WHNA General Meeting notes from 11/1

[ian_winterhill]

 Here are the notes from the November monthly meeting. 

Our next meeting will be on Monday, December 4 at 7pm. Location to be determined.

 

Please join us for the Sewall Commons dismantling at 2pm on Saturday, November 4. The media will be there to cover this story and help us keep the pressure up on the Cohens and the City to take action on this lot.

 

Sewall Commons - please join us on 11/4 @ 2pm for the dismantling party

• We have hosted two events in the vacant parking lot with huge success—a “drive-in” movie on October 14 with about 50 people and a Halloween Party with live music and fried food on October 28 with over 60 people. Tons of families and kids and good times for all.
• The Commons has also had a swing set, basketball court and sandbox, which have been used very regularly
• The activation of the space has dramatically curbed the abuse of the space
• BUT, the property owners, the Cohen brothers, have intervened. They chained up the entrances before the Halloween Party and put up no trespassing signs. They had threatening exchanges with Stephen, the abutter at 36 Sewall, and have now filed a cease and desist order. It seems that they are lining up to try and sue him for destruction of property, which is laughable, but a nasty approach.
• On behalf of the WHNA, we sent the Cohens a letter. See attached.
• On November 4 from 2pm to 5pm we’ll be dismantling the remaining installations to return the space to its original disrepair. Members of the media will be there on Saturday to help publicize this story and continue to put pressure on the Cohens.
• But this is A VICTORY! We changed the context of the space, we brought the owners out of hiding and we are going to continue to bring attention to it.

Announcements/Report Backs

• GLX Meeting. Moving forward slowly. Will be a call for people to join a construction committee around the Gilman stop
• The murder of Kevin Raymond at the Mystics remains unsolved and has not gotten as much attention as the family would like to see. Folks can give money to help the family here.
• Blessing of the Bay park is getting a redesign and is looking for a local landscape designer for the project

Safe Streets/Broadway crossings—A WIN!

• A member had a close call crossing Broadway near the top of the hill. A car stopped for her and her baby to cross, but a second car went around the stopped car and came inches from a disaster. 
• Spencer emailed city officials, elected officials and some residents and business owners. Folks echoed his concerns and made suggestions. 
• The City committed to a short term solution (flexible bollards to narrow the crossing) while we wait for the bigger Broadway streetscape improvement (hopefully 2018)

Gilman Square/Former ABJ Auto Lot

• Some work has begun—old underground tanks are being removed
• Still have not pinned down the owner or the proposed development, if any
• Justin will work with the group to write a letter and try to meet with the owner
• Stephen N. is going to try and track down their permit 
• Justin is also going to try and get on the construction committee for the T station and get his neighbors engaged

Comments

[mem_winterhill]

I contacted the GLX folks to see how the community construction groups are formed, and this is the information I got back:

Hi Mary,
The Community Working Group member appointments are being handled by the Mayor’s office. Please feel free to contact them directly. In the meantime, I would happy to answer any additional questions you may have.
Thanks,

Marty Nee
GLX Program Management Team