20% of the sample – 318 participants – reported using marijuana after they turned 15. These people, who began using marijuana in their late teens or early adulthood, did not seek out mental health care as frequently but had higher odds of seeking physical medical attention than those who didn't use marijuana at all, the study outlines.

The family factor

Though the researchers tried to weed out confounding factors in the study, some affected the outcomes regardless.

Notably, Diìaz said, teenagers whose parents used drugs were more likely to consume marijuana and, in turn, seek medical attention.

"You should put an eye not only on cannabis use but what is happening early in these children's lives, their parents are using or not," Diìaz said. "We should try to ... prevent substance abuse in parents of children who may be at risk of later cannabis use."

Armentano agreed and added that in many cases, young people turn to marijuana as a means to cope with pre-existing mental and physical illnesses, which makes the study's findings unsurprising.

"It is possible that they are turning to these substances as a coping mechanism because they're growing up in very difficult environments," he said. "In fact, the use of cannabis is in response to individuals suffering from those (physical and mental) symptoms and trying to address those symptoms through self medication."

The study's researchers also acknowledged that the number of reported teens and young adults who sought out medical attention may be skewed lower because some may avoid health care due to stigma or other risk factors.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

State Awards Climate Ready Housing Grants to 7 Projects In Boston

Grants will enable green energy retrofits and electrification at 7 developments throughout the city.

The Healey-Driscoll Administration today announced the 2025 recipients of the Climate Ready Housing (CRH) grant program, with seven Boston affordable housing developments receiving significant funding to advance deep energy retrofits and electrification projects. Administered by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and MassHousing, the program supports affordable housing properties statewide in reducing energy use, improving resilience, and contributing to the Commonwealth’s net-zero emissions goals.

“We are grateful to the Healey-Driscoll Administration and our state partners for recognizing Boston’s commitment to climate-ready housing,” said Chief of Housing Sheila A. Dillon. “By embedding energy efficiency and decarbonization into affordable housing development, we’re protecting residents from rising costs, enhancing quality of life, and strengthening our neighborhoods against the impacts of climate change.”

The development teams secured funding for several transformative projects that will upgrade over 275 affordable units across Roxbury, Fenway, South Boston, Dorchester, Jamaica Plain and Allston-Brighton. Together, these developments will lower carbon emissions, improve indoor air quality, and extend the lifespan of crucial affordable housing stock. The CRH program, created through the 2021 Economic Development Bond Bill and expanded under the 2024 Affordable Homes Act, awarded a total of $20.5 million statewide this year, with Boston projects representing a key share of the investment.

“Massachusetts can’t meet its housing goals without preserving and modernizing the affordable homes we already have,” said Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities Ed Augustus. “Climate Ready Housing helps owners tackle big-ticket upgrades — from insulation and electrification to next-generation heating and cooling — residents get cleaner air, reliable systems and more predictable costs. With support from MHP, MassHousing andLISC, we’re scaling this work statewide and keeping affordability and quality at the center of every project.”

“In these uncertain times, the commonwealth’s commitment to preserve critical affordable housing resources, improve the quality of life for vulnerable residents and move us toward meeting our climate commitments is more important than ever," said MHP Executive Director Clark Ziegler. “This $20 million investment supports those outcomes for more than 1,000 units of housing serving low-income individuals and families. We celebrate these innovative projects and the commitment of their collective teams to realizing climate-ready housing.”

“Achieving long-term energy affordability means retrofitting the affordable homes that we have today to make them more efficient to heat and cool and more comfortable to live in, while reducing fossil fuel consumption,” said Chrystal Kornegay, CEO of MassHousing. “These awards are an important component of our larger work to preserve and modernize the state’s affordable housing stock. And they demonstrate how our clean energy priorities and affordable housing agenda work together to create a more affordable Massachusetts.”

“Sustainable and energy-efficient homes are safe, healthy and affordable homes,” said LISC Massachusetts Executive Director Gustavo Quiroga. “The historic investment by the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Affordable Homes Act to increase the Climate Ready Housing program and related resources for affordable housing owners is critical to achieving our state’s housing and energy goals. LISC Massachusetts is proud of our work and partnership on this important program in its fourth year of helping preserve and improve essential housing in service of forging inclusive and resilient communities of opportunity across Massachusetts.”

Among the 2025 awardees are:

• Seaver Street Apartments, Roxbury – Commonwealth Land Trust will receive CRH funding for a deep energy retrofit of a 16-unit service-enriched property, including full insulation upgrades, electrification of building systems, and resilience measures projected to reduce energy use by 58 percent.

• Our Lady’s Guild House, Fenway – Led by the Planning Office for Urban Affairs and Fenway Community Development Corporation, this redevelopment will convert a historic lodging house into 86 affordable rental units, adding community space and supportive services while preserving a vital piece of neighborhood history.

• McDevitt Senior Homes, South Boston – South Boston Neighborhood Development Corporation will transform the former St. Augustine’s Convent into 35 affordable apartments for very low-income seniors and one on-site manager’s unit. The adaptive reuse project will preserve historic features while delivering a highly efficient, all-electric building.

• Brian J. Honan Apartments, Allston-Brighton – Allston-Brighton CDC will undertake a deep energy retrofit of a 50-unit affordable housing complex, achieving an anticipated 62 percent energy reduction and 51 percent cut in carbon emissions. The project also includes full electrification and on-site solar power generation.

• Franklin Field Apartments, Dorchester - The Boston Housing Authority will fully electrify seven buildings serving 129 households, improving building envelopes, replacing roofs, and modernizing apartment units. In partnership with National Grid, a centralized gas plant will be replaced by a networked geothermal heating system. The project is anticipated to reduce Energy Use Intensity by 68% and greenhouse gas emissions by 79%.

• Theroch Apartments, Dorchester -Urban Edge will undertake the rehabilitation of 15 buildings in Roxbury and Dorchester that serve low-income residents, all of which are approximately 100-year-old masonry buildings. Urban Edge plans to incorporate decarbonization measures into the project based on a comprehensive energy assessment that was partially funded with a technical assistance grant from MOH.

• Forbes Building, Jamaica Plain - To preserve 147 income-restricted senior housing units the Jamaica Plain Company will revitalize the Forbes Building to meet rigorous Passive House standards, substantially minimizing energy use. This deep retrofit includes advanced exterior cladding for superior insulation and the integration of an efficient, all-electric heating and cooling system. The project also enhances resilience through community features, notably developing a food forest and gardens to promote on-site production and activate resident gathering spaces.

Massachusetts Housing Partnership and MassHousing provide program administration on behalf of EOHLC, with additional support from LISC Massachusetts. Together, these efforts are ensuring that Boston’s affordable housing portfolio remains both equitable and sustainable for generations to come.

Last updated: November 10, 2025

Published by: Housing  

[Paul Creighton]

On the Chief of Streets

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

Join us THIS Thursday, November 13 at 6:30 PM for an engaging and interactive evening with Karina Liendo!

Karina's grandmother, Angela, often spoke about her Chilean origins, despite not knowing her birthplace. However, not remembering a place does not mean it is not a part of you. One day, Karina decided to address this by taking her mother and Angela on a journey. Join us and be part of the experience to discover Angela's birthplace.

After narration, Karina will share a simple recipe created by Angela. The audience will also have a chance to share their own family recipes. The program will conclude with traditional music where everyone is invited to dance!

RSVPs are appreciated. Call 617-782-6032, email KL...@bpl.org, or speak to the Brighton Branch front desk next time you're by.

This series is generously supported by The Baxter Fund.

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

In November, our nonfiction book club will discuss Susannah Cahalan's memoir, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness. Print copies available at the Brighton Branch front desk while supplies last.

THIS WEEK: We will meet Thursday, November 13 at 6:30 PM.

Nonfiction Night reads nonfiction across a wide variety of subjects. No registration required, you're welcome to drop in. We also welcome readers who decided not to or weren't able to finish the book –– as long as you're okay with spoilers.

*

About the book:

When twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan woke up alone in a hospital room, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, she had no memory of how she’d gotten there.

Days earlier, she had been on the threshold of a new, adult life: at the beginning of her first serious relationship and a promising career at a major New York newspaper. Now she was labeled violent, psychotic, a flight risk. What happened?

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Faneuil Branch of the Boston Public Library

Join us for a movement-based storytime from the Boston Ballet School. For kids ages 4-6.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Boston Police Department District D-14

 

Below you will find a link to the pre-survey in preparation for our Community Compstat meeting in December. So that we better understand attendee expectations, preferences and needs to ensure increased engagement and satisfaction, attendees are asked to fill out ahead of time. Any questions feel free to contact the Community Service Office at (617) 343-4376.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4Vpi-KDm0E2XrQ80nUJVapvnKvUJB3MvHbN4szwiYwcySSg/viewform

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Allston I-90 Multimodal Project Task Force Meeting
MassDOT
Thursday, November 13, 2025, 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

MassDOT is holding a hybrid (in-person/ online) I-90 Allston Multimodal Project Task Force Meeting. This meeting is open to the public.

If you’d like to attend virtually, please use the link to register via Zoom.

Please see details below to attend in-person.

Agenda

- Welcome/Introductions (10 minutes)
- Project Update (15 minutes)
- Early Action Project Considerations/Ideas (40 minutes)
- Worcester Regional Research Bureau: Express for Whom? Ridership, Recovery, and the Importance of the Worcester/Framingham Line (30 minutes)
- Next Steps (20 minutes)

Register for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/dbWQfTXGSGeI0LCyU4BzFw#/registration

Josephine A. Fiorentino Community Center
123 Antwerp Street, Brighton

Email Contact: I-90A...@dot.state.ma.us 

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Cheer on the Allston Brighton teams who are participating.

Game Schedule: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/17jMnAWxpt52GNFfPpfLxzZRXfp-6xGCngRkerJpyouA/edit?gid=0#gid=0

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

The Speedway

Through layered textures and evolving forms, Earth + Gesture by Aimee Heinnickel invites you to explore the intersection of self and landscape - where emotion takes shape in paint.

Gallery Hours: Friday 7–10 PM | Saturday 2–8 PM | Sunday 2–7 PM

Open by appointment — contact: Aimee.He...@gmail.com

[Julie Kenny]

The only one benefitting from this is City Realty. I think it should be reviewed and they should bring back the homeownership units that were dangled like a carrot in the original concept.  We need home ownership not just rentals and we need parking as well to make these units family friendly and usable for people who don’t work in downtown Boston.  

On Thu, Nov 6, 2025 at 4:58 PM Tyler Gabrielski <tga...@gmail.com> wrote:

The #1 way to guarantee more traffic is to build more parking. The city and state need as much housing built as possible to bring down costs and if they can't build it in locations that are fewer than 5 miles from downtown than they can't build them anywhere.

On Tue, Nov 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM ioannilli1 via BACC <bacommunit...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

I agree with Dave. Look at all the apartment complexes that are jammed in on Soldier's Field Rd where Sammy White's was. Time to slow down and deliberate. More, bigger and faster is not always the correct way.

In a message dated 11/4/2025 4:31:07 PM Eastern Standard Time, da...@uniformsforamerica.com writes:

 

I agree with Paul that we sure are building an awful lot in an already crowded area.

dave

On Mon, Nov 3, 2025 at 8:04 PM Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com> wrote:

a

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Paul Creighton <creight...@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Nov 3, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Subject: Re: [AB2006] The Allston Square Merry-Go-Round!
To: <allstonbr...@googlegroups.com>, Anthony D'Isidoro <anthony...@msn.com>, Tim McHale <bostonm...@aol.com>

Anthony:

 

Following up on your recent email (10-29-25 ) Allston Square Merry-Go-Round  and  according to the recent  BPDA/BRA Public Notice of October 27,2025 regarding City Realty's request for changes to their nearly ten (10) years old Allston Square Development Application  it appears that the only thing the ACA can do is get a "public official" to ask the City of Boston for a Public Hearing within 14 days of the Notice.. 

Otherwise there is or has been no community review of what's been going on between City Hall and the City Realty Development Team vis a vis Allston Square..

 

The Public Notice states that these changes are to be processed, as "an Expedited Notice of Project Change at "staff discretion" focusing strictly on mitigation to offset reduced parking count".    After 10 years of planning the BRA/BPDA need for an  expedited treatment of this Allston Square Application begs the question  "what's the big hurry now".

 

Now a City Realty recent letter suggests that  this City Realty's Project Change  is  for clarification and doesn't involve significant change to the existing plan. They also suggest that this is the only feasible option to advancing their project is to reduce parking.   Parking is certainly a significant  matter in the surrounding area.

 

Developers' financial vicissitudes and hardships are neither the Zoning Board of Appeal nor the community's concern.   It is a function of the American way of the real estate business. Does eliminating parking allow for more lower cost rents for renters?  Now that would be a community benefit.

 

The intersection of Harvard Ave and Cambridge St is targeted by real estate developers and City of Boston Planning Department for higher and denser buildings with virtually no parking available.  The 9 story high rise with a hundred plus units  built above a nightclub and a tavern for the alleged rebirth of Allston Rock City having no parking spaces, the 160 unit development where the post office was,  a hotel at Wilton and Cambridge St with no parking.  Don't forget the wall of apartments, up or planned, along Braintree St  up to Hano St. and Union Sq.   Think of the parable of the person that built the boat in his basement forgetting that he would have to get it out.   iI is a BPDA/BRA/City Hall project called Allston Immobility.

 

This willy nilly, one at a time, approval by the City of Boston of projects in this part of Allston that continues unabated makes a mockery of the concept of rational planning, especially in light of the vaunted Article 80 charade.  The more the City improves Article 80 process the more obscure, arcane and centralized it operates. Community input is virtually non-existent.

 

The only option  is to recruit a concerned public official, there must be one,. to request an open meeting in order to illuminate the process for more transparent public decisions about City Realty intentions for the former Jack Young properties.

 

Paul

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[Tyler Gabrielski]

[Lizzie Torres]

What’s wrong with rentals and why can’t families live in them? Many of them do right now in fact. 

And if they don’t work downtown- where do you think they work instead that automatically means getting a car?

I ask as a renter who is trying to start a family in Allston currently! 

Ps I don’t drive but I do use uber sometimes.

Looking forward to connecting!

Liz Torres, MPA

Artist Impact Allston

Phone: 617-505-9847

Book time with me here: https://calendly.com/lizzie-torres-92

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/bacommunitycoalition/CAD1MGaiTh9A%2ByWc0p%2BdVqsMpvkLB7S3Z4cnfcTyzbrM%2B0%2BciUQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Soaring costs, a tightening rental market, and a construction cliff: Greater Boston’s housing market is tougher than ever (Andrew Brinker, Boston Globe: November 12, 2025)

The Boston Foundation’s annual Greater Boston Housing Report Card outlines how the region’s housing crisis may only get worse

Housing prices are still soaring, per Boston Foundation report

Greater Boston has long been one of the most expensive places in the country to live.

Rents are among the highest in the United States, keeping pace with other ultra-expensive regions like New York and Los Angeles. And home prices in many places regularly eclipse $1 million, pricing most middle-class residents out of homeownership.

This year, those trends have only intensified, according to the latest edition of The Boston Foundation’s annual Greater Boston Housing Report Card, out Wednesday.

Here are the key takeaways from the report:

Greater Boston has one of the tightest rental markets in the US

By some measures, Boston has the most competitive rental market in the nation.

Greater Boston’s rental vacancy rate — a measure of demand that tracks what percentage of an area’s rental stock is unoccupied — was the lowest of any major metropolitan area, at just 3 percent in 2024, beating out the likes of New York and Washington, D.C. That has been the case for a few years now, and anyone who has tried to rent an apartment around here should not be surprised. (While vacancies have ticked up in some Boston neighborhoods due to fewer international students coming to the city this year, the city and regionwide vacancy rates are still low.)

It also makes sense, then, that rents here are among the nation’s highest, too.

While rents briefly dipped at the height of the pandemic, they’ve mostly only risen for decades. And while different companies that track rents have different measures of the median rent here (estimates range from $2,400 a month at the low end to closer to $3,500 at the high end), they mostly all agree that Boston is near the top of the charts.

The report card ranks Boston as the fifth-most expensive region in the country, citing data from Zillow’s Observed Rent Index. According to Zillow, Boston only trails San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, and New York.

Housing construction is about to hit a wall

The production of new homes in this region has been relatively anemic for years, but Greater Boston did see a surge in new housing permits in 2021 and 2022 in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Those permits are paying off now, as most of the projects that were approved in that period have finished up over the last year or so, or will soon, according to new census data.

That’s a good thing, especially given the Healey administration’s goal of building 222,000 new units by 2035.

The bad news is, there’s a big drop-off coming soon. In the City of Boston, 2023 and 2024 were the two lowest years for new housing permits since 2012. And across the region, permits have fallen off, too. Through July of this year, municipalities in the region had only permitted 5,456 new homes, a 44 percent drop from the same period in 2021. In other words, when projects currently under construction are done, there is not much in the pipeline behind them.

The other bit of bad news is that while construction has spiked recently, home prices have kept rising. Now, as construction falls, that trend is likely to continue.

The cost of buying a home is growing for everyone

Home prices around here have been rising for decades, but the last few years have been particularly bad.

First, home prices soared in a pandemic-driven housing market frenzy. Then, when interest rates began to rise in 2021, the market effectively froze, driving prices higher still.

Prices have gone up everywhere and across the price spectrum. It’s in the communities where home prices were the lowest before the pandemic that prices have grown the most. In Brockton, for example, the median sale price of a single-family home has risen 72 percent since 2015. In Lawrence, it has more than doubled.

Prices have jumped on the high end, too. In 36 cities and towns, the median price of a single-family home now exceeds $1 million. In three — Brookline, Wellesley, and Weston — it tops $2 million.

2015 sale prices are adjusted for inflation.

Map: DANA GERBER/GLOBE STAFF - Source: Boston Indicators, The Warren Group - Map data: MassGIS

Affordability has taken a huge hit

As house and rent prices have risen, this should come as no surprise.

Over the last five years, the barriers to homeownership in this region have dramatically increased, even for the cheapest homes.

In 2021, a home in the lower third of the region’s housing market cost $399,554, and a household needed to earn about $98,000 a year to afford the monthly payments without being considered cost-burdened. In 2025, that same house costs $505,319, and a household must earn $162,224 to afford it, according to Boston Indicators, The Boston Foundation’s research arm.

That means that close to half of the people who could afford a home in that lowest tier of the market in 2021 no longer can.

The price constraints extend to renters, too.

Nearly half of all renters in Greater Boston are considered cost burdened, meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their monthly income on rent, and 26 percent are considered severely cost burdened. Those cost burdens are not spread equally: 56 percent of Black renter households in the region are cost-burdened, along with 52 percent of Latino households.

Homelessness is still elevated

A confluence of factors helped drive a surge in homelessness in 2023 and 2024, with the number of homeless residents in the state reaching the highest point in recent memory in 2024.

And while homelessness has dipped slightly in 2025, far more residents are still homeless in this region than were before 2023.

The rise in homelessness between 2022 and 2024 was concentrated among Black and Latino populations, partially a reflection of new arrivals from the Caribbean and Latin America amid a broader surge in international migration that overwhelmed the state’s emergency shelter system. The homelessness rate for Black residents was 366 per 10,000 in January 2024, and 105 per 10,000 for Latino residents. For white residents, that rate was 21 per 10,000 residents.

MBTA Communities Act offers lessons for future housing reform

The MBTA Communities Act — the state law mandating cities and towns with access to the T make room for more multifamily housing — was the state’s most pointed attempt at generating new housing construction across the region in decades.

It has been a mostly mixed bag.

The law has generated countless bruising fights in the 177 communities it covers, as housing advocates and town leaders have sought to paint visions of growth, while some residents have feared irreversible damage to their communities from new housing construction.

In some cases, opposition was so strong that town leaders specifically designed plans to comply with the law that would generate few, if any, new homes.

Housing is a contentious issue that can be difficult to sell to local voters, and the report recommended that town leaders form broad community coalitions to help support their plans. And it would help, too, the report said, if state officials rewarded communities that pass good plans with additional funding for the infrastructure some opponents worry additional housing will strain, like schools and roads.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Moki

Bookings are currently live! Social sessions and private sauna rentals are now available at mokisauna.com
Zone 3 - Allston
267 Western Ave
More timeslots will open in the coming week.
We can’t wait to see all of the regular and new faces!
See you all soon, its going to be a great year!

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Boston Pandas

Get ready for our club quadball season opener, Panda-monium!! 🎉🎉🎉
🗓 Save the date for Panda-monium on Sunday, November 16th at Smith Playground in Allston! We are so excited to play some exciting games with other club quadball teams 🏐🏆

Boston Pandas

Get ready for some Pandamonium!!! 🥳🪅🎊
Four teams from across the land of the ✨️↗️Northeast Corridor ↗️✨️ will descend upon Smith Playground in Allston, MA on Sunday, November 16 starting at 9am. Who will rise to the top of the round-robin? You'll have to watch and find out 👀👀👀
We're all excited to play some exciting club quadball games, and we know you're excited to watch us play! Livestream link will be shared later this week so y'all can enjoy even if you can't make it in person 🥰

Boston Pandas

💪💪💪The squad is ready!! 💪💪💪
We're excited to welcome some lovely folks to our roster for the day. Tomorrow(!) Is going to feature some awesome games with @lobsters.quadball , @vtuquadball , and @nyslicenjdiceqc 💕💕💕
See you tomorrow, Sunday, November 16 starting at 9am 9️⃣🌅

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

An author visit with Ruth Chan, an award-winning author and illustrator of comics and children’s books.

Her work includes the graphic memoir Uprooted, which has earned a Boston Globe-Horn Book Nonfiction Honor, an SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Illustrated Book/Graphic Novel for Older Readers, and an NPR Best Book of 2024 recognition.

This author visit is for children ages five to eleven years old.

Tuesday, November 18, 10:15 to 11:15 AM at the Brighton Branch.

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

You're invited to an informative session on memory changes and aging. We’ll explore the difference between normal forgetfulness and serious memory problems and share practical tips for maintaining brain health.

Our presenters are the Peers Research Group from Mass General Hospital.

Tuesday, November 18, 1:00 to 2:00 PM at the Brighton Branch.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

Aspiring writers ages 6-12 can join us next Wednesday afternoon for a writing workshop with 826 Boston, a nonprofit writing, tutoring, and publishing organization.

Together, the group will brainstorm about what makes a good story good, then write a story together until the very end, where each participant gets to imagine their OWN end to the story!

No registration required.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

West End House

It's officially that time of year again, and our 2025 Holiday Wishlist is live! YOU can make the holiday season that much merrier for our young people - Buy a gift for one of our members at https://a.co/hEVeTh9

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton High School

Brighton High School Winter Coat Drive
Dec 1 at 10AM – Dec 15 at 10 AM

Brighton High School Wishlist 2025-26

In years past, Brighton High School has had a Teenage Gift Drive to support our students experiencing homelessness and welcome our newly arrived immigrants to the US. The generosity of the Allston-Brighton community and beyond has been remarkable and we are so fortunate to have had amazing support for our students!

This year with the high increase in basic needs all across our community, we are focusing our efforts on collecting new winter clothing and gift cards for grocery stores.

If you would like to donate a gift card to a grocery store:

Our greatest need this year are gift cards to Stop&Shop, Star Market or Target as these are easily accessible in the Boston area. We are hoping to collect cards of $25 or $50. Please email Carline at cke...@bostonpublicschools.org to coordinate collection.

If you would like to donate coats, hats or gloves:

We have a wishlist at Target and Amazon. Purchased items will come directly to the school and will be immediately gifted to a student in need. Please email Karen at kco...@bostonpublicschools.org with any questions.

Target: https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/bhswinterwishlist

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1W08XAAE6E8VU..

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

Don't forget to sign up for our Minecraft program this Thursday where players will work together to rebuild the Harvest Festival! Call 617-782-6032 or speak with a staff member when you stop in to reserve your spot.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Faneuil Branch of the Boston Public Library

DIY Duct Tape Wallets

oin us for a fun hour of duct tape wallet making for tweens.

More experienced crafters will learn how to add extra features
including card pockets, transparent window pockets, and clasps.

Limited to twelve attendees ages 8 and older.

Registration encouraged - email crich...@bpl.org to save your spot!

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

 

Faneuil Branch of the Boston Public Library

DIY Duct Tape Wallets

Thursday, November 20, 2025, 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Join us for a fun hour of duct tape wallet making for tweens.

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

[Anthony D'Isidoro]

Brighton Branch of the Boston Public Library

THIS WEEKEND! Our cookbook club is reading New Native Kitchen by Freddie Bitsoie and James O. Fraioli. The cookbook features 100 modern interpretations of Indigenous cuisine with plenty of seasonal Fall recipes.

The Food Group is a potluck and book club for cookbooks. We meet on either the 3rd or 4th Saturday every month from 2-3 PM.

Bringing a dish is not required and neither is reading all of the cookbook. Copies are available at the front desk of the Branch.

Are you coming?

[Anthony D'Isidoro]