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Charlestown Neighborhood Council

Friday, May 10, 2013

Developer Proposes Apartments, Mural for Ropewalk

A team looking to renovate and preserve the old navy rope factor in the Charlestown Navy Yard met with residents Wednesday to present plans for 68 rental units.

A new development team has stepped forward with plans to renovate the long-vacant Ropewalk building in the Charlestown Navy Yard, hoping to turn it into apartments with a museum mural located the length of the building. The group, led by Joe Timilty of Timilty Development, Stephen Sousa of Sousa Design Architects and John French of Neshamkin French Architects, presented their plans Wednesday evening before the Charlestown Neighborhood Council and a room packed with Navy Yard residents. They are seeking tentative designation as developer of the building, which requires Boston Redevelopment Authority approval, and wanted community input on the proposal. If the team were able to secure that designation, it would allow them to continue to …

Chris Nicodemus

8:53 pm on Friday, May 10, 2013

The ropewalk was built in the 1830's not 1930's and is the most significant historical structure in the yard being an early example of rope spinning with roots at the start of the industrial revolution and late in the age of sale. Solve parking and this plan is a creative solution to the space   more ›

Residents: Parking Top Priority in Navy Yard

Charlestown residents attending a presentation about development of the Ropewalk Building said the Boston Redevelopment Authority must first fix the parking problem.

Before any presentations were given or questions were solicited at the Wednesday night meeting on a new proposal for the Ropewalk Building, one Charlestown resident spoke up about parking. She was asked to wait to speak, to allow the developer and members of the Boston Redevelopment Authority to give their presentations, but her message was loud and clear and echoed by nearly everyone in the room: Parking in the Navy Yard must be addressed. The meeting, held at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital’s new community room and led by members of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council, was set up to give the Ropewalk development team a chance to explain their plans to the community and gather support when seeking tentative designation as the developer…

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Matthew

12:32 am on Saturday, May 11, 2013

Why? Were you attacked? Or do you just have a chip on your shoulder about them?   more ›

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Tavern on the Water May Get New Owner

A local resident is seeking a liquor license transfer so he can renovate and reopen the waterfront restaurant in the Charlestown Navy Yard.

Tavern on the Water could reopen with a new name, a new owner and a new menu—as early as this summer but more likely not until the fall. The once popular waterfront restaurant located on Pier 6 in the Charlestown Navy Yard has remained closed since November, with rumors circulating ever since about the fate of the building. On Monday, the Charlestown Neighborhood Council’s Basic Services Committee met with a possible new tenant for the spot—Charles Larner, owner of Mija Cantina and Tequila Bar at Fanueil Hall—to discuss transferring Tavern on the Water’s liquor license from property owner Martin Oliner to Larner. Larner is a resident of Charlestown, having lived in the Navy Yard for about 10 years. At the meeting, Larner discussed his …

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Julie Caldarone

11:08 am on Monday, May 13, 2013

Toonie, I said I lived in the city my whole life to respond to your comment about this not being Sudbury - which I think means that people from the suburbs have no idea what noise in the city is like. I love living in the city - noise and all! Thanks for your comment.   more ›

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Developer To Present Plans for Ropewalk Building

The Charlestown Neighborhood Council will host a meeting on the proposal on May 8.

The Charlestown Neighborhood Council will hold a meeting on Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at the new Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Community Meeting Room to hear preliminary development concepts for the Ropewalk Building, as presented by Joseph Timilty and his development team.  The Ropewalk Building is considered the most historically significant building in the Navy Yard, as the only remaining building of its type in the United States, and one of only four in the world. The redevelopment of the Ropewalk Building will involve approval of numerous city, state and federal agencies, including the National Parks Service under the United States Department of the Interior, who are responsible for the historic preservation requirements for this…

Gtree

7:16 pm on Tuesday, May 7, 2013

They should work with BRA to incorporate an environmental cleanup of the hazardous building 108 and then use that property for a parking garage. Seriously, I can't believe building 108, which is right behing the rope walk, gets no attention. It is loaded with asbestos and other hazardous chemical contamination and the roof is falling in. The lame green tarp the BRA put up can not contain the …   more ›

Friday, April 5, 2013

BRA To Discuss Sullivan Square Planning Process

Representatives from several city departments will attend a meeting hosted by the Charlestown Neighborhood Council on Wednesday, April 17.

The Charlestown Neighborhood Council is asking the Boston Redevelopment Authority to shed light on its process for choosing a planning consultant for the upgrade of Sullivan Square. The CNC has scheduled a meeting with the BRA for this purpose on Wednesday, April 17 at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall. At the meeting, representatives from the BRA Economic Development Department will be available to answer questions about the BRA land disposition process related to community review and input. And a representative from the Department of Neighborhood Development will discuss the City Affordable Housing development requirements and process, according to a meeting notice submitted by CNC Development Committee chairman Mark Rosenshein. …

Bruce

7:16 am on Saturday, April 6, 2013

What came first the chicken or the egg? Looks like the RFP was released on the day the City announced that it had chosen the surface option. We was played.   more ›

Monday, March 25, 2013

Residents Review Pros, Cons of Parking Rule Change

The Boston Redevelopment Authority is considering a change to Charlestown's zoning regulations regarding off-street parking for new small residential developments.

Charlestown residents who turned out to public meeting last week had quite a few ideas for solving the community’s parking problem, from building a new multi-story garage to car sharing to someday having vehicles that park themselves. But for now, the city is addressing the problem by taking another look at Charlestown zoning rules that allow developers to install new curb cuts without any input from neighbors. The Boston Redevelopment Authority held its first community meeting on the matter on Thursday, March 21. About a dozen residents attended along with five members of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council, BRA Planner Ted Schwartzberg and Danielle Valle Fitzgerald from the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services. The discussion …

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Just a person!

7:53 am on Wednesday, March 27, 2013

I agree, the BRA/CNC are out of control. Time for a CHANGE in those groups!   more ›

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

BRA Considering Change To Off-Street Parking Rules

The Boston Redevelopment Authority and Charlestown Neighborhood Council are looking for public feedback regarding a possible zoning bylaw change.

[UPDATED Wednesday, March 20, 12 p.m.] Charlestown residents are encouraged to attend a public meeting on Wednesday, March 20 to consider a potential change to the neighborhood’s off-street parking rules. The meeting, hosted by the Boston Redevelopment Authority at the request of the Charlestown Neighborhood Council Development Committee, will be the second public meeting on the proposed changes and the first hosted by the BRA. Currently, Charlestown zoning rules require one off-street parking space per unit for each new single-family residential project containing one to three units as well as rowhouse and townhouse projects, according to a press release submitted by CNC Development chairman Mark Rosenshein. “The [current] requirement for…

Charlestown joe

1:50 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Can't wait to see how many show at this meeting, something that will give the CNC some more control, just what we need! Show up and oppose MR idea!   more ›

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

DND To Solicit Development Bids for Charlestown Armory

With the fourth and final public comment session held Monday, the Boston Department of Neighborhood Development is looking to send out an official 'request for proposals' by late March or early April.

Charlestown residents could see specific plans for redevelopment of the old Armory building as early as June. The Boston Department of Neighborhood Development, which owns and manages the property at 374-398 Bunker Hill St., wrapped up the community review process on Monday night, March 4. It was the fourth and final meeting where residents could help craft the DND’s “request for proposals,” or RFP—a call for developers to submit redevelopment ideas for the building. The DND expects to publish that document in late March or early April, with hopes of beginning to review whatever proposals are submitted and accepted by June, according to Reay Pannesi, DND senior project manager. Close to 50 residents attended the March 4 meeting, held at …

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Lauren Meyer

4:36 pm on Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Couldn't agree more. Charlestown could definitely use some more restaurants and bars. It is frustrating that neighbors bring up food waste/delivery as a reason to keep out restaurants. There are restaurants everywhere that take care of waste effectively. Seems like a lot of whining to me...I wish I had known about this meeting!   more ›

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

DND To Outline Community's Wish List for Armory

The Department of Neighborhood Development and the Charlestown Neighborhood Council Development Committee invite the public to review a draft 'RFP' of what the community would like to see done with the 105-year-old building.

The Boston Department of Neighborhood Development will present a draft version of their request for proposals for development of the old Charlestown Armory building at a public meeting scheduled Monday, March 4. The meeting will be jointly hosted by the DND and the Charlestown Neighborhood Council Development Committee and will be held at 7 p.m. at the Schrafft's Center dining hall. The DND has been meeting with residents over the past year to consider options for developing the now vacant Armory building, located at 374-398 Bunker Hill St. The building is owned by the city and managed by the DND. The most recent public meeting on this project was held Jan. 29 at the Knights of Columbus hall, where residents were asked to help finalize a …

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Plans for New Navy Yard Fountain Revealed

The Boston Redevelopment Authority on Feb. 12 presented plans to replace the Shipyard Park feature with a new kid-friendly 'splash pad' located near the playground.

After delaying the opening of a popular water fountain in the Charlestown Navy Yard last summer and then putting a fence up to keep people out once summer ended, the Boston Redevelopment Authority on Tuesday presented an alternative: A new, kid-friendly splash pad to be built on the grassy knoll between Building 36 and the existing playground. But while many people are upset about the closure of the Shipyard Park fountain, those attending the meeting this week said they weren’t sure the community wants a replacement. Just a handful of residents turned out for the meeting at Constitution Inn, held at 7 p.m. on the evening of the president’s State of the Union address. But those who did come said they represented many other voices in the …

Sean Boyle

12:07 am on Friday, February 15, 2013

The Baby Pool is a way of life. We've been fine for 32 years, and now they are concerned? Take the barriers down and open the gate up top on the balcony, let people enjoy life a little bit.   more ›

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