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MEETING NOTES
East Boston Greenway Coordinating Council
Harborside Community Center, Conference Room
Monday, July 19, 1999

map of the Marginal to Prescott Segment of the Greeenway
Click to see full map of proposed Greenway

DRAFT MEETING NOTES DRAFT

Monday, July 19, 1999

Attending: Tim Abrams, Carolyn Banulis, Christopher Blacker, Stanley Buongorio. Valerie Burns, Connie Carbone, Aldo Cirone, Bob D’Amico, Frank Durante, Arlene Gehring, Blossom Hoag, Ethan Hoag, Terry Iantosca, Karen Maddalena, Police Officer Stephanie Morrow, Mark Warren, Lauri Webster, Mary Ellen Welch, Grace Zuccaro.

1. Introductions and Welcome

After introductions, we began the meeting by voting to accept the meeting minutes from the June meeting.

2. The Scolly Building

There is a process underway that will determine the fate of the Scolly Building, also known as the Boston and Albany Locomotive House. Staff from the CA/T Project are working with community members on coming up with a Request for Letters of Interest, a document that would solicit proposals from potential owners and/or operators interested in renovating and reusing the building. The project hopes to issue this document this Fall.

The meetings between the CAT Project and community members are being held at the Community Outreach Center every two to four weeks and are open to all. About 18 people attended the last meeting on June 20. Project staff have stated that there must be a resolution within the next year; either a viable owner/operator must be identified or the building will be demolished. The next meetings are scheduled for August 11 and September 8, 1999.

3. Greenway - Conrail Corridor from Marginal to Porter Street

Construction of Phase I is underway. Rails and railroad ties are being removed. So far, soil tests indicating contamination have been negative, but results from several other tests are not yet available. One Council member noted the contractor needed to do a better job with rodent control. Other Council members are angry that the Sumner Street and Maverick bridges are filthy and the litter needs to be cleaned up on a regular basis.

The Parks Department is working to find out the status of Phase II. BNAF will send a letter to MHD requesting the status of the project, with a copy to Representative Petrucelli.

The Boston Society of Architects has agreed to form a Task Force to look at the East Boston master plan and waterfront development proposals as we move ahead.

4. The Belle Isle Marsh Greenway Connection

The MBTA is looking to upgrade and expand their Car Yard facility in Orient Heights and there may be opportunities to further the clean up of the adjacent City-owned BIFCo (Belle Isle Fishing Company), a critical link in the proposed Greenway route from Saratoga Street into Belle Isle Marsh.

The MBTA project may also offer opportunities to strengthen public access around Rosie’s Pond. Valerie handed out a copy of BNAF’s comment letter on the MBTA Car Yard Project ENF and the Secretary’s Certificate.

Karl Pastore from the MDC brought a large aerial photograph of Belle Isle Marsh and small maps were handed out to assist in the discussion. The MDC has been cutting informal trails from Rosie’s Pond to the main park, but there are no formal plans for making improvements to Belle Isle Marsh Reservation.

So far the MBTA has not held any public meetings regarding the Car Yard project. Council members felt that we should schedule a meeting with the T officials to discuss options. Council members suggested that perhaps Greenway Council members could host a meeting and/or walk with their neighbors to help get more people from this neighborhood involved in strategizing and planning for funding. The meeting should be at Jimmy Maggs. BNAF will try to set it up within six weeks or so...

Bob D’Amico is working with people in this neighborhood who are considering making Palermo Street (which is now a private way ) into a public street. Some neighbors are concerned that if the Greenway is built, people will start parking on their street seven days a week. This, however, is something the City could control with lighting, sidewalks and signage.

The opportunity to preserve and reuse the narrow-gauge railbed and to build a Greenway connection to Winthrop across the inlet is also very appealing. The MWRA has resources and may be interested in this as a way to get people to Deer Island.

5. Greenway - Conrail Corridor/Bremen Street Park

According to CA/T staff, Park Ex (formerly Park ‘n Fly) is scheduled to be relocated from its Bremen Street location by September 2000, although this seems very optimistic, and in turn causes great concern for the park construction schedule, which is dependent on relocating Park Ex. Valerie handed out a copy of a letter she wrote to to Patrick Moynihan regarding our concern for the project schedule. Council members suggested BNAF send copies of the letter to Ann Fanton, Peter Blute and Gus Serra.

Valerie also handed out a letter to Mike Lewis which included a list of comments on the 100% submittal, which includes the Bremen Street Park and improvements to Memorial Stadium, dated May 17, 1999.

6. Updates:

The East Boston Greenway Festival is scheduled for September 18 to the 26, 1999. If anyone has any ideas for events or is interested in volunteering, call Jayne and Karl who are planning the festival.

With respect to the pedestrian entrance into Memorial Stadium, Jay Russo of the BRA said at the last CA/T meeting that the BRA had heard people’s concern. It does not seem there are any plans for the BRA or the developers to come back to the community to discuss possible solutions. It is expected that the BRA will approve the hotels this week or next.

The Greenway Summer Youth Conservation Corps is up and running, although there is still room for teens to join if they are already registered with he City. Most of their projects will be at Belle Isle Marsh, although you may see them (in blue shirts) all along the Greenway doing their Photography Project.

7. Other Business:

Valerie handed out invitations to the dedication for Paul Revere Park, a park constructed by the Artery. BNAF also brought copies of the Constitution Beach newsletter and the Maverick Station mailing from Frederick R. Harris.

CARE is having a fundraiser at the Don Orione on September 13. Tickets are $25 a head and there will be loads of entertainment.

These notes are written to the best recollection of the authors. Please let BNAF know if corrections are necessary within 60 days of the date of the meeting notes. Contact BNAF@aol.com

BOSTON NATURAL AREAS FUND. INC.(BNAF)
59 Temple Place, Room 558
Boston, MA 02111-1307
(617)542-7696
(Fax)542-0383
e-mail: BNAF@aol.com

Go to other Greenway meeting minutes