Grew Park Neighbors Meeting Notes: February 2, 2026

[elainemcoveney]

Attendees
Joan Quagenti-Bahadir, Bob and Elaine Dynes, Kathleen Sferrazza, Paul Sacco, Katie Reilly, Eileen Rosa (Rosa Construction), Rina (homeowner), Zoë Petty (ONS HP liaison), Gabe Cruz (Councilor Pepén’s office), Officer Lucien, Sergeant Ivens

Police Report: 1/1–2/1/26
Assaults (E-18): 1/24 Grew Hill Road [boyfriend assaulted girlfriend]
Larceny: 1/20: Austin Street [$50 package of food stolen]
Auto Theft, Ballistics, Breaking & Entering, Drugs, Robberies: 0

Renovation Proposal, One Parrott Street
Eileen Rosa of Rosa Construction presented the renovation proposal for One Parrott Street.

Proposal:

• Add a front porch approximately 5' deep. Replace existing deck in rear with a new deck, a four-season room on the first floor, and new exterior space for the second-floor master bedroom above the four-season room. Replace existing bulkhead with standard door. Existing width of house will remain unchanged.
  
• ISD violations: Front yard insufficient, rear yard insufficient.
  
• Zoning requires a 25' setback in front; setback will be 18.9' with the new porch.
  
• Zoning requires a 40' setback in rear; existing setback is ~30'; setback with changes in rear will be ~27'.

Meeting attendees voiced no objection. Joan will send an email indicating GPN support to Eileen Rosa. Zoë will inform Jeremie Bembury, HP Community Engagement Specialist, and the ZBA that GPN supports the project.

Guest Updates

Representative Consalvo
Rep. Consalvo: rob.co...@mahouse.gov; Emily Carrara: emily....@mahouse.gov

• Emily is in law school full time at night but is still working full time during the day. She can be reached through her usual contact information.
  
• This is the second year of the legislative session. Over 9000 bills have been filed; please contact Rob/Emily or email with questions/comments/support/opposition on particular bills.
  
• Bills that the House have passed include:

Requiring the hiring of apprentices for all contracts awarded for public works  projects over $10 million to help increase the state’s trades’ workforce.

Strengthening workplace violence protections for public transit workers

Strengthening workplace violence protections for healthcare workers.

Authorizing the Department of Aging and Independence to implement a licensure system for non-medical homecare services.

• The budget process has started again. Last year 9 earmarks benefited the district, including funding to renovate Doyle Playground to create Doyle Park (75% complete) and funding for Riverside Theater Works and Ethos.
  
• The Canterbury Bridge design is approximately 75% complete. Construction is projected to start in late 2026.
  
• The West Roxbury Parkway bridge (at the intersection of Belgrade Avenue) will be closing in the near future for a planned replacement.

Q: Any updates on the status of the River Street bridge design work?
A: Nothing at this time; will report back at the March 2 GPN meeting.

Zoë Petty, Office of Neighborhood Services Hyde Park liaison
zoe....@boston.gov

• Call 311 or contact Zoë to report snow obstructions.
  
• Age Strong offers a number of resources for Boston seniors, including its Cost Saving Clinics.
  

These free in-person clinics aim to assist Boston’s older residents (age 55+) in lowering everyday expenses by providing information and help signing up for a variety of programs: fuel assistance, home repair assistance, water/sewer discounts, property tax relief, SNAP, senior circuit breaker tax credit, Medicare savings program, and more.

There are no clinics scheduled in Hyde Park but clinics are scheduled in Jamaica Plain (February 11–13) and Roslindale (February 23–27). Visit bit.ly/senior-cost-saving-clinics for the complete schedule.

Call Age Strong at 617-635-4366 to make your in-person appointment.

Q: Will Eversource be resuming work on Austin Street when weather permits?
A: Work will probably resume in a couple of weeks; will call Joan with update.

Gabe Cruz, Councilor Pepén’s office
Gabe: gabrie...@boston.gov; Councilor Pepén: enriqu...@boston.gov

Pepén’s Snow Angels: Help us support an elderly District 5 resident with snow removal or help clear a fire hydrant and receive a $10 Ron’s gift card! Contact the D5 office for more details at emails above or at 617-635-4210.

Q: Is there a status update on the houses being constructed behind Summer Street?
A: ISD will be sending a building inspector to inspect the houses; will report back when an update is available.

Paul Sacco: Speeding/George Wright Parking Lot Activity
Paul Sacco and his neighbors on West Street having been trying to get speeding and nighttime vehicle activity in the George Wright parking lot addressed since summer of 2025.

• Speeding: West Street widens around the golf course, which contributes to speeding.
  

The street is not eligible for speed humps because it’s a bus route.

Other interventions need to be explored and implemented as the problem continues to get worse. Children live on the street and there is a playground there as well.

Gabe is bringing the issue to the BTD infrastructure and design team.

• Nighttime vehicle activity in the George Wright parking lot: The George Wright parking lot has become a destination for significant nighttime vehicle activity. Vehicles generally pull into the lot and park towards the back, away from streetlights. Frequently two vehicles pull in together. Individual vehicles typically do not stay long but activity is steady, generally from late evening into the middle of the night. This activity was not an issue in the past.
  

Neighbors have suggested closing the parking-lot gate at dusk to address the issue.

The Parks Department has declined to close the gate, citing the possibility of altercations/concern for its employees and the need to allow neighborhood parking during snow emergencies. (Neighbors have suggested that the gate could be left open to provide parking as necessary during snow emergencies.)

Neighbors have been advised to call 911 to report activity but vehicles have typically left by the time BPD is able to respond.

Zoë and Emily Carrara visited the golf course in fall 2025 and were told the gate needed to remain open to allow neighborhood parking during snow emergencies. Zoë will follow up.

Gabe has been in touch with the Parks Department and is waiting to hear back from them.

It would be helpful if BPD could patrol the area more frequently while the issue is being discussed with the Parks Department.

Next meeting is scheduled for March 2 at 6:30pm on Zoom.

[Kathleen Sferrazza]

Maybe installing motion activated lights  would do something to deter activity behind the scenes at the golf course.

Kathy S.

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[Pat Alvarez]

Hi Joan, Thanks so much for this. It is so helpful.

Pat

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[muth]

Thank you, Joan, for the helpful information.

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